Florida Earns Kudos For Giving Parents Bigger Voice In School Policies

FLORIDA — As a new year begins and students prepare to return to school following the winter break, the Center for Education Reform’s Parent Power! Index has ranked Florida No. 1 in the nation for empowering parents to make decisions regarding their students' education.

Based in Washington, D.C., the Center for Education Reform is a leading nonprofit policy and advocacy organization that has been spearheading efforts nationally to expand parental opportunities for involvement in their children’s education.

The annual Parent Power! Index debuted in 1999 and measures the extent to which states have policies in place that put students first, value the unique needs of every family and empower parents to oversee their child’s education.

Each state was ranked using three criteria: choice programs, charter schools and innovation.

Overall, Florida scored 94.6 percent (an A- grade), leading all 50 states and the District of Columbia. For more on the index and methodology, click here.

The only other state to receive an A- was Arizona with a 93.5 percent score.

Indiana received a B+ with a score of 87.1 percent and Ohio received a B with a score of 80.5 percent.

Virginia, South Dakota, Wyoming, Washington, Alaska, Nebraska and North Dakota received F grades. All other states received grades of C or D.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has faced vehement criticism for his conservative school reforms, said the announcement vindicates his education reforms.

“Parental involvement is important to a child’s success both in school and in life, and in Florida we are proud to protect parents’ right to be involved in a child’s education,” said DeSantis. “This recognition continues to show that Florida is a national leader in school choice, parent empowerment and education as a whole.”

Among the controversial legislation forwarded by DeSantis that garnered national attention was his Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (W.O.K.E.) Act, a legislative proposal that gives businesses, employees, children and families tools to fight back against "woke indoctrination,' including teaching critical race theory, which DeSantis also banned in public schools.

There was also a groundswell of protest againt House Bill 1467, signed by DeSantis this year that went into effect in July which requires school districts to be transparent in the selection of instructional materials, including library and reading materials. The legislation gives parents the right to ask that instructional materials and library books be removed from schools. Additionally, the bill sets 12-year term limits for school board members. For more information about the bill, click here.

Many parents and educators were equally incensed when DeSantis signed House Bill (HB) 1557, Parental Rights in Education, which also went into effect in July, prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and allowing parents to opt their child out of sex education and sexually transmitted disease lessons.

Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar said DeSantis' attempts to empower parents have put unrealistic restrictions on teachers and staff, making them fearful for their jobs. He said this has resulted in a mass exodus of teachers who are either moving out of the state or leaving the profession. As a result, the state has 8,000 teaching positions vacant.

"When the governor goes around the state vilifying teachers and staff in our schools — and, let's face it, that's what he's doing — he's sending a message to teachers and staff that you don't matter," Spar said. "They are then leaving the profession."

“Teachers are trained and experienced in educating children and have a duty to prepare their students to be successful contributors to society," Spar said. "Teachers should have the freedom to teach honest, complete facts about historical events like slavery and civil rights without being censored by politicians."

Nevertheless, Jeanne Allen, founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform believes the changes taking place in Florida reflect a growing desire by parents for more input into and control over their children's education since the school closures and lockdowns during the pandemic.

"It became obvious during the pandemic that children do best when the system is flexible, responsive to their needs and provides them with the educational options they need to succeed,” she said. “Better schools come about when parents have power. Parents have power when states are open and transparent about their policies and provide parents with the necessary information, authority and funding they need to exercise more control over their children’s schooling.”

Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. agrees that the results of the Parent Power! Index indicate that Florida is on the right track.

“Florida will always protect the right of parents to raise their children how they best see fit,” said Diaz. “As the rest of the nation follows the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the department of education will continue to support initiatives that uphold parental rights and expand school choice.”

Florida Rankings By Category

The Parent Power! Index gave Florida the following rankings:

• No. 1 in nation for digital and personalized learning. Florida received an A (92 percent) for providing resources for technology.
• No. 1 in nation for choice programs. Florida received an A (98 percent) for its choice programs (scholarships, vouchers, tax credits, etc...)
• No. 2 in nation for charter schools. Florida received an A (92 percent) for being charter school-friendly.
• No. 3 in nation for teacher quality. Florida received a B (82 percent) in teacher quality.

Ranking states on a "gas gauge" ranging from empty to full, the index ranked Florida:

• 3/4th full as a leader in the nation for COVID-19 response.
• 3/4th full for leadership that nurtures a health school policy environment.
• 1/4th full for constitutional issues. The center attributes this low score to Florida's Blaine Amendment, which has been interpreted as prohibiting the use of public funds for private schools and was twice struck down.
• Full for transparency. The center said school and district report cards are easy to access.