Arlington, VA – The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is proud to release the 2025 edition of the Index of State Education Freedom: A 50-State Guide to Parental Empowerment. The rankings are a detailed evaluation of how states are leveraging federalism to expand parental choice and advance universal education freedom. The release comes on the heels of the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has championed education freedom for all American families.
“Lawmakers now have a proven blueprint to prioritize students while delivering universal education freedom for every family,” said ALEC CEO Lisa B. Nelson. “This analysis underscores the transformative policies that empower families, reflecting the vital role of states as laboratories of democracy in shaping education policy.”
The launch coincides with the upcoming National School Choice Week, which runs January 26 – February 1. The Index evaluates state education policies across five critical categories: education freedom programs, charter schools, homeschooling, virtual schooling, and open enrollment.
Florida once again sets the benchmark for education freedom, leading the nation with policies that ensure unparalleled access and choice for families. Arizona, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Iowa round out the top five, showcasing a national shift toward adopting universal education freedom policies. States such as North Carolina and Ohio made substantial leaps in this year’s rankings, moving up 23 spots and 13 spots respectively, thanks to the expansion of universal school choice programs that empower parents to make the best decisions for their children’s education.
“ALEC remains steadfast in supporting policymakers who work to deliver meaningful results for students and families, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive in an educational environment tailored to their unique needs,” said West Virginia Senator and ALEC National Chair Patricia Rucker. “With each passing day, we move closer to achieving our ambitious goal of 25 states embracing universal education freedom by 2025. This year’s report offers both a clear vision of the benefits and a practical blueprint for states to make it a reality.”
This year’s report also features “enhanced scoring and ranking methodology” to more accurately reflect the state of education freedom across the country. Notably, the weighting of education freedom programs such as education savings accounts has increased, emphasizing the pivotal role these programs play in empowering families to access alternative learning environments tailored to their children’s needs.
“Education is not a puzzle to be solved with a one-size-fits-all solution,” said Andrew Handel, report author and director of the ALEC Task Force on Education and Workforce Development. “By placing decision-making power in the hands of parents and championing state-led innovation, policymakers are building education systems that meet the unique needs of every family. Our rankings reinforce the importance of giving every child access to the school that best fits their needs.”
For more than five decades, ALEC has been at the forefront of developing trusted model policies for education freedom. These include landmark initiatives such as The Hope Scholarship Act, Next Generation Charter School Act, Protecting Religious Homeschooling Act, The Virtual Public Schools Act, and the Open Enrollment Act.
The 2025 ALEC Index of State Education Freedom continues this legacy, serving as an invaluable resource for policymakers striving to expand opportunities and prioritize students. By supporting diverse, state-driven policies, ALEC remains committed to equipping parents with the tools they need to shape their children’s educational futures.