Garden State Times

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, New Jersey secured the thirty-ninth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 61.2%.

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

New Jersey scored a 50% 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, New Jersey earned a 68%.

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.

"The Garden State has been considerably barren over the past few years, and an iron clad education establishment thwarts parent efforts to find more personalized options for their students. A moderately charter school law with some recent growth keeps New Jersey from an F, but with education proficiency having fallen below pre-pandemic levels the state needs a bumper crop of change," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor Murphy did an about face on charter school expansion. For the first time since his election back in 2018, 78% of the charter schools seeking to enroll more students were approved. While it is being viewed as a political calculation by education freedom supporters in the Garden State, credit must be given where it is due," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”