Show-Me State Times

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Missouri secured the nineteenth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 72.9%.

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

Missouri 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 78%.

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

"Late breaking news out of the Show Me state in 2024 expanding scholarships for students across the state paves the way for new opportunities for families, but that type of program, the restricting of chartering to the state's two major cities and limited incentives for innovation throughout public school districts gives the state a low C" the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor Parson oversaw a major expansion of the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program. The second tax-credit ESA in the nation now serves any student who is a resident of the Show Me state and while it will take some time to grow the program, it is clear that the Governor is firmly on the side of having taxpayer dollars used on options they decide not the state68," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”