The Alec Index Of State Education Freedom A 50 State Guide To Parental

Leo Migdal
-
the alec index of state education freedom a 50 state guide to parental

We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America. At the time of publication, a record 12 states are empowering (or will soon be empowering) every family and every student with education freedom. These states recognize the unique needs of each student and that parents, not government bureaucrats, are best positioned to determine those needs and choose a school that best fits their student. The ALEC Index of State Education Freedom was created to provide a detailed and comprehensive 50-state analysis of what learning options are available and accessible to families. This publication conducts a deep-dive analysis of each state’s charter school, home school, virtual school, and open enrollment laws to determine how accessible these learning environments are to families. We also analyze the various programs each state has in place that help offset the cost of alternative learning environments, like education scholarship accounts (ESAs), tax-credit scholarships, voucher programs, and more.

With this being the second edition of the publication, we have made several improvements and refinements to the scoring and ranking methodology that better reflect the education freedom environment in each state. You will also notice that the category for education freedom programs has been weighted more heavily in this version, reflecting the critical importance of these programs for families seeking alternate learning environments better suited... We hope that this publication will serve as a resource for constituents looking to learn more about the programs available in their state to policymakers during the 2025 legislative sessions, who are looking to... We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America. At the time of publication, a record 12 states are empowering (or will soon be empowering) every family and… In honor of National School Choice Week 2025, one policy group has revealed which states are providing the most education freedom to students.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has… In honor of National School Choice Week 2025, one policy group has revealed which states are providing the most education freedom to students. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has released its 2025 Index of State Education Freedom, providing a detailed analysis of a variety of school choice options in all 50 states. “We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America,” wrote Andrew Handel, report author and director of the education and workforce development task force at ALEC. “This publication conducts a deep-dive analysis of each state’s charter school, home school, virtual school, and open enrollment laws to determine how accessible these learning environments are to families.” This week, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released the “ALEC Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment,”and Florida topped the rankings.

Evaluating each state on essential policies that maximize parental empowerment, education freedom, and student achievement, the release coincides with the historic education freedom movement of 2023, with eight states passing universal school choice policies... “Parents across the country have made their voices clear: the status quo in American education isn’t working, and they are demanding access to more educational options for their students,” said ALEC CEO Lisa Nelson. “Whether a public school, virtual school, charter school, home school, or some other educational environment, states are leading the way by making all of these a possibility for families to choose from.” The ALEC Index of Education Freedom focuses on five categories of state education policy: funding and financing programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling, and open enrollment. Florida led the states, followed by Arkansas, Indiana, Arizona and Iowa. Massachusetts stood at the bottom of the state followed by Rhode Island, New York, Vermont and North Dakota.

After a legislative session where Florida lawmakers passed universal school choice, the state was recognized as the nation’s best in a recent report for its policies on education The nonprofit American Legislative Exchange Council, which previously published the Report Card on American Education over the past 25 years, has a new publication, The Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to... In the overall rankings, Florida was first with an A grade, followed by Arkansas and Indiana. Arizona was 4th with a B grade, followed by Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Idaho and Utah. West Virginia was ranked 10th. The publication released Thursday, evaluates each state on its policies designed to empower students and their families regarding freedom in education.

The index focuses on five categories: Funding and financing programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling and open enrollment. “This new ranking further proves that Florida is the national leader in education,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a news release. “By focusing on academic achievement, expanding school choice and empowering parents, Florida continues to see unprecedented success in our classrooms.” American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has released The 2023 ALEC Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment. The report evaluates each state on essential policies that maximize parental empowerment, education freedom, and student achievement, and the release coincides with an historic education freedom movement of 2023, with eight states passing universal...

Florida ranked No. 1, followed by Arkansas, and Indiana. They all were given A grades. Arizona and Iowa rounded out the top five, but got B grades. Alaska ranked 33, with a score of 37 out of 100, for a D grade. Alaska tied with Wyoming on the ranking in the lower end of the states for overall education freedom.

The ALEC Index of Education Freedom focuses on five categories of state education policy: funding and financing programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling, and open enrollment. States are increasingly recognizing that each student has his or her own unique needs, background, and learning style, and these new rankings focus on state-level policies that maximize educational opportunity for all students. For nearly 25 years, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has published the Report Card on American Education, ranking the states based on a variety of performance indicators in K-12 education. The next generation of this important publication, The ALEC Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment, will take its place moving forward. This new publication is forward-looking and evaluates each state on essential policies that change students’ lives by empowering parents and families with choice in education. The ALEC Index of Education Freedom focuses on five categories of state education policy: funding and financing programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling, and open enrollment.

States are increasingly recognizing that each student has his or her own unique needs, background, and learning style, and these new rankings focus on state-level policies that maximize educational opportunity for all students. We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America. At the time of publication, a record 12 states are empowering (or will soon be empowering) every family and… For nearly 25 years, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has published the Report Card on American Education, ranking the states based on a variety of performance indicators in K-12… Arlington, VA – The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is proud to release the 2025 edition of the Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment. The rankings are a detailed evaluation of how states are leveraging federalism to expand parental choice and advance universal education freedom.

The release comes on the heels of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has championed education freedom for all American families. “Lawmakers now have a proven blueprint to prioritize students while delivering universal education freedom for every family,” said ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson. “This analysis underscores the transformative policies that empower families, reflecting the vital role of states as laboratories of democracy in shaping education policy.” The launch coincides with the upcoming National School Choice Week, which runs January 26 – February 1. The Index evaluates state education policies across five critical categories: education freedom programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling, and open enrollment.

Florida once again sets the benchmark for education freedom, leading the nation with policies that ensure unparalleled access and choice for families. Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa round out the top five, showcasing a national shift toward adopting universal education freedom policies. States such as North Carolina and Ohio made substantial leaps in this year’s rankings, moving up 23 spots and 13 spots respectively, thanks to the expansion of universal school choice programs that empower parents... “ALEC remains steadfast in supporting policymakers who work to deliver meaningful results for students and families, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive in an educational environment tailored to their unique needs,” said... “With each passing day, we move closer to achieving our ambitious goal of 25 states embracing universal education freedom by 2025. This year’s report offers both a clear vision of the benefits and a practical blueprint for states to make it a reality.”

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released the 2025 edition of the Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment last week. The rankings are a detailed evaluation of how states are expanding parental choice and advancing universal education freedom. According to ALEC’s 2025 index, Alabama had the 11th most educational freedom in the nation, up 11 spots from the 2023-2024 index. In 2024, Alabama legislators and Gov. Kay Ivey passed the CHOOSE Act, which provides ESAs to eligible K-12 students to help pay for school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies and other qualified education expenses at approved education service providers across the... The Alabama Department of Revenue has received 6,979 family applications for 11,916 students so far for the CHOOSE Act program as of January 10.

Tallahassee, Fla., January 27, 2025 – Today, Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. announced that Florida has been ranked number one for Education Freedom by the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom: A 50 State Guide to Parental Empowerment. The ALEC Index of State Education Freedom was created to provide a comprehensive analysis of learning options available across all 50 states and how accessible these options are for families. “Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has exponentially expanded opportunities for families to choose the best educational fit for their child,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “We are proud to be ranked number one for Education Freedom and we will continue to empower parents with the resources they need to help their children succeed.” The ALEC Index also ranked states in individual categories including Education Freedom Programs, Charter Schools, Homeschooling, Virtual Schooling and Open Enrollment.

Additional highlights from the ALEC Index include: The full 2025 ALEC Index of State Education Freedom is available here. In addition to this ranking, Florida has also ranked number one for Education Freedom by the Heritage Foundation and number one for Education by U.S. News and World Report.

People Also Search

We Are In The Midst Of An Educational Renaissance In

We are in the midst of an educational renaissance in America. At the time of publication, a record 12 states are empowering (or will soon be empowering) every family and every student with education freedom. These states recognize the unique needs of each student and that parents, not government bureaucrats, are best positioned to determine those needs and choose a school that best fits their stud...

With This Being The Second Edition Of The Publication, We

With this being the second edition of the publication, we have made several improvements and refinements to the scoring and ranking methodology that better reflect the education freedom environment in each state. You will also notice that the category for education freedom programs has been weighted more heavily in this version, reflecting the critical importance of these programs for families see...

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Has… In Honor Of

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has… In honor of National School Choice Week 2025, one policy group has revealed which states are providing the most education freedom to students. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has released its 2025 Index of State Education Freedom, providing a detailed analysis of a variety of school choice options in all 50 states. “We are in t...

Evaluating Each State On Essential Policies That Maximize Parental Empowerment,

Evaluating each state on essential policies that maximize parental empowerment, education freedom, and student achievement, the release coincides with the historic education freedom movement of 2023, with eight states passing universal school choice policies... “Parents across the country have made their voices clear: the status quo in American education isn’t working, and they are demanding acces...

After A Legislative Session Where Florida Lawmakers Passed Universal School

After a legislative session where Florida lawmakers passed universal school choice, the state was recognized as the nation’s best in a recent report for its policies on education The nonprofit American Legislative Exchange Council, which previously published the Report Card on American Education over the past 25 years, has a new publication, The Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide t...