Index shows top states that support education freedom

By Esther Wickham
The Center Square

The American Legislative Exchange Council released its annual analysis on state education freedom amid the rise in states opting into school choice programs.

The Index of State Education Freedom ranked all 50 states, looking at how well they provided options to families. There were five categories under which each state was assessed: student-centered funding, charter schools, home schools, virtual schools and open enrollment.

Florida ranked No. 1 overall, followed by Arizona and Arkansas.

For 2025-26, the state education budget for Florida was around $31.5 billion. The state has over three million students enrolled in public schools.

“Florida leads the nation because we provide all students and families with access to high-quality school choice options that meet their individual needs,” Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas said in a statement following the Index results.

States that fall at the bottom are Kentucky and New York, with Nebraska ranked last.

Nebraska has over 300,000 students enrolled in public schools, costing the state per-pupil $17,000-18,000 annually.

The Center Square reached out to the Nebraska Department of Education and Gov. Jim Pillen’s office for a comment, but has yet to receive a response.

ALEC Index attempts to make parents and policymakers aware of the education freedom environment in each state and what changes they can implement to expand learning options.

National School Choice Week, scheduled for Jan. 25-31, is designed to raise awareness of school choice around the country through events with schools and organizations where supporters advocate for family choice.

“We are seeing a complete reimagining of the American approach to education,” Education and Workforce Development Task Force Director Andrew Handel told The Center Square.

States are slowly moving away from relying on the public school education system and toward a model of education freedom where students choose what learning model is best for them, Handel explained.

“[W]e need to empower parents with multiple options and let them, not the government, decide which will work best for them,” Handel added.