Defending Education releases RISE rankings for U.S. state education integrity

A new report from Defending Education, titled the Rankings on Integrity in State Education (RISE), evaluates all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia based on public school policies. The rankings assess five major categories: gender and sexuality, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), parental rights, teacher policies, and foreign influence.

According to the report, states with Republican leadership generally achieved higher integrity ratings, while blue states tended to rank lower. Tennessee received the highest score, followed by Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, and Iowa. The District of Columbia ranked lowest, followed by Illinois, Oregon, California, and Rhode Island.

Defending Education officials stated the rankings aim to provide parents with transparent information to evaluate local schools and hold elected officials accountable regarding educational rigor and social justice policies.