What does parent power look like in NC?

By August 18, 2021 News

Do you ever wonder how much power parents have over education reform? The Center for Education Reform, a national advocacy organization, ranks the states each year through its Parent Power! Index. While there’s plenty of room for improvement, North Carolina stacks up pretty well in 2021, especially when it comes to public charter schools.

In CER’s 2021 ranking, North Carolina makes the top 10, coming in 8th overall. Here’s a look at how our state fares in key areas:

  • Charter schools: NC earns a B (80%).
  • Choice programs: NC earns a C (70%).
  • Teacher quality: NC earns a C (76%).
  • Innovation: NC earns a C (78%).

National rankings

Nationally, Florida is the only state to earn an A overall. Three states–Arizona, Indiana, and West Virginia–earn a B. North Carolina earns a C overall in parent power. Here’s the national map:

Source: Parent Power! Index, Center for Education Reform

Here’s the screenshot of the national ranking:

Source: Parent Power! Index, Center for Education Reform

But, take a look at the national map on charter schools. This shows up as an area of real strength for North Carolina.

Source: Parent Power! Index, Center for Education Reform

Learn more about CER’s Parent Power Index here. Find out more about CER’s data and methodology here.