Need a record of February 2021’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
We share our 10 key takeaways based on our February polling wave.
Some policymakers in the Sunflower State have expressed concern about the potential fiscal impact of a new educational choice program. Our fiscal expert looks at the data from existing Kansas programs to learn more.
Mike McShane's new book and our recent polling shine some light on the subject.
The state's 15-year-old School Tuition Organization Tax Credit helped 12,538 students enroll in private schools of choice during the 2019–20 school year. And recent polling shows Iowans want to see programs like it grow to serve more families.
By Jennifer Wagner After almost five years working in the school choice movement, the subhed on this story about the potential cost of Indiana’s proposed voucher expansion and special needs
We share our key takeaways based on our January polling wave.
Need a record of January 2021’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Which of America’s school choice programs has the most students participating? What about the least?
Where are America’s students getting their education? Which types of schools and educational settings are they choosing?
Get this year's comprehensive list of every private school choice program in America ranked by program eligibility.
For the fifth year in a row, here are the rankings of states spending share on private educational choice programs.
We rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power based on data in our 2021 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.
We caffeinated. We debated. We declared this year’s yearbook superlatives, including dubbing a winner of a new category—Most Choice-y State.
By Jennifer Wagner Four decades ago, Nobel laureate Milton Friedman sat down with talk show host Phil Donahue to discuss his bestselling book, Free to Choose. You can watch the
We share our eight key takeaways based on our December polling wave.
By Gwen Samuel Dear Dr. Cardona, Congratulations on your nomination to become the next U.S. Secretary of Education. It doesn’t seem so long ago that we were sitting in your office
EdChoice recently gathered a diverse group of thought leaders to talk about current school transportation challenges and potential solutions.
Kids are encouraged to study hard to prepare for college, but ESAs allow them to prepare financially, too.
By Jennifer Wagner The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That tired old cliché is all I can think of
Student stress and happiness levels were among the items parents saw changing from spring to fall, while support for all school choice policies grew to record levels.
We share our eight key takeaways based on our November polling wave.
Need a record of November 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Learn more about some of the most intriguing findings from our latest report.
By Jennifer Wagner The pandemic has changed schooling as we know it — for now. You can’t throw a stick without hitting an article about how families have been adapting since March. Some
Wondering where the nation’s newly elected or re-elected governors stand on education reform—and specifically on the issue of private school choice? We’ve collected their public and campaign statements here.
We share our 14 key findings based on our October polling wave with Morning Consult.
Need a record of October 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Where are America’s students getting their education? Which types of schools and educational settings are they choosing?
When legal and educational systems fail to recognize the humanity of those they sentence, such callousness leaves the most fragile the most vulnerable and in harm’s way.
We share our 12 key takeaways based on our September polling wave.
Need a record of September 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
By Mike McShane As is rarely said at a Sinn Fein meeting, I’d like to say something nice about Protestants. In a new report from the American Enterprise Institute, Albert
By Jennifer Wagner Mother Jones recently published a story questioning whether GreatSchools, a national nonprofit that rates public PK-12 schools using test scores and other factors, is inadvertently contributing to
Our new poll reveals teen views on back-to-school, the pandemic and other hot topics.
We share our seven key takeaways based on our August polling wave.
Need a record of August 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
By Jennifer Wagner EdChoice is the oldest group in the nation solely dedicated to advancing school choice. Dr. Friedman and his wife, Rose, founded the organization in 1996. We’ll be
Learn what parents, the public and people of different races and ethnicities think about K–12 education issues, including school choice, funding and more.
We share the ways transportation influences parents’ decisions regarding where to send their children to school and more.
How did Americans of different incomes, political affiliations and communities—urban, suburban and small town/rural—respond to our Schooling in America Survey?
By Jennifer Wagner To my sweet, kind, inquisitive son: I love you so much. I love how you tell us all about the latest Fortnite updates and perform all the dances — and
By Jennifer Wagner The other day, I dropped an opinion piece — with no personal commentary — on my Facebook timeline from someone who was concerned about students going back to school in person. I
What are the reasons parents choose homeschool, and how do these experiences vary by race?
Check out all eight episodes of season three of our Cool Schools podcast series.
In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle how to help schools and school districts 'unbundle' food services.
In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle how student transportation can change as schools reopen in the Fall.
In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle what it might look like to 'unbundle' core academic elements of schools.
In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle paying for classroom supplies.
In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle what it means to 'unbundle' educational services and providers to create a more resilient system of education.
In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle funding for remediation programs.
We share our five key takeaways based on our July polling wave.
Need a record of July 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
The pandemic drastically altered students’ learning environments while affecting parents’ views on remote learning and reopening, but experiences differed by racial/ethnic backgrounds.
Educators make mobility decisions based on retirement plans and portability.
VP of Legal Affairs Leslie Hiner breaks down the legal language and shares the EdChoice backstory.
We share our eight key takeaways based on our June polling waves.
By Jennifer Wagner There has been much debate in recent weeks about criminal justice reform following the killing of George Floyd and a series of high-profile cases of police brutality
Need a record of June 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
We break down three types of programs and show what makes them so different.
Learn more about the report in this handy infographic.
You can decide for yourself which parents you think didn’t live up to the good parenting standard, but you might want to ask yourself whether you’re judging someone for their choices or their circumstances.
By Drew Catt As a native of Indiana and science fiction fan, I grew up loving Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind and was downright giddy when Stranger
By Jennifer Wagner It’s always easy to hate the rich and their fancy private schools. It’s even easier in tough economic times when unemployment is high and the future is uncertain.
We share our eight key takeaways based on our May polling waves.
Court rules school choice law violates "home rule" provision.
Need a record of May 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Whether we like it or not, schools are likely to stay closed for a while longer. How will all this change affect students’ mental health?
We share our eight key takeaways based on our January-to-April polling waves.
Learn more about our goals for the new polling dashboard, and get tips on how to navigate its various tools and pages.
Let our state and legal teams help you stay up to date on the latest in our monthly brief.
What happens to a school who’s students and teachers come from all over the world when the world shuts down?
We asked nearly 800 schools how they’re doing, what they fear and need.
The current economic downturn will have rippling effects on the health of pension funds for public school teachers and other public employees.
Shuttering school choice programs would cost states $3.3 billion.
In partnership with Morning Consult, we surveyed American K–12 school parents about how COVID-19, which we also refer to as “coronavirus,” has affected their lives and their children’s education.
What would happen to state and local budgets if a percentage of private school students wind up back in the public system?
Lawmakers revert to old “failing” schools list while punting on means-tested conversion.
This boarding and day school has learned several lessons that might be useful for other schools coping with COVID-19.
Learn how this school is providing structure for students and parents.
We partnered with Hanover Research to see what areas have been the most studied.
Principal Jason Strniste shares three lessons the school has learned.
Find out if you're eligible and learn how you can submit an application.
This Indianapolis school shares lessons they have learned during this transition.
Let our state and legal teams help you stay up to date on the latest in our monthly brief.
Learn how this preschool network adjusts to online learning.
By Jennifer Wagner “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” I’ve always appreciated that Douglas Adams quote — and I’m drawn to it more than ever
Learn more about how this network of schools in New York City is serving their students.
By Jennifer Wagner In case you missed it, we’re all teachers now — and probably will be for the rest of the school year. Teachers are amazing. My parents were teachers. I love helping
Learn more about how this Texas school is adapting.
As we navigate the many ways the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting our routines and families, we wanted to provide a handy list of free, online tools to help you continue teaching and learning at home.
Students can use the GI Bill and Pell Grants Program—school voucher programs for adults—at both public and private institutions. But to what extent does that actually happen?
Are your children learning from home this week? Check out these three tips to help make the most of it (and keep your sanity).
By Elissa Wahl The coronavirus isn’t just about getting sick or stocking up on toilet paper — it’s also becoming a national issue surrounding education. Schools are shutting down, leaving kids home,
Taking a look at the national landscape of student transportation policy, the best we can say is that it is complicated.
Last month was a busy one for school choice in the states. Let our state and legal teams help you stay up to date on the latest in our monthly brief.
We share some of the most compelling results of our 2019 Schooling in America survey in the form of infographics.
By Jennifer Wagner If you work in the K-12 education space, you know by now that it’s open season on charter schools. This recent New York Times piece took a
Too often, advocates think that they need to convince the entire populace of a state to support their initiative. They don’t. They need 1,000 true supporters, or perhaps even fewer.
When a child is assaulted day in and day out in their assigned public school, how can anyone argue they don't deserve school choice? Believe it or not, there are people who do.
By Jennifer Wagner Buying a domain name, launching a website and making a public announcement are the first steps toward building a grassroots network of supporters. They also happen to
School vouchers helped create integration academies but school choice opponents don’t want you to know that.
By Jennifer Wagner Hear ye, hear ye. Make way for the Official School Choice Language Brigade, summoned recently in response to terminology used by President Trump in his State of the
Need a record of January 2020’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
By Jennifer Wagner When asked to describe his threshold for determining obscenity, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart famously said back in 1964 that he didn’t have a clear standard,
We rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power based on data in our 2020 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.
Which of America’s school choice programs has the most students participating? What about the least?
Get this year's comprehensive list of every private school choice program in America ranked by program eligibility.
For the fourth year in a row – here are the rankings of states spending share on private educational choice programs.
Keep an eye on these states for school choice legislation in 2020.
We caffeinated. We debated. We declared this year’s yearbook superlatives, including most likely to succeed in 2020.
Beyond Rallies: Five Grassroots Activities That Probably Are Easier (And Just As Effective) By Jennifer Wagner Everyone loves the idea of a rally to support their cause: thousands of people
Daarel Burnette of Education Week wrote a provocative piece earlier this month titled “Face It, School Governance Is a Mess.” His core argument is tough to dispute: No one knows who is in charge of K–12 education.
Need a record of school choice legislation and litigation in the states from last month? Our brief roundup has you covered.
We present three steps to making hybrid homeschool work.
We present four profiles of potential hybrid home-schoolers.
Hybrid home schooling proponents must tackle three questions to grow beyond early adopters and into the mainstream.
By Jennifer Wagner “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” This famously funny Will Rogers quote applies far beyond partisan politics. Every issue — political
By Jennifer Wagner Welcome to the golden age of influence. Some of us are new to it. Others are growing up in it. We’re all going to have to adapt
By Jennifer Wagner When thousands of people come together to speak out for or against something, it’s a beautiful sight. Rallies and protests are a reminder of our fundamental American
By Jason Bedrick Have you ever watched two friends engaged in a heated debate who are basically saying the same thing but don’t seem to realize it? That’s how I
By Jennifer Wagner Coalitions, no matter the issue, tend to loosely fall into two buckets: true believers and unlikely allies. True believers are the bedrock, but it’s hard to move beyond
OMG, Bernie Sanders And Elizabeth Warren Are Politicians! By Jennifer Wagner To my friends in the K-12 school choice movement currently losing your minds because Democrats who once supported charters
By Dr. John Merrifield Q: Why is our traditional K-12 education system so inefficient; costs too much; leaves a lot of children massively under-educated? A: It operates in ways
As teacher protests continue, we share answers to the top five questions we get asked about teacher pay
No more theories: The data show school choice actually helps teachers in these four ways
New polling might point to inter-district busing being a lost cause among teachers, but there are some pockets of opportunity
School choice opponents say we should “fully fund” one system (public schools), but here’s where that all falls apart
Interpretations of what the body of school choice research says differ dramatically depending on who you talk to, but should it be that way?
The 2019 Schooling in America Survey provides gauges on K–12 issues now as well as trends over the past seven years
As a longtime school choice researcher, here are my picks for the NCES report’s most interesting findings
For National Podcast Day, we’re taking a look at some of our most popular tracks
EdNext survey reveals what parents, teachers, Democrats and Republicans know about schooling in America—and what they want to change
Pick from all seven episodes of our second season of Cool Schools with Mike McShane
Need a record of July 2019’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered
Be prepared next time someone disses school choice in your presence
Learn all of the private school tax credit and deduction programs from the fed, states and more
How many K–12 students use educational choice out of all students in your state? Find out in this list.
Need a record of May 2019’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered
Need a record of April 2019’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered
Founder of Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School talks leading a faith-based institution made up of predominately non-Lutheran students
Recent cheating scandals have shone a light on funding inequities in American public education
Need a record of March 2019’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered
Federal rules allow parents to use the tax-advantaged 529 savings plan for certain private K–12 expenses, but it may be more complicated than you think.
Need a record of February 2019’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered
How far might Florida Hope Scholarship students travel to attend a qualifying private school?
Charters, magnets and career and technical education schools aren’t the only non-traditional options for American Indian and Alaska Native students
Get the rundown on all nine installments of this survey-driven series
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
One in eight West Virginia students has a far commute to the nearest private school
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
Need a record of January 2019’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
The EdChoice team debated and dubbed this year’s yearbook superlatives, including most likely to succeed in 2019.
Our team has never been shy about our focus on broad eligibility in school choice programs, but a program that’s open to all families is only as good as
Learn the latest on these key cases and how they could affect families’ educational choices
How much of states’ total K–12 funds are spent on school choice programs? Find out in this list.
Which of America’s school choice programs has the most students participating? What about the least? In this post, we rank America’s school choice programs by how many participants they
At EdChoice, eligibility is one of the most important factors in analyzing a school choice program. We believe that all parents—regardless of geography, income or any other factor—should have
If you care about school choice policies, our annual flagship publication will make your job easier. Order your free print copy below.
Need a record of December 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
This is the third in a larger blog series about liberating education through educational freedom. In his 1958 book Freedom of Choice in Education, Father Virgil Blum stated,
This is the second in a larger blog series about liberating education through educational freedom. There is a strange notion going around that school choice advocates are on
As we head into a new year with new opportunities to expand educational choice for families across America, it’s appropriate to take a moment to reflect on the school
A brilliant satire meets our team’s real-world experience trying to pass school choice legislation in this episode of our School Choice in Pop Culture series
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
Our state team breaks from our normal debrief format to chat about an IRS rule that may affect tax-credit scholarships
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events
The new EdChoice national survey data support what many assume about teachers and parents with some notable surprises
Paying full-price for K–12 private school tuition and fees might not be your only option.
Where the states stand after midterm gubernatorial, legislative races
There were 36 gubernatorial races in the 2018 cycle, and Democrats picked up a total of seven seats nationwide.
PBS’s Frontline misses the mark on who’s to blame for the public worker pension crisis
Need a record of October 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Pick from all 14 episodes of our second season of Cool Schools with Mike McShane.
Many think school vouchers drain money from public education, but data tell a different story
Last month, the Tennessee Department of Education released the final expense report summary and enrollment data for the first full year of the state’s education savings account (ESA) program
An IRS response to high-tax states may affect all charities, including tax-credit scholarships. What’s next?
Need a record of August 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Indiana is ripe with school choice, but families in some areas lack access to highly rated schools or alternatives to their zoned public schools
Our team updates you on the latest school choice happenings in the states since our last Monthly Debrief episode
New Hampshire students, on average, don’t have a far commute to private school options
Need a record of July 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
This post is part of The Next 200 Years series.
Education policy wonks are atwitter over what a recent University of Virginia (UVA) press release said about school choice, but should they be?
Need a record of June 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Returning to a democratically-elected school board has pros and cons for parental choice
This week, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled that it is unconstitutional for a state or public-sector union to force non-consenting employees to pay union agency fees. Why is
More than three-quarters of Oklahoma families could drive their K–12 students to a private school in 20 minutes or less
Need a record of May 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
It’s not all bad news, and there are important reasons why D.C.’s voucher results can’t be generalized to all school choice programs
Learn the definition and the main types of market failure with examples from many industries and an in-depth case study of market failure in K–12 education.
The potential for school choice is a small, but important, piece in the island’s massive education overhaul
Need a record of April 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
A new study uses the latest student performance and segregation data to compare Chile’s school voucher system to other traditional Latin American education systems over time.
What happened with Jubilee Catholic Schools in Memphis, and what can we learn from it?
Need a record of March 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
In general, South Carolina students aren’t far from private school options
This post is part of a new EdChoice blog series called The Next 200 Years, where authors will wrestle with how to best preserve the legacy and ensure the future of Catholic education in the United States.
A new working paper examines all voucher studies, charter studies and more to assess whether short-run test score results translate to the long term for kids.
Milwaukee and D.C. studies continue trends, but context is important
Mapping brick-and-mortar charter schools versus online schools in robust school choice states
Based on Indiana Department of Education data, which public school districts are students leaving and why?
Breaking down the financial state of Catholic Schools and possible sustainability solutions
Need a record of February 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Three EdChoice team members chat about their experiences in school choice coalition building—how to do it well, what can break down a coalition and more.
This post is part of a new EdChoice blog series called The Next 200 Years, where authors will wrestle with how to best preserve the legacy and ensure the future of Catholic education in the United States.
Check out these maps showing outgoing, incoming and net public district school choice transfers and where the state’s public transfer hot spots are.
We broke down the Granite State’s ESA bill, SB 193, so you don’t have to.
Need a record of January 2018’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
How many K–12 students use educational choice out of all students in your state? Find out in this list.
We’ve given our readers an overview of educational choice programs across the nation this week with rankings based on eligibility and participation. But one major question still remains: How
How much of states’ total education dollars are spent on school choice programs? Find out in this list.
At EdChoice, eligibility is one of the most important factors in analyzing a school choice program. We believe that all parents—regardless geography, income, or any other factor—should have access
Which of America’s school choice programs has the most students participating? What about the least? The 2018 edition of The ABCs of School Choice gives the most up-to-date information
This post is the last in a three-part series exploring what the research tells us about poverty, urban blight, pollution and gentrification as it relates to school choice policies.
This post is the second in a three-part series exploring what the research tells us about poverty, urban blight, pollution and gentrification as it relates to school choice policies.
This post is the first in a three-part series exploring what the research tells us about poverty, urban blight, pollution and gentrification as it relates to school choice policies.
Check out this simple guide to empirical evidence and how to identify high-quality research from poor-quality research, using examples from the auto and education industries.
Need a record of December 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Recent media coverage of Florida’s tax-credit scholarships wrongly paints them as breeding ground for evil deeds.
Which is to blame for segregation in the private education sector: private schools or our current economy?
Check out this example of Mississippi to learn how these maps work and where the state’s private school hot spots—and deserts—are located.
A handful of organizations released high-quality surveys of Americans on education issues in 2017, and here’s what they found in a nutshell.
Need a record of November 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Douglas County School District’s voucher program—an excellent educational opportunity for children—was captured, and ruined, by politics and contentious litigation.
A new paper sparks debate about whether giving parents of students with special needs the ability to opt out of IDEA in favor of alternative options is good or bad.
Each year at Thanksgiving, we highlight the stories of students and families who are especially grateful for educational opportunity. Last year, we shared a blog post by Valerie McMurray,
This veteran family man shares his experiences and discusses why military families not only need access to school choice, but also more and better information.
We shouldn’t give parents choices because they don’t have enough information to make good decisions, but they don’t have enough information because we haven’t given them choices. So what do we do?
Need a record of October 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
The founder of a one-to-one instruction model private school shares what differentiates her school and why it should no longer be considered revolutionary.
Need a record of September 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
An education policy scholar explains our education system’s real problem and how we can begin to fix it.
After dozens of parents reached out for options that could keep their children safe from bullying, we had to learn more about what families and the data say about school choice.
Need a record of August 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Learn everything you need to know about Illinois’s new tax-credit scholarship program for low- and middle-income families.
This post originally appeared here on the Rick Hess Straight Up blog on Education Week. I’ve probably been to Washington, D.C., more times in the past six months than
This post originally appeared here on the Rick Hess Straight Up blog on Education Week. Greetings, fellow travelers. It’s Robert Enlow, back again with the next take from the
This post originally appeared here on the Rick Hess Straight Up blog on Education Week. Hi. My name is Robert Enlow. I’m an ed reformer, and I’ve been one
Find out why policymakers should understand what the data say about the power of parents’ school choices before condemning this alternative accountability mechanisms.
For as long as we can remember, our society has known one system of education. Based on their ZIP Codes, our children are assigned to “free” public schools that
First, we need to understand what it would take to topple public schools. Total expenditures nationwide for fiscal year 2014 exceeded $625 billion. Now, how much are states spending
Researchers from across the country have conducted more than 100 rigorous empirical studies on the effects of school choice programs. Here’s what they found. Does School Choice Help or
Rich people have always been able to practice educational choice: They either pay out of pocket for private schools, or they pay a premium to buy houses in neighborhoods
Need a record of July 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
The old system of delivering public education is not improving quickly enough. Since 1971, America’s spending on education has increased by 300 percent, and that’s adjusted for inflation. Yet
Authors and autism experts map out four factors that are adding pressure to policymakers to create more educational choice options for special needs families.
This article was originally published on Education Next. Last year, more than 250,000 students in 17 states used tax-credit scholarships to attend schools their families chose. Under such policies, taxpayers can
Opponents of educational choice worry that empowering parents and students to attend private schools will lead to a Wild West of schools wrought with teachers who lack “certification,” a
Need a record of June 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed SB 8 today, opening educational opportunities for families in small towns across the state.
The North Carolina legislature overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto to enact Senate Bill 257, a budget bill that includes additional funding for the state’s two school voucher programs as well as
Need a record of May 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
Tulane University Professor Douglas N. Harris gets the research wrong in his response to a Wall Street Journal editorial praising school choice. The Journal referenced the fourth edition of
We’re a pretty humble lot here at EdChoice, but we’re proud of the work we do and our reputation as a standard-bearer in the K–12 educational choice movement. When
The national conversation around school choice and this new program type called education savings accounts, or ESAs, has some people confused. We’re here to simplify.
This new study finds some negative results for voucher students in their first year in the program, but there’s much more to learn.
Need a record of April 2017’s state school choice happenings? Our brief roundup has you covered.
“There is no conclusive evidence that the [DC Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP)] affected student achievement.” This one statement, taken from a 214-page government report for which one of us
This post originally appeared on Jay P. Greene’s Blog. The confirmation of Betsy DeVos as the nation’s Secretary of Education is shining a national spotlight on educational choice. It
We came. We presented. We listened. Here’s (most of) what we learned at the AEFP 42nd Annual Conference.
New Gallup poll finds bipartisan support for educational choice as part of President Trump’s agenda
Need a record of March 2017 school choice happenings in the states? Our roundup has you covered.
If you build it, they will come. A memorable line, a memorable scene. But what happens if you know they’ll come, and you just can’t get it built in
Why looking at quantitative and qualitative evidence could change The Anti-Defamation League’s position on school choice
Note: This post originally appeared on the School Choice New Hampshire blog. New Hampshire lawmakers are currently considering legislation to create an education savings account (ESA) program. ESAs allow
Note: This post was originally published on Education Next. The Century Foundation has published a report by Halley Potter that claims private school choice will increase ethnic segregation in schools.
Learn everything you need to know about Missouri’s potential education savings accounts (ESAs) for nearly all K–12 students.
A new University of Arkansas study finds a link between a country’s share of private school students and the nation’s overall academic proficiency and human rights.
Today’s freakout comes to us from Twitter, where we recently had a chat with an opponent who is fervently using the platform to fight a potential Iowa school choice program—education
I wish I had a nickel for each time I’ve read or heard something about how school choice siphons resources from public schools or how it will cripple a
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Alabama The Alabama Senate passed SB 123, a bill sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh that would expand the tax credits available through the state’s Education Scholarship Program.
EdChoice’s VP of Research and Innovation explains why people should take school choice opponents’ cherrypicked data with a grain of salt.
Learn everything you need to know about Ohio’s potential K–12 education savings accounts (ESAs), including what the polls say locals think about such reforms.
I find myself this year in the interesting position of kindergarten shopping for my 5-year-old daughter. Besides the expected “I can’t believe she’s this big already” nostalgia, there’s an
With homes in “good districts” priced 77 percent higher than in neighboring districts, families need more individualized options.
Not only will the proposed Arkansas ESA help match more children with the right learning environment, but recent studies show the program is also a sound fiscal move for the state.
Learn everything you need to know about the state’s potential education savings accounts (ESAs) for all K–12 students.
How much of states’ education dollars are spent on school choice programs?
Learn everything you need to know about the state’s potential education savings account (ESA) expansion to all K–12 students.
Learn everything you need to know about the state’s potential education savings accounts (ESAs) for nearly all K–12 students.
A few weeks ago, New Hampshire legislators introduced Education Freedom Savings Accounts in the Senate. The bill, if passed, would set up an education savings account (ESA) program that
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Arizona SB 1431, a bill that would expand the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to near-universal eligibility, was introduced to the Arizona legislature last month. The bill was
Do you know which states the EdChoice team thinks are most likely to succeed in 2017?
We’ve given our readers an overview of educational choice programs across the nation this week with rankings based on eligibility and participation. But one major question still remains: How well are these
Which of America’s school choice programs has the most participants? Which has the least? The latest edition of The ABCs of School Choice gives the most up-to-date information we have
At EdChoice, our goal for any educational choice program is universal eligibility. We believe that all parents—regardless of ZIP Code, income, or any other factors—should have access to flexible
In my continual quest to provide the most comprehensive data possible, I have revamped how we look at the educational choice share, or EdChoice share. This year, the EdChoice
Whether you’re a policymaker or a thought leader who’s interested in educational choice, our flagship publication is designed to help make your job easier. How can The ABCs of
Recent research also shows Arkansas private schools have thousands of open seats to fill
Milwaukee, Wisconsin has a 25-year-old school voucher program (MPCP) restricted to low-income students, district-run chartered public schools and some privately funded vouchers. Because the MPCP is the oldest publicly
New research estimates how much the city’s school choice program could save Wisconsin over the next two decades through lower crime rates and higher graduation rates.
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Georgia Leslie Hiner worked with outside counsel and, on December 15, 2016, filed an amicus brief with the Georgia Supreme Court in support of the state’s
A Clark County voter poll commissioned by Nevada’s Clark County Education Association (CCEA), a local teachers’ union, and conducted by Quirk Global Strategies made the rounds in the news over
Three families share their children’s success stories thanks to education savings accounts (ESAs).
New report finds Arizona private schools could increase student enrollment by 37 percent
Give the American K–12 education system another participation ribbon, this time for its latest results on the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), a global measurement taken every
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION There are no state updates this month regarding school choice program legislation or litigation developments. IN OTHER NEWS -Although news headlines have focused primarily on
One of the most important questions in K–12 education is: Who should hold whom accountable for what, and how? Warring factions have been fighting over the answer for
District schools, charter schools and private schools, and the teachers who educate within them, need accountability if they’re going to perform their best. The technocratic paradigm of accountability—testing-driven
Who am I? My name is Valerie McMurray My birth mother was a heroin addict and an alcoholic all throughout her pregnancy, and because of that, I was born
Although K–12 education didn’t feature heavily into the 2016 race for the White House, President-elect Donald Trump has not been shy about his support for school choice, even
The crisis over accountability in the education reform movement is revealing that we lack a basis for building consensus on what makes a good education. Without at least some
The Center for Evaluation & Education Policy at Indiana University recently released a report analyzing the design and fiscal effects of K–12 school voucher programs in six states,
With the 2016 elections over—well, almost over—many are wondering what it all means for the future of educational choice policies. Although news headlines have focused primarily on the presidential
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Nevada In light of the Nevada Supreme Court’s Sept. 29 ruling that the legislature did not adequately appropriate funding for their best-in-the-nation education savings account (ESA)
In 2014, we calculated the cumulative savings generated by America’s K–12 school voucher programs over two decades—$1.7 billion. This year, we continued that study by doing the same for
Which states are going above and beyond to offer students with special needs more opportunity in education?
This year’s report features a special focus on Millennials and new questions for parents.
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Connecticut In Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding v Jodi M. Rell, the Superior Court in Hartford ruled, on September 7, that Connecticut’s school funding
I am a high school drop-out. Despite graduating from college with honors, earning two graduate degrees and professional success, my status as a high school drop-out is difficult to
Five Easy Ways to Engage with Your Elected Officials
In this series we have been looking at some uncomfortable truths about education policy. In this installment we’re going to look at how the education reform movement has avoided
Some may not admit it, but many of us cringe when a conversation turns to numbers and math. Well, we’re taking it there with this post. Feel free to
In our Surveying State Legislators report, we share findings from a phone survey of state legislators from across the country. It’s worth noting that we believe this is the
My name is Lennon. From kindergarten until my junior year, I have attended private, parochial schools. My elementary and middle school years were fondly lived out at St. Gregory
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Nevada – Michael Chartier @mchart1 It has been more than a month since the Nevada Supreme Court heard arguments in the Duncan v. State of Nevada
In two previous posts, I discussed the fiscal impact of Nevada’s education savings account (ESA) program and how it could help the state with its problem of rising pension
From the minute we wake up to the minute we call it a day, we’re bombarded with marketing and advertising. Our phones, computers and televisions flicker with the latest
In our society we are free to disagree about what is good, true and beautiful, and as a result we lack consensus about what is a good education. Since
This is the third in a three-part series that looks at education savings accounts in Missouri and how they could empower every family and improve student outcomes. As previously
This is the second in a three-part series that looks at education savings accounts in Missouri and how they could empower every family and improve student outcomes. There
Arkansas is on its way to becoming a natural, actual, real, authentical educational choice lovin’ state. Just like Johnny Cash’s song character Joe Bean, I’ve never been to Arkansas.
Watch the liberal Dr. Steve Perry speak at the conservative ALEC annual meeting.
This is the first in a three-part series that looks at education savings accounts in Missouri and how they could empower every family and improve student outcomes. Where Things
Accountability begins with the question: What do we want from schools? Education should help people grow into their potential as human beings, and education reform should fix our system
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Arkansas – Brittany Corona @BrittanyLCorona Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed the state’s 2016–17 budget in June, which included funding for the Succeed Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, a
EdChoice. It’s a big and powerful idea—and it’s the new name of our organization. Earlier this year, we announced that we’d be changing our brand to celebrate our past
Nevada created an education model for the nation in 2015 when it passed into law an education savings account (ESA) program under which more than 96 percent of all
A recent study led by Northwestern economist David Figlio on Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program is a case of good news and bad news. To be sure, it provides
The debate about school choice is often animated in the United States, but critics of the idea may be surprised to learn that school voucher programs are quite common
Nearly 8,000 Nevada students have signed up for a program that would give them the power to use state funds to create an educational plan tailored for their individual
We’re back with the third installment of the What Teachers Say About School Choice series, which features feedback we’ve received on social media from educators and administrators — along
For decades, the word “accountability” brought education reformers together. Today, it’s driving us apart. Our forefathers built the education reform movement on a foundation that all reformers shared: We
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Arizona – Michael Chartier @mchart1 The Arizona Auditor General released a performance audit on the nation’s first education savings accounts (ESAs): Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. The auditor’s main findings
To maintain and grow enrollment, school leaders need to know whether parents are satisfied with the education their children are receiving and the learning environment in which it takes
School choice. The term was demonized in my teacher credentialing courses and by my own mother, who had been teaching in public schools since she was 20 years old.
School choice opponents have no shortage of unfounded arguments aimed at blocking parents from choosing the best educational fit for their own kids. One of their favorite talking points
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Arizona – Michael Chartier @mchart1 The Arizona legislature expanded the states education savings account (ESA) program by making children who are legally blind and/or deaf or hard of hearing eligible. The state
Maine legislator and presidential hopeful James G. Blaine (1830–1893) was a member of Congress in the mid- to late 1800s, a time when Catholic immigrants were flooding into the
As educational choice grows, so does the evidence proving it works. In today’s release of the fourth edition of a Friedman Foundation flagship report—A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence
An Analysis of the Louisiana Scholarship Program Achievement Findings “The approach has been to regard any market failure, however minor, as a sufficient excuse for government intervention. The market
This is the second in a two-part series on Nevada’s fiscal climate and educational choice. In the first part of our series, we examined the fiscal effect of Nevada’s
Are school vouchers really a form of “welfare?” Recently, Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign argued in the Beloit Daily News that “truth in labeling” requires labeling the
I have some really exciting news to share with you: The Friedman Foundation is changing its name. Why is that “exciting news?” Why wouldn’t we want to keep using
If you have ever seen a sentence on the Friedman Foundation website along the lines of “You Might Be Eligible For [a specific education savings account program],” or “You
LEGISLATION AND LITIGATION Georgia – Brittany Corona @BrittanyLCorona HB 243 was recommitted to be heard in the Georgia House Ways and Means on April 2. The bill would create
It’s time to stop treating the problem of educational productivity as a grinding, eat-your-broccoli exercise. It’s time to start treating it as an opportunity for innovation and accelerating progress.
The Washington Post’s Valerie Strauss recently published an opinion piece, “The ‘Walmartization’ of public education,” in which she derides the Friedman Foundation for our work to empower families to
Arizona – Michael Chartier @mchart1 The House Appropriations Committee amended SB 1279, formerly a bill for a phase-in universal education savings account (ESA) program, to include only those children
According to a recent article in the U.S. News & World Report, several big-city public school systems face immense fiscal challenges. The leading suspect? Public pensions. This answer shouldn’t
Growing up, the only things I knew about Nebraska were Cornhusker football and Tom Osborne (which are synonymous in most people’s minds). When I was older, I bought a
This is the first in a two-part series on Nevada’s fiscal climate and educational choice. A common critique often put forth by school choice opponents is that these
After narrow defeat in 2015, Virginia may become the sixth state to adopt innovative education savings accounts (ESAs). The Virginia legislature passed a statewide ESA for students with special
Update 3/29/16: Today, Gov. Daugaard signed the Partners in Education Tax Credit Program into law. The program will begin providing scholarships in the 2016–17 school year. Please visit our full program
A common critique often put forth by school choice opponents is that such programs will divert students from districts, therefore “siphoning” resources from public schools. Opponents of the proposed Oklahoma education
Arizona – Michael Chartier @mchart1 In a 17–13 vote, the Arizona Senate passed SB 1279, a bill that would expand the state’s education savings account (ESA) eligibility. The bill then
Kasey Locke’s preschool teachers in Arizona tried to help her focus and stay on task at school. But as Kasey entered kindergarten, her parents, Jeff and Rebecca, wanted to
“With this bill, we reaffirm that fundamentally American ideal—that every child, regardless of race, income, background, the ZIP Code where they live, deserves the chance to make of their
Lawmakers in Tennessee are currently considering legislation to create a modest school voucher program. Students from low-income families assigned to the “lowest-performing” district schools who had been enrolled in
Amidst the celebration of National School Choice Week, Indiana’s Journal Gazette published an editorial calling for an independent, empirical study of Indiana’s school voucher program. That is a fair
National The Friedman Foundation joined with students, parents, educators, and advocates across the United States in celebrating National School Choice Week. As part of the week’s events, we released
The Friedman Foundation team put in our votes for this year’s school choice yearbook superlatives, and these are our winners. Check them out and tell us how you would
We are introducing a new calculation to our school choice program rankings this year: educational choice share, or “edchoice share.” The calculations behind this ranking seek to answer one
We’ve given our readers an overview of school choice programs across the nation this week with rankings based on eligibility and family participation. But one major question still remains: How
Which of America’s school choice programs has the most participants? Which has the least? The latest edition of The ABCs of School Choice gives the most up-to-date information we
At the Friedman Foundation, our goal for any school choice program is universal eligibility. We believe that all parents—regardless of ZIP Code, income, or any other factors—should have access
Education has been at the forefront for Indiana citizens and lawmakers ever since the second term of former Gov. Mitch Daniels’ administration. Indiana legislators have given various education issues
Since the launch of the nation’s first modern school choice program in 1990, nationwide participation in school choice has grown leaps and bounds—by 115,301 percent! Today, there are 59
My report, The Integration Anomaly, relies on dozens of empirical studies and logic from simulation models calibrated to real-world data to make a claim that universal school choice programs
Minnesota – Brittany Corona @BrittanyLCorona The Friedman Foundation hosted an educational summit for about 40 Minnesota legislators in Chicago in early December. The summit featured expert presentations on the
Best 1. Nevada enacted two educational choice programs. We predicted in 2014 that Nevada would be the state “most likely to succeed” in becoming a new school choice state
What did our blog readers view and enjoy most this past year? We dug into our analytics to see which Friedman Foundation posts were most loved. Enjoy reading—or maybe
At this time of year, we like to highlight stories of families who have felt the impact of educational choice programs. This year, we talked to two Indiana families
The news has been abuzz with educational choice litigation developments the past few weeks. Amicus briefs have been filed to defend Nevada’s nearly universal education savings accounts and Douglas
In spring of this year, the Colorado Supreme Court issued its opinion on the Douglas County school voucher program. Since then, proponents of the program have made headway in
National Leslie Hiner participated as a panelist in American Enterprise Institute’s event, “With all deliberate speed: Brown v. Board of Education II 60 years later.” She spoke on the
Like any law, design matters. The Georgia legislature may soon consider a newly proposed regulation that, if passed, would diminish the autonomy of K–12 scholarship-granting organizations (SGOs). Although well-intentioned,
My colleagues and I came across private school management organizations (PSMOs) in the course of our research for a Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice report, “The Chartered Course,” in
Now is the time of year when we remind ourselves why we’re thankful. In 2013, we highlighted some families who are grateful for their choice schools. Last year, we
The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice team is proud to announce that our foundation became a charter member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research’s (AAPOR) Transparency Initiative
“You don’t want to make the same choice I made. That must make you (fill in the blank).” In an atmosphere where statements like that are the dominant rhetoric,
In order for choice to work, individuals must be free to make choices. And for individuals to have that freedom, others must defend it. Today, the Friedman Foundation extends
National The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released a new report, The Integration Anomaly: Comparing the Effects of K–12 Education Delivery Models on Segregation in Schools, by Dr. Ben
About one in four children in the U.S. today is Hispanic, and Latino children are one of the fastest growing demographics in the country, according to recent reports. As
In an article on South Carolina’s education spending in The Post and Courier this week, Brian Hicks took a swipe at the state’s tax-credit scholarship program for students with
Six decades after the landmark decision of Brown v. Board of Education, many students still attend schools that are segregated by race or class. And this isn’t just a
Hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, fishing, rafting, snowboarding, spelunking—Colorado is at the top when it comes to choices for outdoor adventures. In the last few years,
As the rollout of Nevada’s nearly-universal education savings accounts (ESAs) continues, parents have plenty of questions. We saw some great ones in response to this July article detailing the
Colorado – Brittany Corona @BrittanyLCorona Douglas County, Colorado was awarded an extension on September 24 to seek the U.S. Supreme Court’s review of the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that
This week Forbes published a piece by John Tamny that, in two sweeping pages, casts doubt on the ability of market forces to improve public schools, the intentions of
For almost a week, Americans of all faiths—or of none—got a lengthy dose of a message of hope and charity. Pope Francis’ visit to the United States highlighted good
Wisconsin has a long and rich history of school choice, with tens of thousands of families having availed themselves of the opportunities to choose by enrolling their children in
As recent polling data indicates, a significant majority of people believe that allowing parents to take the taxpayer funds dedicated for the education of their children to choose the
National Education Next released its ninth annual survey on K–12 education, “The 2015 EdNext Poll on School Reform: Public thinking on testing, opt out, Common Core, unions and more,”
Public school parents in Nevada are actively seeking ways to provide a better education for their children, as evidenced by the more than 2,800 applications submitted in just a
As media coverage of Nevada’s new education savings account (ESA) program booms, so do online comments—both in support of and against the innovative new school choice program. A recent
The creation of Nevada’s first school choice programs could be considered the “tipping point” for the private school choice movement. With legislators creating both the Educational Choice Scholarship Program
National The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice launched its new look and a new and improved website on July 31 to celebrate Friedman Legacy Day 2015. Check out our
Gen Con is in full swing in Indianapolis, where the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice is headquartered. It’s a time when thousands of gamers come to town to witness
When Nevada enacted the nation’s first nearly universal education savings accounts (ESAs), education reformers celebrated. ESAs empower families to tailor their children’s education to meet their individual learning needs
National The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice released its annual national survey of Americans on K–12 education issues including school choice, Common Core State Standards, standardized testing, and more.
With the close of another school year and a blossoming of expansive school choice programs this year comes curiosity about the progress of K–12 education in the United States.
Today the Colorado Supreme Court delivered a disappointing decision for hundreds of Douglas County students by ruling the first locally established school choice program in the country—the Douglas County
By now, just about everyone has heard about Nevada. The state, which didn’t have any private school choice programs, passed tax-credit scholarship and education savings account (ESA) laws in
In a Part I of this series, I shared my wife’s and my history with K–12 public schooling before listing seven reasons why problematic public school classroom conditions have
Delaware – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9 An education savings account (ESA) bill for students with special needs will soon be introduced in Delaware. The bill is expected to have bipartisan
Indiana is a national leader in school choice. Hoosier policymakers deserve credit for adopting innovative policies that help families enroll their children in the schools that work best for
At the start of 2015, our team voted Nevada the state most likely to succeed that session, and it blew away our expectations. In April 2015, the state enacted its first school
When many people think of school choice, they think of programs that help students who live in struggling areas where the public schools are not always the best choice
In 2030, the population of people dependent upon our most expensive tax-funded services—education and senior healthcare—likely will be the highest it’s ever been in American history. Those increases in
UPDATE – December 11, 2015 This universal tax-credit scholarship has officially been launched in Montana. For the most up-to-date information on the program, including rules and regulations, click here to
Montana Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed HB 322 last week. The bill, which would have created an education savings account (ESA) program for students with special needs, journeyed a path
Arkansas – Brittany Corona @BrittanyLCorona On April 8, Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed Arkansas’ first school choice program into law, making it the 25th state (plus Washington D.C.) to enact a
The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA) released a report last week on the impact of Indiana’s school choice programs, specifically its school voucher program. To date, the
We are excited to soon welcome Tennessee to the school choice family. Tennessee is on the verge of joining Arkansas and Nevada, two of our nation’s newest school choice
More than 40 years ago, Stevie Wonder sang a plea for impoverished city kids in his hit “Living for the City,” in which he called for the larger community
Minnesota voters like public schools and private school choice policies. Minnesota has a long history of bucking conventional thinking about K–12 education. Most important, the state is known for
CNN Parents posted an article entitled “Public vs. private school: What’s with all the judging?” that explores the subtle and overtly hostile ways parents can treat one another based
As someone who experienced the 1990s as a teenager, I’ll confess that I listened to my share of Dave Matthews Band. In one song, backed by light guitar and keyboard,
Determining if a policy actually causes some impact on people’s lives is an incredibly difficult task. Humans are complex creatures, and the world that we live in has lots
The Friedman Foundation team predicted Nevada would be the state “Most Likely to Succeed” in creating a new school choice program this year, and it appears it’s on its
Alabama – Leslie Hiner @LeslieHiner The Alabama Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Alabama Accountability Act on March 2. Alabama’s tax-credit scholarship and refundable tax credit programs, which
The Arkansas legislature has passed House Bill 1552, a school voucher for children with disabilities and the state’s first school choice program. Arkansas’s school voucher bill, which passed with strong
As the first national private school choice organization to work with parents and advocates in Mississippi, beginning several years ago, we are excited to share the news about their
Problematic public school classroom conditions have survived decades of education reform efforts. With federal lawmakers considering reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act—and new state lawmakers pursuing different
“What do you do when you go to work, Daddy?” That was the question I got from my inquisitive 8-year-old son sitting across the table from me. Trying
Faulty faucets that constantly drip can prove costly over time. In Tennessee, the legislative efforts to fix our education system via school choice have been dripping for the past
We’re back this week with the second installment of this series, which features Facebook feedback we regularly receive from teachers across the country. In our first post on the
At the start of the year, an internal “poll” among staff at the Friedman Foundation named Nevada the state most likely to succeed in creating its first school choice
Arizona – Leslie Hiner @LeslieHiner The Arizona Senate passed, with a bipartisan vote, the expansion of education savings accounts (ESAs) to include Native American families living on tribal lands.
Justice is on the side of school choice and the families who use it. That was the outcome this week in Alabama, where the state’s Supreme Court overturned a
Today’s freakout comes to us from the comments section of The Atlantic article, “Saving School Choice Without Undermining Poor Communities,” and it concerns how implementing a school choice system
Indiana’s statewide school choice program is either incredibly controversial or wildly popular, depending on with whom one speaks. To the former, vouchers only help the rich. And sometimes with the
Does the Arizona legislature hate public schools? Arizona Republic columnist Laurie Roberts says it does. Her proof: Senate Bill 1434, which would expand eligibility for Arizona’s education savings accounts
It has been sad to watch the spectacular fall of the once great American city of Detroit. From 1950 to the present, the population of Detroit has dropped from
Today’s freakout comes to us from Twitter, where we were excited to chat with a public school superintendent who is an active fighter of school choice programs. Dr. Jason
Mississippi is closer to becoming the third state, behind Arizona and Florida, to adopt education savings accounts (ESAs), which allow parents to withdraw their children from public schools and receive
National School Choice Week rocked the country again with more than 11,000 events nationwide this year. Also released during School Choice Week was our annual The ABCs of School
Today’s post features our first parent advocate-written Friday Freakout response. If you’re a parent and would like to contribute your story and opinions as well, please contact info@edchoice.org. Recently,
Today’s freakout comes from a reblog at the anti-school choice National Education Policy Center (NEPC), which is funded in part by the two largest national teachers’ unions. In it,
The Friedman Foundation team put in our votes, and these are our winners. Check them out and tell us how you would have voted in the comments. Most Popular
We’ve helped our readers see how many families are eligible for school choice programs across the country and those who actually participate. Until now, the question still remained: Which
Universal eligibility—that is, open to every single family—is the Friedman Foundation’s school choice policy goal. To coincide with the 2015 release of The ABCs of School Choice, we’ve ranked
Which school choice programs are the biggest? Smallest? How does one state’s program stack up to others? For the 2015 release of The ABCs of School Choice tomorrow, we’ve
We had a long conversation with an avid opponent and activist against school choice on Twitter recently, and we learned a lot about engaging opponents of school choice in
Everyone likes affirmation. People enjoy being told the project they led was impressive or that their new haircut looks nice or that they made a good choice. We at
Surprisingly, three Texas politicos recently argued that school choice policies fail all four aspects of the Rotary test. Instead, former Texas Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff and two of his
School choice skeptics often raise concerns about the students who are “left behind” in traditional public schools when statewide school vouchers are enacted. What will become of those kids
Colorado – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9 Litigation over the country’s only district-created voucher program was reviewed by the Colorado Supreme Court. A ruling on the program is expected in early
TOP FIVE 1. Kansas joins the school choice family It was not the same old song for education funding in Kansas this year. Rather, policymakers rose above the noise
We looked into our blog analytics to find out which blog posts Friedman Foundation readers viewed and engaged with most this past year. We hope you enjoy reading, or re-reading,
From Washington D.C. – The Ambrose Family Thanks to the Opportunity Scholarship Program, Joshua, twins Jacob and Shanice, Jonathan, and twins Selena and Joseph have been able to attend
Anyone who’s ever worked in politics can tell you it’s far easier to be against something than to be for something. When I was a carefree 20-something working as
The small flames flickering in the windows of Jewish homes this time of year, commemorating the festival of Chanukah, belie the holiday’s monumental message—a message, as it happens, that
A Sarasota County School Board member spoke out against her own state’s school board association for suing Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program this week in Florida’s Herald-Tribune. She wrote,
“Do not mess with suburbanites, because frankly we’re just not gonna take it anymore.” That closing line from Tom Hanks’ tepidly reviewed comedy “The ‘Burbs” is truer than many
“[The] future of our economy depends on a well educated citizenry,” argued Karen Patton of the League of Women Voters (LWV) in Montgomery County, Indiana in a recent op-ed.
The new PISA results showing American students fell behind more nations in reading, math, and science are being used to criticize our current education system while others are employing
Thanksgiving is upon us, and last year, we highlighted a few families who are thankful for the educational opportunities school choice has afforded their children. This year, we’d like
Indiana could be considered the “pace car” in the private school choice race among states. But as any racing fan will know, not all tracks are the same, which
Newly elected officials interested in “improving” K–12 education might sound a lot like Optimus Prime: “Reform and roll out!” But just like the Transformers, although policymakers’ reforms will differ
Our previous two blog posts on how top-down reforms are not market reform and how school choice actually increases demand for educators garnered a lot of attention from public
In “Teachers Unions Flunked Their Midterms,” The Wall Street Journal chronicled how education reform issues played out in this year’s midterm elections. Today’s freakout comes from that story’s comments,
With the 2014 elections over—well, almost over—those interested in school choice may be wondering what the results mean for that education reform policy. Although news headlines have been focused
Delaware – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9In early October, the Friedman Foundation released its Delaware K-12 and School Choice Survey. With the state’s legislature likely to consider education savings accounts (ESAs) in
This week’s Friday Freakout is a blast from the past, bringing up an old, spooky scare tactic against school choice still used today (though with different masks). The freakout
“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to
Teachers’ unions represent some of our most respected community members—an undeniable truth. So too can it be said that unions sometimes work to block school choice programs. One commenter,
School teachers and leaders at America’s public schools typically don’t place much value in private school choice’s worth. However, that education policy could raise their own stock considerably—and literally.
This week’s Vice.com article, “The Paradox of School Choice,” tells the story of a young couple who, despite the premium they pay in home costs, still found it difficult
If Delaware Gov. Jack Markell wants to entrust parents to “make the right educational choices for their children,” his state’s voters are unlikely to stand in the way. In
Idaho’s nickname, the Gem State, proves it has a rich history rooted in discovery and diversity. The same could be said for its future, especially if Idahoans were to
Instead of a “Friday Freakout,” consider this a financial freakout over the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program—as this exchange was prompted by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s “Study contends voucher program
The birthplace of our nation is also one of the key cities that became a wellspring for modern-day school choice programs. Unfortunately, Philadelphia freedom is unnecessarily at risk. In
It’s rare to see truly novel arguments against school choice, so I’ve got to give Canadian journalist Jeremy Klaszus credit for creativity this week in his Metro News article
Delaware – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9 The Friedman Foundation will release a new survey of Delaware voters in October. The report will highlight Delaware’s surprising interest in vouchers and education
Students transferring to private schools using publicly funded vouchers saved participating states more than $1.7 billion over a 20-year period. Here’s how: From 1990 to 2011, students in six
The American Enterprise Institute released a video this week featuring Michael Q. McShane promoting his book which outlines his three-step plan to an American education marketplace that would meet
House Speaker John Boehner spoke this week about a five-step plan to boost economic growth. Part of that plan includes school choice: “That’s why we created the first federally-funded
A common argument against school choice in rural America is that there just aren’t enough schools from which to create rural school choice. But the more you understand about
Stories like Avery’s, the subject of Petula Dvorak’s Washington Post article “In D.C., a 13-year-old piano prodigy is treated as a truant instead of a star student,” elicit passionate,
This week’s Friday Freakout comes from the comments section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Get Schooled Blog, where our president and CEO, Robert Enlow, had an op-ed discussing how school
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn Thirty public school superintendents signed on to the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the school choice program provided under the Alabama Accountability Act. The law
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled it constitutional in 2002. Still, that precedent hasn’t stopped groups from challenging, in state courts, parents who use vouchers to choose private religious settings
At the heart of school accountability is quality. The burn is, who decides quality? What’s relieving about school choice is the ability for families to decide that definition for
Today’s freakout comes to us from a frustrated teacher in the comments of “Half of All School District Employees Aren’t Teachers” on Ricochet. This veteran teacher said it best.
Low- and middle-income children in New Hampshire will now be able to use tax-credit scholarships at any school they choose, whether secular or religious. This morning, the New Hampshire
“We need to fully fund our school formula” has become a common refrain in statehouses across the country—including in Mississippi. There is a way policymakers can increase funds for
A North Carolina judge recently ruled the state’s voucher program unconstitutional. Today we have two freakouts from two very different parents commenting on the News & Observer article, “NC
Social movements such as women’s suffrage, Black civil rights, and parental choice in education involve the redistribution of social, political, and economic power. Because few groups in control of
Today’s freakout comes to us from the comments section of the The Washington Post piece “Amicus brief on empirical data about school vouchers”. The article itself explains Douglas County,
As an alumnus of private Catholic schools, I continually am surprised by the evolving notion that religious schools are dismissive of science. Indeed, much is being made about private school
Today’s freakout comes from an exchange between Randi Weingarten, president of the nation’s leading teachers’ union, and a group called the Badass Teachers Association (BAT). The tweet is a
Florida – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn The Florida Education Association (FEA) filed a lawsuit challenging a newly enacted law that includes an education savings account (ESA) for students with special
In America’s public policy arena, Common Core debates box out practically every other type of policy discussion on K-12 education. This post sets out to address some basic questions
July 31 would have been Milton Friedman’s 102nd birthday, and people all around the globe celebrated. The United States saw 74 Friedman Legacy Day events in 47 states and
“The true test of any scholar’s work is not what his contemporaries say, but what happens to his work in the next 25 or 50 years. And the thing
Among the key ingredients for growing high-quality schools are a pipeline of talented leaders with the vision and skillset for launching those schools, and adequate time for those leaders
One of the most common arguments put forth by opponents of school choice is that public dollars should not flow to private institutions. Consider, for example, this Facebook comment
Editor’s note: Some of the author’s sources link to studies that appear in Swedish. Debate over “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” and which film is better—America’s version or Sweden’s—comes
“Our goal is to have a system in which every family in the U.S. will be able to choose for itself the school to which its children go. We
In a response to this tweet last week, the Friedman Foundation questioned what makes education a public good and examined how school choice affects it in those terms. I
“Authorizer” is a fairly new term in the American lexicon. Charter school representatives know it well, as do most education reform advocates. But, for the general public, the concept
The Chartered Course by Andy Smarick continues an important discussion focused on growing and developing the private school market in America. It is a welcome shift from the “save
Is there a “tidal wave” coming for private school choice, as some have suggested? No doubt since the Wall Street Journal declared 2011 “The Year of School Choice,” policymakers’
Happy Fourth of July! In celebration of our country’s independence, we first and foremost recognize the men and women of America’s armed forces who sacrifice so much for our
“Innovations that are guided by smallholder farmers, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and environment will be necessary to ensure food security in the future.” –
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn A trial court ruled that the school choice programs contained within the Alabama Accountability Act may continue while the state Supreme Court reviews a ruling
“I tell yah Dave, I’ve been over this stuff a bunch of times; it just doesn’t add up. Who does these books? I mean if I ran my business
This week, we released our 2014 Schooling in America Survey. In it, we asked a representative sample of American adults, not just voters, their views on issues such as
“So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear, that there is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can
This week, Joy Pullman of The Federalist published a piece championing school choice as an intellectual winner, but warning that “School Choice Fights Will Shift to Regulation.” Today’s freakout
Today Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed SB 850, a bill that creates the nation’s second education savings account program. The bill also expands key funding and eligibility aspects
Lyrics from Gladys Knight’s “Midnight Train to Georgia” perhaps best summarize what will happen if the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) succeeds in overturning Georgia’s tax-credit scholarship program to “return”
Delaware – Doran Moreland @Dmoreland9 Delaware is gaining momentum around the expansion educational options for kids. Recently, an agreement was reached between the Delaware teachers’ union and school choice
Today’s freakout comes to us from the comments section of Diane Ravitch’s micro-post on her blog titled “Friedman Foundation disagrees with Peter Greene.” Children have been playing the game
Today’s freakout comes to us from Twitter, and its message is at the top of school choice opponents’ list of arguments. In fact, it is a favorite of Diane
School choice typically is depicted, simply, as a family’s decision between a public or private school. But the freedom to choose in education actually goes much deeper, getting to
Should taxpayers be compelled to fund schools that teach concepts that support “junk science” or violate their convictions? Teacher/blogger Peter Greene thinks that is un-American, and he followed up
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn The Montgomery County Circuit Court struck down the Alabama Accountability Act as unconstitutional. The Accountability Act contains two private school choice programs: a tax-credit
“Regulators, mount up!” That line from a popular western film, used later in a famous hip-hop song, is not generally thought of as one directed toward private schools. Indeed,
There are many ways to argue a point. The best method is to make your claim with well-reasoned logic and compelling evidence. This is not the method teacher/blogger Peter
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently shared some school choice love, so we did as well—on our Facebook page: We acknowledge that Sen. Warren is most interested in universal public school
“…[I]t may surprise you to learn that in a growing number of states, legislators are setting aside public money to pay for private school tuition – and rich people
A recent Huffington Post article, “‘School Choice’ — As Long as Your Child Doesn’t Have a Disability,” shows just how passionate many are when it comes to ensuring students
A recent Huffington Post article took the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) to task for how some MPCP students with special needs are being treated in their schools. First,
To say school choice has been on the march in recent years would be a major understatement. State after state has implemented school vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, and, in especially
Rankin County, Mississippi parents of students with autism are upset after it was reported this week their public schools will be ending specialized classrooms for their children. According to
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins dismissed a lawsuit that challenged the Alabama Accountability Act on grounds that the school choice program contained within the
At a recent event hosted by Missouri’s Show-Me Institute and Hammond Institute for Free Enterprise, three state legislators (two Republicans, one Democrat) disclosed that the state’s small-town and rural
Raleigh’s News & Observer published an article this week titled “NC bill would let students attend any public school” about a proposed bill that would allow open enrollment in
In 1979, there were 9,640 Catholic schools in the United States. By 2011, there were 6,841. That decline has been caused by a number of factors, each of which
The Tennessean published an editorial by George Parker, a 30-year veteran public school math teacher, former president of the Washington Teachers Union, and current senior fellow at StudentsFirst, titled“School
When educational choice wins in the halls of state legislatures and the court of public opinion, opponents often turn to the courts of law. On April 16, the New
UPDATE Governor Sam Brownback signed HB 2506 today, ushering Kansas into the school choice club with tax-credit scholarships. Now, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow publicly funded
Charges of “cream-skimming” is a favorite tactic used by some to scare away support for school choice. Skeptics say that should portable student-based funding be implemented, the most-engaged families
We agree, and we’ll explain why in our response to today’s freakout, which comes from the comments section of the Wall Street Journal’s “Schooling on a ‘Debit Card.’” Six
A new education documentary provides another glaring example of how the lack of consumer choice in K-12 education undermines the efficient allocation of resources to our schools. Unfortunately, the
Florida’s House of Representatives passed a bill, HB 7167, that includes an expansion of the nation’s most-used tax-credit scholarship program and creation of the Personal Learning Scholarship Account Program
Tennessee is close to adopting what would be the 24th school choice voucher program in the nation. Today the Tennessee Senate approved SB196, the Tennessee Choice & Opportunity Scholarship
Is Alaska on the verge of creating another private school choice model? Two days ago, the Alaska House passed an amendment to HB 278 to expand to private schools
If President Obama wants to “empower boys and men of color,” he really should give school choice another look. If only the idea’s founder, Milton Friedman, were still alive
“If my son had access to (an education savings account) earlier in his school career, he could have had access to online courses and consistent speech therapy that would
Today’s freakout comes from the comments section of Nicholas Simmons’ recent op-ed in The Wall Street Journal entitled, “What I’ve Learned Teaching Charter Students.” Simmons has taught math for
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn The Alabama House passed HB 558 that would amend the Alabama Accountability Act. The bill heads to the Senate for consideration. The bill would make
“I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory,'” Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don’t—till I tell you. I meant ‘there’s a nice knock-down argument for
This is Part I in Gerard Robinson’s series on “Vouchers and the Masters of Invention” As a slogan, freedom of choice has a home in movements ranging from association
This is Part II in Gerard Robinson’s series on “Vouchers and the Masters of Invention” Let’s begin with the basics. A voucher is not a house or a housing
This week’s post comes from Monday’s POLITICO story titled “Special report: Taxpayers fund creationism in the classroom.” The piece was not lacking in reader feedback: more than 14,000 comments
A lot of people talk up school choice. Unfortunately, many only intend to let you choose what they find acceptable. That was a clear theme running through a Fordham
Today’s freakout comes to us from the comments of a post entitled “School reformers love ‘choice,’ except when…,” which appeared this week on Valerie Strauss’ Washington Post blog The
…consider the alternative! President Obama has yet again omitted funding for the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program in his recently proposed 2015 education budget. Although his reasoning is likely more philosophical
Our topic of focus today comes to us from the comments section of an Indianapolis Star article called, “Diane Ravitch’s opposition to accountability isn’t realistic.” Check out this impassioned public
Earlier this week, the Miami Herald editorialized against the proposed expansion of the highly popular Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The law allows businesses to receive tax credits for contributing
Mississippi is closer to becoming the second state, behind Arizona, to adopt education savings accounts, which allow parents to withdraw their children from public schools and receive a deposit
Idaho is one step closer to joining 13 other states in providing parents tax-credit scholarships for their children’s education. Tax-credit scholarship programs allow individuals or businesses to donate money
“Over half of the families we serve qualify for the federal free or reduced(-price) lunch program, and every high school student at Memphis Catholic participates in the [Education That
When our president and CEO, Robert Enlow, participated in a policy forum with Diane Ravitch last Friday in Indianapolis, the audience of more than 1,000 literally hissed at the
The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program has provided school vouchers to more than 15,000 students and helped them attain better academic outcomes since 2004. The President wants to cut funding
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn Alabama lawmakers filed a bill (HB 558) that would amend the Alabama Accountability Act to define individual donors as shareholders or partners of S corporations
This week the Mississippi Press posted a story entitled “Parents push for Mississippi special education vouchers.” The article, which is actually about an education savings account (ESA) bill, is
An ACLU blog post this month questioning the intentions of School Choice Week and the policy impact of “vouchers” was disappointing, particularly in its framing of school vouchers and
The state of Louisiana sparked a paradigm shift in education when it created the New Orleans’ Recovery School District in 2004. RSD is now almost entirely composed of charter
A misconception we have seen multiple times is the relationship between school choice and race. This veteran’s recent tweet is just one example: If RickJarHead and others truly believe
When Dr. Friedman’s views on economic freedom are invoked nowadays, it is often lost that he was very concerned about the plight of the poor and the potentially disruptive
In light of the great strides two education savings accounts (ESA) bills made just yesterday, today’s Friday Freakout comes to you from Mississippi. In a local news story about
UPDATED BELOW With the advance of its school choice ESAs, Mississippi is closer to becoming the second state, behind Arizona, to adopt education savings accounts, which allow parents to
The holy grail of research is the causal claim. That is, if you can prove that A causes B, not that A is related to B or that A
Salon.com is known for posting anti-school choice pieces. This week, “Creationism, at taxpayer expense: Secrets of the GOP’s frightening new school voucher schemes” appeared in their headlines. Sadly, we
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn The National School Choice Week Train had a whistle-stop event in Birmingham, January 24, to celebrate the new school choice programs provided by the Alabama
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) reported that 39.3 percent of voucher recipients (7,779 students) were never previously enrolled in public schools in Indiana, implying that these vouchers are an
You might have seen Slate’s article and map showing all of the schools in America that teach creationism and receive public funds in some capacity. As one might expect,
At the International School Choice Research and Reform Academic Conference this month, researchers, practitioners, and advocates convened to compare and contrast the state of school choice in the U.S.
(Posted in response to a guest post by Anna J. Egalite entitled “How to Maximize Private School Supply in Choice Programs.”) Among America’s private school choice programs, the Louisiana Scholarship
In “Voucher Schools Provide Choice, Except When They Don’t,” the author Erin Prangley’s diatribe against school choice exposes the self-serving, “it’s good for me, but not for you” attitude
Slate already posted a correction to its story that takes issue with school choice, “Publicly Funded Schools That Are Allowed to Teach Creationism.” Now it could use some context. Private
An ambitious school choice proposal is on the table in Oklahoma. Last week, state legislators introduced a bill to create an education savings account system (ESA) for low- and
What does Sen. Lamar Alexander’s (R-TN) introduction today of the “Scholarships for Kids Act of 2014” federal voucher legislation mean for the future of school choice? Allowing public education
Today’s Friday Freakout comes from the heated comments section of Diane Ravitch’s blog titled,“How Embarrassing for the Friedman Foundation.” We responded to her blog post here, but something very
Centralization in public schools through school district consolidation was pitched as a way to save administrative costs in American public schools. Instead, public school administration has mirrored the trend
Following Eric Cantor’s speech about school choice last week, The Washington Post published an article called “Eric Cantor and Bill de Blasio exchange fire over schools”. One exchange in
Milton Friedman said if the traditional public schools are as good as its defenders claim, they shouldn’t be afraid of competition. In a similar vein, some school choice supporters
Despite the message of those adorable AT&T commercials that “more is better,” there is evidence to the contrary regarding money for public schools. In a little-discussed report, issued by the
Yesterday education historian Diane Ravitch recognized the Friedman Foundation’s research on her blog, specifically our new survey showing where Americans rank the efficaciousness of seven education reforms. However, I
A new Friedman Foundation report released today found what education reforms were most popular, in terms of their perceived effectiveness, among surveyed adults. The graphic below shows where Americans
In a new Friedman Foundation report, I used survey data from the Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) to examine several specific questions about public opinion and support for school
Today’s featured commenters come from the comments section of a Huffington Post piece called “Debbie Squires, Education Official, Says Teachers Know What’s Best For Kids, Not Their Parents”. More and
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn Alabama will likely hit the $25 million cap for corporate and individual donations for the new tax-credit scholarship program. As of December 20, Scholarship Granting
TOP FIVE 1. Pro-voucher candidates win suburban school board election. In November 2013, pro-school choice candidates seeking to keep or gain seats on Colorado’s Douglas County school board won
This year, the Friedman Foundation staff wants to celebrate the stories of some families who have benefited from school choice. From Georgia, Joyce Cordell-Huff Very often, generous people support
This week’s featured freakout comes from the comments section of a Washington Post op-ed by Valerie Strauss called “‘White suburban mom’ responds to Arne Duncan”. The assumption that parents
A respectful exchange appearing in the comments section of any website is a rarity, which is why we felt compelled to share this one. It comes from a Politico
The Friedman Foundation team reaches out to school choice opponents regularly on Twitter (@edchoice). Our intention is always to listen to different opinions and have a meaningful conversation. One question that
Today’s freakout comes from an anonymous Circle of Moms community entry titled “Why are parents so mean to teachers?” Take a look and read our take on this exchange
Beyond just the consolidation of America’s school districts I outlined previously, there have been four sizable waves that have eroded public schools’ abilities to differentiate themselves in order to provide real alternatives
In our first installment, Center Academy’s Vice President of Operations Steve Hicks responds to common criticisms of school choice and private schools. Center Academy is a small private school
Welcome to our new series, where every Friday we highlight online comments from stories we see posted by people impassioned about education. This week’s exchange comes from the comments
“Those who can’t do, teach,” goes the common refrain. But not among education reformers, many of whom say changing that attitude is the key to lasting systemic improvement in
Colorado – Robbie Rhinesmith @rrhinesmith85 The most-watched education election occurred in Colorado, where four of the seven Douglas County school board seats – home to the nation’s only district-enacted private school
Adam Emerson of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute makes some reasonable-sounding arguments as to why states should require private school choice students to continue taking state standardized tests. As
I grew up in the Lutheran faith, while relatives on my father’s side of the family were Methodist. Faith mattered. Neither side of the family cared much for the
Instead of asking a federal judge to get between school vouchers and families in need, Eric Holder and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) should be in Louisiana getting
Historically, American public school districts have been governed by locally appointed or elected school boards, and families (mostly) have been free to live in whatever school district they wished.
In “Spinning America’s Report Card,” Paul E. Peterson and Eric A. Hanushek wrote “…progress for American children came to a halt when the Obama administration stopped focusing on student
Many Common Core supporters say school choice and Common Core can work together to create the best system. Maybe they can, but school choice for all families must come
Alabama – Stephanie Linn @StephanieJLinn Last spring the Alabama legislature passed two new school choice programs in the Alabama Accountability Act (AAA): a tax-credit scholarship program for low-income families and
For choice to work, one must be free to make it. And for there to be freedom, another must be there to defend it. For being free to choose
The idea that impoverished parents shouldn’t be trusted to choose a good educational option for their children is one repeated often by school choice critics. For instance, Michael Walker
Common Core State Standards Initiative, national standards, federal takeover of education—whatever you want to call it, we at the Friedman Foundation are frequently asked about it. Here is our
Last night in a highly contested election, the four school choice candidates running to return to or join Colorado’s Douglas County School Board won. Although some headlines have focused on
Rhode Island is a blue state when it comes to legislative politics. A very, very blue state. In presidential elections since 1928, Rhode Island has voted Republican just four
How often is “a great education” recognized at Thanksgiving feasts? Probably not very often. But for those afforded school choice, the educational opportunities now on the table are leaving
On any given Saturday evening in my suburban neighborhood a ritual takes place. Kids of all shapes and sizes pour into interconnecting back yards and start playing. Following closely
Much as the Gulf Stream sets the course for trans-Atlantic cargo ships, there are many unseen socioeconomic trends that push and pull on the movement of society and public
How do the nation’s first vouchers for students with special needs match up against the country’s first education savings accounts (ESAs) for students with special needs? As Led Zeppelin
In reaction to our survey of Iowa voters, the University of Iowa’s independent student newspaper, The Daily Iowan, cast out some enticing bait in Jon Overton’s editorial “School choice
Arizona’s one-of-a-kind education savings accounts (ESAs), called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, are bank accounts eligible parents can use only for their children’s education expenses, current or future. The Arizona Department
They do things differently in Iowa. And I mean they do so in a refreshing way. As I have talked with folks there, it is easy to pick up
Let’s get hypothetical: What could happen if every student in Arizona had access to education savings accounts (ESAs), called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and used the unspent funds to save for
American education would be far better off if, instead of asking that question, more school leaders asked “What’s so wrong with my school that makes parents want to leave?”