This article reviews the history of private school choice, from the colonial era to 2012. Taking as its approach an examination of program creation, prominent school choice court cases, and school choice research, the article finds that the evolution of choice has been an iterative process in which legislatures and courts have established constitutionally acceptable structures and procedures of choice. This review also finds that proponents' philosophical and theoretical underpinnings for choice have appeared to shift over time from the position of freedom to economic arguments of educational marketplaces, competitive effects, and increased student achievement.