Big Sky Times

In the Center for Education Reform's 2024 Parent Power Index, Montana secured the seventeenth position, with an Overall Parent Power Index Score of 73.2%.

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

Montana scored a 65% 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 78%.

In the final category of Innovation, scored on the state's dedication to fostering creative and personalized learning environments, Montana earned an 82%.

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.

"A big year for the Big Sky State, 2023 saw the passage of an education savings account and two charter school laws. And while their implementation has been somewhat delayed by legal challenges, the sky was definitely the limit and its parent power ranking showed it by going from 43rd to 17th," the Parent Power Index notes.

"Governor Gianforte presided over a mountainous shift in 2023 when he signed into law two charter school bills as well as a publicly funded student savings account. The Governor’s efforts are embraced by a Superintendent that shares a belief that taxpayer dollars should follow the taxpayers children to the provider of their choice. Montana is moving in the right direction in a very bold way.," Parent Power Index said in its assessment of the state’s “Policy Environment.”