State’s Commitment to School Choice and Parental Rights Lauded by Heritage Foundation
Florida has once again been named the nation’s leader in education freedom, a distinction it has held for the fourth consecutive year, according to a new report from the conservative think tank, the Heritage Foundation.
The announcement, made by Governor Ron DeSantis, highlights the state’s ongoing expansion of school choice and its support for parental rights in education.
“In Florida, we are committed to ensuring parents have the power to make the education decisions that are best for their child,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida offers a robust array of educational choices, which has solidified our state as a national leader in education freedom, parental power, and overall K-12 education.”
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The Heritage Foundation’s annual Education Freedom Report Card, which began in 2022, evaluates and ranks states based on five categories: school choice, transparency, regulatory freedom, civic education, and spending. Florida has earned the top ranking every year since the report’s inception.
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas echoed the Governor’s comments, emphasizing the importance of family-led decisions in education.
“Earning the #1 ranking for Education Freedom for the fourth consecutive year affirms a simple principle: education decisions belong to families,” said Kamoutsas. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida will continue honoring parents’ right to choose the best educational option for their child’s individualized needs.”
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The report card specifically recognized Florida’s high performance in several key areas:
- Education Choice: Florida was ranked #1 due to its policies that empower parents to choose the best learning environment for their children, including a universal school choice program signed into law in 2023 that made all K-12 students eligible for private school scholarships, regardless of income.
- Civic Education: The state earned the top spot for its requirement that students take a course in civics and for the use of the Classical Learning Test for admissions at state universities.
- Academic Transparency: Florida’s expansive legislation giving parents access to classroom materials and the state’s Parental Bill of Rights contributed to its #1 ranking in this category.
- Teacher Freedom: The state’s alternative pathways for individuals to enter the teaching profession led to its top ranking for teacher freedom.
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