Oklahoma Governor Brags State Ranks Fourth in 'Educational Freedom' — 'But 49th Overall,' Internet Notes

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt took to social media to celebrate his state's ranking as fourth in "Education Freedom," but critics were quick to point out that Oklahoma ranks 49th overall in education.

"We spent too many years settling for an education system that was failing our kids," Stitt wrote in a post to X, emphasizing his administration's focus on school choice. "Just recently, Oklahoma was ranked number four in Education Freedom."

In Oklahoma, the Parental Choice Tax Credit Act offers a refundable income tax credit of $5,000 to $7,500 per student to cover tuition and frees for eligible private schools.

Many online challenged the governor's priorities. "I don't know what education freedom is, but your state is ranked 49th overall in education," political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen responded.

Others were dismissive of the metric's value. "What's the point of being able to choose your school when they're all horrible?" another said.

Critics argue that Stitt's focus on "education freedom"—a term often associated with school vouchers and privatization—does little to address Oklahoma's broader struggles in education, including underfunded public schools and low student performance.

Oklahoma secured a spot in the top five on the Index of State Education Freedom, according to a report released Thursday by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a nonprofit organization headed by conservative lawmakers and private sector representatives who draft and advocate for legislative initiatives. ALEC measures "Education Freedom" by state availability and funding for learning environments outside of public schools.

Meanwhile, the state is ranked 49th out of 50 when it comes to pre-kindergarten through 12th grade education in the United States, according to the U.S. News & World Report.

The governor's office has not responded to the statement's backlash.