A ProPublica investigation published on July 16, 2026, highlights the rapid expansion of private schools receiving public funds in states like Florida, Arizona, and West Virginia, accompanied by minimal oversight from state authorities. These schools, often located in unconventional settings such as barns, strip malls, and go-kart tracks, are funded through voucher programs that provide tuition-free education to families.

The investigation found that states have shown little interest in regulating who runs these private schools, what curriculum they offer, or how they perform academically. Douglas Harris, an economist at Tulane University who studies voucher programs, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of a free-market approach to education, noting, “They’re all over the place and sometimes in places you don’t even realize — they’re not even advertised.”

In Florida, troubling cases have emerged, including a former public school teacher who lost her license due to sexual abuse of a minor but now operates a private school. Similarly, in 2024, Arizona’s top education official praised Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxer with a criminal record for rape, for his role in launching a private school bearing his name. The state of Arizona paid this school $231,973 in fiscal year 2025.

Paul Hardesty, president of the West Virginia Board of Education, criticized his state's lenient private school regulations, contrasting them with the extensive public education codebook of over 1,300 pages. Ohio Auditor Dave Yost, after investigating financial misconduct by a private school operator, described the situation as “a looting that would make even a pirate blush, with children and taxpayers as victims.”

This investigation underscores the challenges and risks associated with the growth of privately operated schools funded by public money, emphasizing the need for greater oversight to protect students and taxpayers.

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