Developing the Next Generation of Education Advocates

As educational opportunities expand across the country, families need people in their communities who understand those options and can help make educational freedom a reality. That means developing the next generation of education advocates.

That’s the goal of the Young Professionals Institute: Education Fellowship (YPI: Edu). Done in partnership between EdChoice and the National Urban League Young Professionals affiliates across the nation, the program has completed four cohorts with 49 participants focused on becoming informed, equity-driven advocates for students and families.

In its four years, the program has evolved alongside the current educational landscape. From research projects and capstone presentations to examining specific needs in each cohort member’s community, each program cycle encourages participants to learn more about the educational options available in their state and consider how those options could better serve local families.

With the enactment of the Federal Tax Credit for Scholarships, educational choice is entering a new chapter, but new opportunities only matter if families know about and can access them. That’s why developing advocates is so important. Too often, parents begin exploring their options only when they reach a critical decision point in their child’s education. Having informed advocates in their communities can help close that awareness gap.  

YPI:Edu cohort members don’t have to be parents or teachers; they just need curiosity and a desire to make a quality education accessible to every student.

The fellowship can also change how participants themselves think about education and school choice. One program graduate entered the cohort with preconceived notions about school choice and left with a new perspective and a desire to start her own school so that she could create the type of education she wished was available for students in her state.

That’s the power behind this program. Through impactful school visits, hands-on learning, and thoughtful discussions about state-specific education policies, YPI:Edu is developing advocates who understand what educational freedom can look like in practice and are prepared to help more families access it.