OPINION:
Across the nation, the education freedom movement has morphed from a rising whisper into a resounding roar. President Trump has promised to champion this liberation as he steps into his second term, just as the Republican Party platform reflected in 2024. With state after state embracing this concept, there is much to celebrate.
Standing atop the mountain, not by chance but by design, is the free state of Florida. Ranked No. 1 in the American Legislative Exchange Council 2025 Index of State Education Freedom, the Sunshine State’s educational landscape is a testament to what can happen when policy meets opportunity. Here, they have dismantled the one-size-fits-all approach to education, allowing dollars to follow students to their chosen schools: charter, home, virtual, micro or beyond traditional boundaries. The star of this show is the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, a beacon of how policy can pivot to serve the individual needs of children, not just the system.
Florida isn’t alone in this revolution. The index also spotlights other states making giant leaps. Ohio, for instance, moved up 10 spots in the rankings after opening the EdChoice Scholarship Program to every family, democratizing educational choice and igniting a new era of educational equity.
North Carolina made an impressive 23-spot jump by expanding its Opportunity Scholarship Program, a clear signal that when demand for choice is met with supply, the results can be transformative. This was especially true after lawmakers overrode a governor’s veto to provide more than $450 million needed to clear their 54,000 student waitlist.
Alabama, through the CHOOSE Act, improved 11 spots in the rankings after setting a precedent with education freedom accounts, ensuring that every student would have access to this innovative funding mechanism by 2027.
These are not merely policy shifts; they are societal transformations, echoing the will of a broad spectrum of every parent across the country. According to recent polls, 71% of all Americans across every party line endorse these initiatives, highlighting a truly bipartisan consensus on the value of educational choice.
This index, however, isn’t just a celebration; it’s a call to action. It serves as a road map for states still wrestling with outdated educational models. States like Texas and Tennessee stand at a crossroads in their current legislative sessions, where universal education freedom programs could improve the lives of millions of students and move the Lone Star State and Volunteer State up the rankings.
But as we laud these advancements, we must remember the families still ensnared in educational environments that stifle rather than stimulate. The path to true education freedom is strewn with challenges and immense potential. It’s about ensuring that no child’s destiny is dictated by their ZIP code but by their dreams and capabilities.
As we look to the horizon, the path to new heights for America’s educational system is clear. It lies in innovation, accountability and empowering parents. Mr. Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, has been building a similar platform for years. The momentum is undeniable, and the potential to change lives is limitless.
Let’s continue this charge, not for the sake of rankings but for the sake of every child who deserves a shot at their American dream through an education that truly fits their individual needs.
The revolution isn’t just coming; it’s here, and it’s time for every state to join in or be left behind.
• Andrew Handel is director of the American Legislative Exchange Council Education and Workforce Development Task Force.
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