Louisiana Ranks in Top 10 on Education Report Card for Parents

In a new report by the Parent Power Index, the majority of U.S. states scored below average, but Louisiana earns 79% when it comes to giving parents fundamental power over their child's education. The Bayou State ranked #7 out of all U.S. states and the District of Columbia in the PPI, released by The Center for Education Reform.

We fell just shy of the six states that earned rankings above 80%, and our state fell three spots from its previous #4 ranking.

Parent Power Index is a web-based report card that evaluates and ranks states based on qualitative and proven state education policies. The higher a state’s grade, the more parents are afforded access and information about learning options that can deliver successful educational outcomes for their children.

Here's more info we received in a news release from CER:

Louisiana has adopted parent empowerment measures of national significance in the last ten years that have helped reverse decades of decline. Thousands of children once stuck in failing schools now have access to the private schools of their choice, and a robust charter law serves students in need. However, having an independent charter school authorizer would help encourage growth.

Digital learning opportunities are available across the state for students, a dramatic change in teacher tenure and accountability for all schools has been enacted, and parents have ready access to information, driving a high Parent Power Index where once no measurable parent power existed.

“While it’s true some states have made progress, it’s not nearly enough to meet demand. Simply put, we need more learning options available to more families, and we need them fast,” said Kara Kerwin, president of the Center for Education Reform.

“Out of the over 54 million K-12 students nationwide, only an estimated 6.5 million students are taking advantage of charter schools, school choice programs such as vouchers or tax credits, and digital or blended learning models,” said Kerwin. ”With the United States’ school-aged population expected to grow at unprecedented rates in the next 15 years, how will our school system be able to meet demand when we already have wait lists for charter schools and oversubscribed scholarship programs?”

A median PPI score of 67.4 percent (Delaware) shows just how poorly most states have implemented policies surrounding charter schools, school choice, teacher quality, transparency, and online learning, the five main components that comprise state PPI scores. Mississippi, ranked 20, made the most progress, moving up 21 spots and breaking into the top 20 states after being in the bottom 11 states on previous analyses.

“While Louisiana is not one of the 36 states electing a new governor this fall, it's crucial that current state leaders ensure enacting parent-empowering policies remains a top priority, as only 24 percent of Pelican State eighth graders are proficient in reading and 21 percent are proficient in math. America’s future depends on states’ ability to enact good policy to accelerate the pace of education reform and grow new and meaningful choices for parents.”