More parents insist on finding the right environment for their children, report says

School choice surged during COVID-19 and shows no signs of slowing down, a newly released study shows.

The study, published by education consultants Tyton Partners, “highlights how parent demand is reshaping the education landscape, creating a new era of innovation and school model exploration.”

The growth of school choice marks “a lasting shift toward parent-led experimentation and growing demand for tools to navigate K-12 options,” says a release summarizing the report. 

The study of 1,600 “activated” parents who have switched their children’s school offered some key findings: 

• Parent-led experimentation is shifting enrollment. Nearly 1 in 4 families (23%) now enroll at least one child outside their local public district, signaling a lasting move toward alternatives. 

• Safety and relevance drive school switches. Parents cite school safety (39%) and real-world learning as top reasons for leaving traditional schools. 

• Home-based models offer stability. Homeschooling and virtual school families report higher satisfaction, and participants are less likely to switch again. 

• Frequent switching signals unmet needs. Forty percent of activated parents plan to change schools again soon, reflecting a gap between priorities and current options. 

In just the last five years, the number of school choice participants has doubled from 600,000 to more than 1.2 million nationwide. Florida alone boasts more than 500,000 participants, and states from Tennessee to Texas and Idaho have approved universal school choice programs. 

The report also emphasized strategies for helping parents navigate the growing number of education options fostered by the expansion of school choice. 

“As options for parents and students in the school choice landscape continue to proliferate, the challenge for providers is (to) help families find the right fit and deliver high-quality programs that meet expectations,” the report concludes. 

“Parent demand is nuanced, shaped by priorities like safety, a supportive school culture, academic rigor, and real-world learning … K–12 providers can help families find the best match by communicating their approach – and how it aligns with parent priorities – in simple, relatable terms.”