Volunteer State News

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Tennessee secured the twenty-first position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 71.6%.

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

Tennessee scored a 68% 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, Tennessee 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.

"While staying at a low C, the Volunteer state moved down a few spots on the Parent Power! Index for failing to heed demands of families in this increasingly popular state to expand critical programs that give parents lifelines for their students' education. Despite a dedicated chief executive at the helm, the pull of the status quo seems too alluring for other lawmakers," the Parent Power Index notes.

"In his 2024 State of the State address, Governor Lee called for making vouchers universal across the entire state with an Education Freedom Scholarship and while his efforts fell short his commitment to passing a comprehensive option available to every student no matter their zip code or income level," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”