High marks: Why is a conservative policy group awarding Utah's K-12 school system an 'A-?'

High marks: Why is a conservative policy group awarding Utah's K-12 school system an 'A-?'
Report also references Utah's school voucher program -- which is being litigated in court. A conservative policy group promoting "limited government, free markets and federalism" is awarding Utah an "A-" for its policies regarding "parental choice" and "universal education freedom." The American Legislative Exchange Council's 2026 Index of State Education Freedom also ranked the Beehive State in the country's "top-7" for its homeschooling policies -- and a No. 6 national ranking for Utah's open enrollment practices, highlighting the state's "commitment to providing families with flexible, high-quality learning options." "Utah serves as a strong example of balanced education freedom," said Andrew Handel, director of the council's education and development task force, in a news release. "With excellent homeschooling and open enrollment policies, the state demonstrates that offering multiple pathways is essential to helping every student thrive." The American Legislative Exchange Council is a nonprofit conservative policy group that connects state lawmakers across the country to examine legislation. Its reported membership includes more than 2,000 state legislators. The group's...

Source: https://www.deseret.com/utah/2026/02/02/utah-education-freedom-report/