A new report ranks every state on the hottest battles in public schools. It measures parental rights and curriculum control. The results show a clear divide across the country.
Red states dominated the top spots in the list. Tennessee took the number one position overall. Alabama and Florida followed closely behind it.
Washington, D.C. finished at the very bottom. California and Oregon also ranked near last place. This is the first time such a ranking exists.
It does not look at test scores at all. Instead it focuses on policy choices leaders made. Parents have long demanded more transparency in schools.
They want to know what is taught. This report gives them that specific information. Paul Runko leads strategic initiatives at Defending Education.
He said this resource empowers parents directly. It helps them hold leaders accountable at the ballot box. The report splits issues into five main categories.
Parental rights saw a four-way tie at the top. North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia won. These states give parents say over sex education.
They also control gender transition policies for students. Teacher policies were another major scoring area. Georgia and Mississippi earned perfect scores here.
The report looked at union laws and strikes. Work authorization requirements also mattered for these scores. Diversity and inclusion policies faced strict scrutiny too.
Iowa, Missouri, and West Virginia topped this category. They passed laws restricting DEI initiatives in schools. Gender identity issues remain a major flashpoint.
Alabama, Florida, and Indiana tied for first place. They blocked specific LGBTQ curriculum in classrooms. They also restricted transgender athlete participation in sports.
Foreign influence became a key part of the score. Seven red states got perfect marks in this area. They limited Chinese government influence in education.
This includes banning Confucius Institutes in their schools. Alabama and Texas were among those top states. Dr. Terry Stoops directs government affairs at the group.
He praised the states at the top of the list. He said they prioritize sound academics over antics. He blamed leaders in low-ranking states for failures.
He accused them of sacrificing excellence for social justice. He told parents in bottom states to choose action. They can either fight the current system or leave it.
The report aims to clarify where each state stands. It shows how policies impact future generations. The data is now public for everyone to see.
Parents can compare their state to others now. They have the facts needed for local debates. The money and power structures are clear here.
State legislatures voted for these specific policies. The results reflect those direct political choices.