Nine of top 10 most rural states have private school choice

Definitions of “rural” can vary among researchers and policy officials, leaving the notion of what makes a state the “most rural” open to debate.

For example, if the most rural state means the state with the highest percentage of rural land area, that would be Alaska.

But many of Alaska’s residents are concentrated in the state’s few population centers. So, if the most rural state means the state with a higher percentage of people living outside of its major population centers, that would be measured by rural population share. Or perhaps the most rural state is defined by rural population density (people per square mile).

I note these differences because an often-used argument against North Dakota adopting a choice program such as an education savings account (ESA) policy (which is what Gov. Kelly Armstrong recently vetoed) is that it wouldn’t benefit a rural state like North Dakota.

But a number of “rural” states have choice programs.

Rural population share

For example, as measured by the U.S. Census rural population share, nine of the top 10 most rural states have publicly-created school choice programs: Vermont (rural population 66.1%), Maine (61.5%), West Virginia (55.2%), Mississippi (54.4%), Montana (47.1%), Arkansas (43.9%), New Hampshire (42.4%), South Dakota (42.3%), and Alabama (42%). Kentucky at number 10 (41.6%) and North Dakota at number 11 (39.3%) do not.

Rural population density

As measured by rural population density (people per square mile), eight of the top 10 most rural states have publicly-created school choice programs: Alaska (0.4 people per square mile), Nevada (1.4), Wyoming (2.0), Montana (3.0), Utah (3.2), South Dakota (4.7), Idaho (5.6), and Arizona (5.8). North Dakota (3.9) at number six and New Mexico (3.9) at number seven do not.

The education landscape continues to evolve across the country, and the number of new choice programs shows the momentum for educational freedom continues to build off years past. Among the rural states listed above, Idaho passed its first private school choice program this year, and Wyoming expanded its ESA program.

We have data on the choice programs that have existed in rural states for decades. We know that rural school districts are not withering and dying because of school choice. We know that more education options become available to families in rural areas once choice programs become available. We know that the majority of North Dakota families in rural areas support choice programs like ESAs.

It’s time for North Dakota to join its fellow rural states and offer its students access to expanded learning opportunities that will best set them up for future success. Let’s hope the opportunity to make this a reality for them doesn’t get missed again.