Parents deserve a clear, honest picture of the education options in their state
Each state is graded across three categories and an Extra Credit section. Grades reflect one standard: how much freedom does this state give families to direct their children’s education?
The Grading Scale
- A: The state removes barriers and puts control in the hands of parents
- B: Strong policy environment with minor limitations
- C: Options exist but the state does not actively enable them
- D: Real barriers limit what families can do
- F: Fundamentally opposed to family authority in education
Compare Your State’s Education Freedom Grade
Arizona
The Grand Canyon State
Arizona is the national pioneer of school choice, creating the nation’s first universal ESA.
California
The Golden State
California spends $27,000 per student with zero programs that let families direct any of it.
Florida
The Sunshine State
Florida is the national leader in school choice.
Illinois
The Prairie State
Illinois pairs light homeschool regulation with no school choice at all.
Mississippi
The Magnolia State
Mississippi protects homeschool families about as well as any state, and opening a microschool requires zero state approval.
New York
The Empire State
New York is one of the most restrictive states for educational freedom.
Texas
The Lone Star State
Texas made a massive move in 2025 launching the largest day-one ESA in American history.
Utah
The Beehive State
Utah is one of the strongest states in the country for education freedom.
Georgia
The Peach State
Nevada
The Silver State
Tennessee
The Volunteer State
How states are graded
Microschools
Microschools are small independent schools, typically with 15 students or fewer. They are often started by former teachers or parents who want something different.
I grade this category on regulatory burden. The easier a state makes it to open and operate a small school, the higher the grade. The three attributes I measure are below:
- Zoning laws: Can a school operate in a home, church, or commercial space without excessive permitting? Permitting should take hours, not days or weeks.
- Building codes: Does the state require expensive reclassifications, or can existing building classifications be used?
- Teacher requirements: Are licensing mandates reasonable, or do they exclude qualified people without a credential?
A state that clears the way for small schools to open earns a high grade. A state that buries founders in regulation does not.
School Choice Policy
School choice covers the full range of policies that determine whether families have real options beyond their assigned public school.
I focus primarily on Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and voucher programs that put funding directly in the hands of families. I look at:
- Does a program exist, and who is eligible?
- How much funding follows each student?
- How flexible are families in how they use it?
- Does the program cover tuition only, or can families use it to homeschool?
A state where families have broad access to flexible funding earns a high grade. A state that funds only the institution earns a lower one.
Charter school access and how easily can you enroll your child in any public school (known as open enrollment) also factor into this grade. In states where ESAs and vouchers don’t yet exist, a free and open charter approval process can still give families meaningful alternatives. I look at whether a state makes it easy to open and expand charter schools, and whether families can enroll outside their assigned district. A state with an accessible charter system gets credit for it. A state that caps charter growth or restricts enrollment options gets dinged, even if other choice mechanisms exist.
Homeschooling
Modern homeschooling is more than a parent teaching at a kitchen table. Families build custom education paths from co-ops, online courses, tutoring, and in-person classes.
I grade this category on two things: what the state requires and what it makes available. I look at:
- Requirements: notice of intent, curriculum approval, testing mandates, evaluation requirements, home visits.
- Access: Can homeschool families access state scholarship funds? Can their children participate in public school extracurriculars?
States vary on what they require from homeschooled families. Some require a signed affidavit with a notarized signature declaring the families intent to homeschool. Others require a simple email to the local district. Other requirements include using a state-approved curriculum, standardized testing mandates, local district evaluations of learning, and visits to the home from state or local education officials. Every requirement is a barrier.
A state that lets families operate freely and access available resources earns a high grade. A state that demands compliance and offers nothing in return does not.
Extra Credit
Each report card includes an Extra Credit section. This is not automatic.
I am looking for one policy that is unusual, leading-edge, or rare enough that most states have not tried it. It must be enacted by law or policy. It should reflect a genuine commitment to parental rights in education.
If nothing qualifies, there is no Extra Credit.
What I Am Not Grading
I won’t be grading accountability. There is a lot of discussion on what does or does not count for great accountability. However, the ultimate judge of a good education is the parents.
Parents know their children better than any government agency. A parent’s ability to choose a school and leave is the most direct accountability measure. Real accountability is built into choice itself.
Government accountability mandates are not a graded factor in this series. A state does not earn a higher grade for layering additional regulations onto schools or families. These report cards measure freedom. Where families have it, states score well. Where the government restricts it in the name of oversight, they do not.
Author: Jon England is the Senior Education Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He is a fourteen-year veteran of public schools. He taught both fifth and sixth grades, receiving Weber District’s E+ Team Award. He proudly homeschools his children with his wife.
Jon received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in educational leadership from Western Governors University. He spent time in the Marine Corps and separated as a sergeant in 2006.
During his time in public schools, Jon increasingly understood the importance of parental empowerment in education. This increased understanding led him to join Libertas to provide educational freedom for families. Jon enjoys spending time with his wife and five children traveling, skiing, and playing games.