ANDREW HANDEL: Education Freedom Continues To Rise Across America

When the first National School Choice Week was held in 2011, the concept of a program that would allow any child in a state to attend the school that best fits their needs didn’t exist. However, as we celebrate the 15th Annual National School Choice Week in 2026, America’s approach to education is undergoing rapid changes. Today, 17 states have created exactly these programs, and millions of students across the country are benefiting from them.

This is why the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is proud to release the 2026 Index of State Education Freedom. Now in its third edition, the index has quickly become the leading barometer of education freedom across the states, ranking the states based on their policies in support of student-centered funding, charter schools, homeschools, virtual schools, and open enrollment.

For the third year in a row, Florida claimed the number one spot in our 2026 rankings and continued to be the only state to earn an overall “A+” grade, setting itself apart by going beyond simply ensuring its education dollars follow students. The Sunshine State has cultivated a thriving education marketplace where parents are empowered to pick the best school for their children. In Florida, all learning options can compete on a level playing field, thus ensuring that parents, not the government, are the ultimate arbiters of their students’ success.

However, Florida is beginning to face serious competition. The biggest story in education freedom in 2025 was Texas’ passage of the largest universal education freedom account (EFA) program in the country. As a direct result of this, the Lone Star State jumped 15 spots in ALEC’s rankings to ninth overall. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made establishing the program his top legislative priority and was relentless in his support of families and students.