Bay State News

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Massachusetts secured the thirty-forth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 63.9%.

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

Massachusetts 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 a 75%.

In the final category of Innovation, scored on the state's dedication to fostering creative and personalized learning environments, Massachusetts 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.

"If only the energy and ideas of the Boston Tea Party could be channeled to education, tens of thousands of students would not only prosper and grow but be unchained from district and union-dominated schools that were among the worst offenders of school closures during Covid. A once thriving charter sector has little influence in the state, but at least a little innovation is being fostered by local leaders saving the state's parent power grade from failure," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor Healey is following the same path on which she started a year ago. Which means little to no effort to look creatively at the problems Massachusetts families face with their traditional public schools. Perhaps a dose of parent power is needed to shake the Governor into a different way of thinking," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”