Prairie State Wire

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Illinois secured the forty-forth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 59.8%.

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

Illinois 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 65%.

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

"It's hard to accept a failing grade in the land of Lincoln, whose place in history should make it appreciate the value of education and freedom. But state leaders defer all their decision making to special interests, resulting in the loss of parent power in the past few years, which caused Illinois one of the biggest drops - from 29 to 44 - among all states in 2024," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor J.B. Pritzker bucked the national trend by being the only statewide elected official to eliminate a growing major education freedom program, Invest in Kids. Even after repeated pleas to allow the families in the program to finish their education, Pritzker cut off what was a vital pathway to success for nearly ten-thousand Illinois families without hesitation," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”