Keystone Today

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Pennsylvania secured the fifteenth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 74.6%.

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

Pennsylvania scored a 75% 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 a 75%.

In the final category of Innovation, scored on the state's dedication to fostering creative and personalized learning environments, Pennsylvania earned a 72%.

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.

"Pennsylvania is that student that has "Cs" across the board on its report card yet somehow you know lurking inside is an honor roll student if they can just get away from the old friends who are negative influences. Despite tens of thousands of students benefiting from diverse educational choices, parents in numbers many more times that are waiting for political leadership to reach across the aisle to enact positive change for their precious students," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor Shapiro continues to play around the edges after bucking his party with a public declaration of support for the Lifeline Scholarship program. With a combined $150 million expansion of the two existing tax-credit programs, it still isn’t the full commitment families in desperate need of opportunities are looking for in the Keystone state," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”