Oklahoma has been recognized as one of the top 10 states in the U.S. for education choice and parental empowerment, according to the 2025 Parent Power! Index released by the Center for Education Reform (CER).
This annual report evaluates how well each state supports educational opportunities, focusing on laws and policies that allow families to choose the best educational paths for their children.
Empowering Parents Through Choice
CER founder and CEO Jeanne Allen emphasized that no single educational solution suits every learner. States that provide flexible laws and diverse educational options are better able to meet the varied needs of students.
“When strong education freedom laws reflect parents’ demands for flexibility, innovative, dynamic new school models emerge—and families, students, and communities thrive,” Allen said.
Oklahoma’s Leading School-Choice Programs
Oklahoma earned high marks for its robust school-choice initiatives, including:
- Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program
- Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program
- Equal Opportunity Scholarship Program
- Strong public charter-school legislation
The report highlighted the state’s rapid progress in 2023, when it enacted a universally available refundable tax-credit program. This reform expanded personalized education access to thousands of families in a matter of months.
Leadership Recognized for Driving Educational Change
The CER report applauded the efforts of Governor Kevin Stitt, noting his commitment to education freedom and his role in implementing universal tax credits for low-income families.
He also championed a statewide charter board to encourage the creation of more schools, including virtual options.
Former House Speaker Charles McCall was also recognized for aligning with the governor to overcome early opposition from rural lawmakers and advancing key education legislation.
“Speaker Charles McCall has a positive relationship with the governor, and further education opportunities arrived ‘Sooner’ rather than later,” the report noted.
Oklahoma’s rise in national education rankings reflects its bold legislative action and unwavering focus on parental choice and school flexibility.
With a growing range of scholarship programs and charter options, the state is quickly becoming a model for education innovation that meets the diverse needs of families across all communities.