Hawkeye Reporter

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Iowa secured the twelfth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 77%.

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

Iowa scored a 78% 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 72%.

In the final category of Innovation, scored on the state's dedication to fostering creative and personalized learning environments, Iowa earned an 88%.

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.

"From bottom of the parent power charts to 12th in the nation, Iowa shows that leadership matters. While prior state lawmakers bought into the Lake Wobegon effect, where everyone is above average, modern thought leaders knew better, and envisioned a state that prepared not just some but every student for the future. Within just months of a new ESA program, tens of thousands of parents opted for something different for their students, and the freedom to be innovative has public schools competing to be the best," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Kim Reynolds set the tone for the entire country with initiatives that launched an education freedom firestorm in Iowa in 2023. Efforts to expand the base of options available to Iowa families continue with the recruitment of innovative education providers to offer their unique programs. Top priorities for 2024 include efforts to improve literacy through evidence-based reading instruction, the expansion of high-quality public charter schools, a major initiative to revamp how the state delivers special education services for students with disabilities and a teacher salary increase," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”