Minnesota State Wire

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Minnesota secured the twentieth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 71.9%.

The index, designed to assess the degree of parental power in each state, highlights key indicators such as Choice Programs, Charter Schools and Innovation. 

Minnesota scored a 50% in Choice Programs, which represents families' ability to access and choose programs that best fit their needs. 

The state's Charter Schools system, which is based on the availability of alternative educational options for students and families, scored an 88%.

In the final category of Innovation, scored on the state's dedication to fostering creative and personalized learning environments, Minnesota earned an 88%.

While Florida claims the top spot with a 93% overall score, states like Arizona, Indiana, Ohio, and North Carolina follow closely behind in the top rankings, emphasizing a national trend towards prioritizing parental involvement in education.

Kansas, South Dakota, and North Dakota round out the bottom of the list along with six other states that received a grade of ‘F’.

The Parent Power Index serves as a valuable resource for families across the country, offering insights into state-level educational policies and opportunities. 

Through the index's interactive map, parents can explore the status of parental empowerment in their state and discover avenues to advocate for greater involvement and choice in education.

"Once the guiding light for the early education reform movement, the North Star state isn’t what it was when it created the first open enrollment options for students, forged new career paths for students who had dropped out and enacted the nation’s first charter school law. But their slide from Rank # 7 to #20 isn’t because the state doesn’t offer great options and innovative programs for students. It's more that other states have surpassed what once kept Minnesota at the top of the list," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor Walz refused to declare School Choice Week this year and has not outlined or even discussed any solid proposals for any type of innovations in education even though Minnesota is the birthplace of charter schools," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”