Research & Data

Revealing Trends: New Study Sheds Light on Parental Preferences

We dive into the findings of our new report "What Do Parents Want? Information, Choices, and Constraints."

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2024 Edition

EdChoice tracks every private school choice program and student participation in those programs nationally. In this annual post, we rank all of those programs by participation counts, current at the time of this writing.

McShane and Hess’ “Getting Education Right,” out now

We dive into the new book Getting Education Right: A Conservative Vision for Improving Early Childhood, K–12, and College by Frederick M. Hess and Michael Q. McShane.

Insights from Black Parents on K-12 Education 

We share insights from our polling of Black parents to provide provide a clear understanding of the unique perspectives and experiences of Black families about and within K-12 education.

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School Choice Eligibility Rankings

We rank which school choice programs provide access to the most students.

Choosing Private School in 2024

We asked parents why they chose their child’s school. Among district school parents, the most common reason for choosing one school over another is location (56%). We look at this and more in our monthly poll!

EdChoice and Reason Foundation Launch School Choice Calculator

The School Choice Calculator allows users to design an ESA program for any state and provides a range of estimates for the fiscal effects of an education savings account (ESA) program on state and local taxpayers combined.

2024 EdChoice Spending Share Rankings

We reveal how much money states spend on private school choice programs as a share of the total amount of money states spend on current K-12 education altogether.

2024 EdChoice Share: Exploring Where America’s Students Are Educated 

The EdChoice Share tracks states’ proportion of K-12 students enrolled in an education savings account (ESA), voucher, tax-credit ESA, or tax-credit scholarship program.

Mapping Drive Times to Georgia Private Schools 

Where exactly are Georgia private schools located? Which communities have private schools, and which don’t? How quickly can families in the Peach State transport their children to private school options?

DiPerna takes on Controversial Concerns Surrounding School Choice  

Paul DiPerna, Vice President of Research and Innovation joined C-SPAN and discussed the unprecedented momentum around educational choice.

EdChoice Polling Sheds Light on Rising Absenteeism  

Many K–12 students are still staying home at alarming levels, and EdChoice polling sheds light on which students are missing the most school and why.

EdChoice’s Year in Review: Key Findings from 2023 Education Polling

What does 2023 reveal about the state of education in the United States? We recap all the surprising findings from our 2023 polling.

Ep. 399: Survey Recap 2023

In this edition of EdChoice Chats, host Mike McShane is joined by John Kristof and Alli Aldis to talk about EdChoice's monthly and semi-annual polling and what it reveals about the state of education in the United States.

Ep. 398: How States Protect Funding for K-12 Public Schools

In this episode of EdChoice Chats host Marty Lueken digs into his new report which explores hold harmless funding.

How States Protect Funding for Public Schools  

We dig into our new report which explores hold harmless funding; declining enrollment protections and funding guarantees.

Ep. 397: Monthly Tracker – October 2023

In this edition of EdChoice Chats, we talk about our polling results with new questions about academic programs and education technology.

Ep. 396: The ABCs of School Choice – 2024 Edition

EdChoice CEO Robert Enlow talks with Colyn Ritter and Marc LeBlond about the 2024 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.  Click here to order your 2024 copy for free!

2024 ABCs of School Choice Available Now

The ABCs of School Choice remains the most-cited school choice resource by lawmakers across the country, serving as the best data-rich, comprehensive guide to every private school choice program in America

Survey Finds Parent Concerns and Praise for Edtech

We asked a range of questions focused on K-12 education, including our usual monitoring of public opinion toward school choice options. In this month’s poll, we also introduced new questions about gifted academic programs and education technology

Ep. 395: Surveying Teachers – Fall 2023

On this edition of EdChoice Chats, we talk about the recent EdChoice teacher polling, students’ social media use, absenteeism, and more.

New Survey Finds Teachers More Pessimistic About K-12 Education 

In our new teacher survey we cover topics including students’ social media use, absenteeism, classroom disruptions, and more.

Ep. 393: Monthly Tracker – September 2023

In this edition of EdChoice Chats, we talk about the September 2023 monthly polling data and what concerns are on parents' minds.

New Survey Explores Parent Concerns on Social Media Usage and Absenteeism 

What concerns are at the forefront of parents’ minds in these early days of the 2023-24 academic year? The first challenge for today’s school parents may be keeping students in the classroom and off their phones.

Ep. 391: Surfing the Pipeline

In this edition of EdChoice Chats, Mike McShane talks with John Kristof about his new paper Surfing the Pipeline: Understanding Pathways into Teaching in Alternative Models of Schooling. They

Are teachers prepared for a wave of school choice?

We dive into the the emerging models of Microschools, hybrid homeschools, online schools, and homeschool co-operatives.

Large majority of Hispanic parents support school choice policies

This week, we explore the data to better understand Hispanic Parents’ views on educational choice policies.

Ep. 390: Surveying Teens

In this edition of EdChoice Chats, host Mike McShane talks with Colyn Ritter to dive into our most recent survey of American teens.

New Survey Finds Teens Want Schools to Provide Mental Health Services 

Use of Chat GPT, absenteeism, post-graduation plans among teens explored in new national poll

Ep. 387: Monthly Tracker – August 2023

We dive into our August poll where we asked parents what traits they value most in teachers, and so much more.

Two-thirds of parents say a dedicated website would be useful for information about their child’s education

We dive into how parents receive information about their child’s schooling and do they find these information sources trustworthy?

Ep. 385: The Three Languages of School Choice

Mike McShane talks with the author of The Three Languages of School Choice, John Kristof, as well as Neal McCluskey, and Gerard Robinson.

Talking (and Listening) about School Choice

The Three Languages of School Choice is a starting point for the next wave of educational freedom. For education freedom to truly take hold in the United States, the school choice movement must reclaim its politically multilingual roots and adapt them for today’s political age.

Ep. 384: Priorities of State and Local Governments – with Ben Scafidi

How are schools growing their numbers in staff members without growing the same number in students? Ben Scafidi joins Mike McShane to talk about his recent report, Priorities of

New report shows K-12 staffing priority crowds out state and local government services

This blog presents a brief summary of the employment priorities of state and local governments in the United States from fiscal year (FY) 1994 to FY 2022.

Ep. 383: Monthly Tracker – July 2023

“Where do you typically receive information about K-12 education?” The EdChoice Research team asked that question and many others to America’s public and school parents. Listen today to find

Public, Parents More Pessimistic About Direction of K-12 Education

INDIANAPOLIS, IN— As families finish up back-to-school shopping and American children head off for the 2023-24 school year, parents say they’re more pessimistic about the direction of K-12 education.

Ep. 381: Schooling in America

Mike McShane, Colyn Ritter, and John Kristof talk about what’s inside Schooling in America, including the data that stood out to them the most.

The Top 10 Findings from EdChoice’s 2023 Schooling in America Survey Series

Our annual report, Schooling in America is here! In this article, you can find the top 10 takeaways from our research and polling.

Survey Finds Americans’ support of school choice policies increased slightly in June 

Results from our June survey are here and we've put together the key takeaways.

Ep. 378: The 123s of School Choice – 2023 Edition

Members of the EdChoice team discuss the recent publication, The 123s of School Choice, an in-depth review of the available research on private school choice programs in America.

Ep. 376: Monthly Tracker – June 2023

EdChoice team members discuss the new question added to the poll about a four day school week while also reflecting on the past school year. 

The 123s of School Choice: 2023 Edition

The 123s of School Choice–2023 Edition

Ep. 375: Monthly Tracker – Teacher Results

Our own team member and former elementary school teacher, Margo Foster joins the podcast to discuss the results from this month's teacher survey.

New Survey Finds High Levels of Support for ESAs Among Teachers

Topics including Chat GPT, teacher preparation, school safety, and more explored in latest national poll.

Ep. 374: Monthly Tracker – Teens 2023

Highschool Senior Patrick McGrath joins EdChoice team members, John Kristof and Colyn Ritter, to discuss the findings from the latest survey on teenagers today. 

Ep. 372: Monthly Tracker – May 2023

Back at it again with another monthly tracker are EdChoice team members, Mike McShane, Colyn Ritter, and John Kristof, sharing results from the latest tracking poll fielded in April.

Survey Finds Parents More Hopeful, Satisfied Than Those Without Children

In our recent survey, parents with school-aged children report higher satisfaction with family relationships and general wellbeing while also feeling more hopeful about the future compared to those without children.

New Survey of American Teens Estimates How Many Are Using ChatGPT

Indianapolis, IN—A new survey of American teens finds less than half have heard at least some about ChatGPT, and less than one-third have put the AI platform to use.

New Survey Finds Teens Happier, More Motivated

Use of Chat GTP, desired support from schools, hope for the future, and more explored in national poll Indianapolis, IN—A new survey of American teens finds their mental health,

New Survey Finds Teens Happier, More Motivated

Use of ChatGPT, desired support from schools, hope for the future, and more explored in national poll

Ep. 369: Surveying Educational Entrepreneurs – With Mike McShane

For this episode of EdChoice Chats, Mike McShane is on the other side of the microphone talking about his new research report “Surveying Educational Entrepreneurs: The Headwinds and Tailwinds

Survey Reveals Most Influential Barriers for Educational Entrepreneurs

Whether they are opening new schools, creating new curriculum or recruiting educators, educational entrepreneurs face many barriers to success. This new survey report shines a light on what and how influential those barriers are.

Ep. 367: Monthly Tracker – April 2023

The three musketeers of tracker polling, Mike McShane, Colyn Ritter, and John Kristof share compelling numbers from our recent polling with American school parents. One celebratory number is the

New Poll Previewed at SXSW EDU Confirms Black Parents Want Flexible Funding, School Choice Options

A recent nationally representative survey revealed Black parents' thoughts on topics ranging from post-pandemic learning, to what they value most in their children’s academic careers, to changes they’d like to see moving forward. Discussed at SXSW EDU 2023, a panel of leaders in the Black education community review the results and the broader issues Black students face in school.

Understanding Inter-District K-12 Open Enrollment Policies

To learn more about inter-district open enrollment policies and how they can affect students and school leaders, EdChoice partnered with Hanover Research to conduct a series of research projects. We share the key highlights and policy recommendations this new report.

Ep. 362: Monthly Tracker – March 2023

EdChoice team members Mike McShane, John Kristof and Colyn Ritter go over the results that stood out the most from this month’s public opinion tracker.

New Survey of Black Parents Reveals Opinions and Experiences in Schools, Desires for Future

Black parents believe core academic subjects are extremely important for students in Kindergarten through eighth grade, and prioritize independent thinking and core subject for high schoolers, a just-released national

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Black Parents – February 2023

In this report we gauged Black Parents’ views on the direction of K-12 education.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: General Population and School Parents – February 2023

Learn about the top 7 takeaways from our February public opinion tracker here! We continue to dive into microschooling and added a new question about gifted, talented, and honors classes.

Ep. 359: Monthly Tracker – February 2023

The February monthly tracker is here featuring our own research team discussing numbers from the most recent polling of American school parents. Find out what is the “Cleopatra’s Pizza

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: General Population and School Parents – January 2023

We added some new questions to our survey that dive into microschooling and communication levels between parents and teachers. Want to find out the results? Dive into the top 7 takeaways from the January edition of our public opinion tracker.

Ep. 355: Monthly Tracker – January 2023

Members of the EdChoice research team discuss some unexpected numbers from the recent public opinion tracker fielded in December 2022.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2023 Edition

We rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power—or how empowering they are for families—based on data in our 2023 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.

The 2023 EdChoice Yearbook Superlatives

After some major wins for school choice, see which programs made the EdChoice team's annual yearbook superlatives.

2023 EdChoice Share: Where Are America’s Students Educated?

Where are families choosing to send their students to be educated?

2023 EdChoice Spending Share: Private School Choice Versus Total K–12

A breakdown of how much money states spend on private school choice programs.

Support for School Choice Rose in December 2022, Quarter of Parents Report Switching School Types

Support for School Choice Rose in December 2022, Quarter of Parents Report Switching School Types

Mapping Drive Times from Private Schools in Nebraska

Nebraska families do not have access to the diverse educational opportunities families in many other states enjoy.

Schooling in America Series: How Different Regions View Choice

Survey shows geography influences what people know, think about schools

Ep. 352: Monthly Tracker – November 2022

Members of our team discuss the findings from the recent November poll and also reflect back on the year. 

Schooling in America Series: Support for Universal Education Savings Account Trends Upward

Expansive school choice legislation reflects the policy preferences of most Americans

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways November 2022

Parents don’t really know what the NAEP is, and they are more likely to think their state improved academically despite most states seeing a decline in test scores.

Ep. 350: School Surveys – Kansas Private School Survey

In this episode of EdChoice Chats, our Director of State Relations Jordan Zakery and Research Analyst John Kristof speak with James Franko from the Kansas Policy Institute to discuss the findings from the new Kansas private school survey.

Ep. 349: What’s Up with Teachers’ Unions – Michael Hartney

On today's episode of What's Up with Mike McShane, we chat with Michael Hartney and his book on teachers' unions and their role in education policy.

Ep. 348: Monthly Tracker – Teacher Poll Results

It's the Teacher Survey edition! Our Research team is going over some findings from our most recent teacher polling wave.

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways – October 2022

Eleven takeaways from the teacher polling wave.

Ep. 347: Monthly Tracker – October 2022

In this episode of EdChoice Chats, members of the research team break down some findings they found most interesting from our general population poll fielded from October 7 – October 9th, 2022. 

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways October 2022

Dive into the top seven takeaways from this month's general population survey.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Teen Perspectives – Fall 2022

Explore the top takeaways from this wave of our teens public opinion tracker.

New 2022 NAEP Scores Paint Ugly Picture

New 2022 NAEP Scores Paint Ugly Picture. The results of learning loss from the pandemic put scores back to where they were decades ago.

Ep. 344: Monthly Tracker – September 2022

This month some members of the research team sit down and discuss some of their findings from the September general population poll survey.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways September 2022

Explore the top eight takeaways from our general population survey wave in September.

Survey Says: K–12 Funding Should Follow Kids Where They Learn

Most school parents indicated they strongly or somewhat favor a system of funding where funding is based on student need and education dollars follow the student to the school of their choosing. That goes for all generations, all political affiliations and all community types.

Top 10 Findings from the 10th Year of EdChoice’s Schooling in America Survey Project

Top 10 Findings from the 10th Year of EdChoice’s Schooling in America Survey Project

Ep. 342: Schooling in America 2022

It's the 10 year anniversary of our Schooling in America survey series and the research team shares some takeaways that were most interesting to each of them.

Ep. 340: Monthly Tracker – August 2022

Members of the research team discuss the results from August's general population poll.

What Are Microschools?

Microschools are gaining steam.

Just How Many Kids Attend Microschools?

People want to know about microschools.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways August 2022

Take a look at the top twelve takeaways from from our August survey of the general population.

Whistling Past The NAEP-yard

If the new NAEP scores have taught us anything, it’s that our education system can’t just go back to the way things were.

Ep. 339: What’s Up with the F.R.E.E. Plan with Ian Rowe

On this episode of What's Up, we chat with Ian Rowe about his new book. The publication titled, "Agency: The Four Point Plan for ALL Children to Overcome the Victimhood Narrative and Discover Their Pathway to Power", details the four point plan for children to achieve success.

Ep. 338: Researcher Profile — with John Garen

In this researcher profile, we meet John Garen who is the author of a preliminary report titled "School Choice and Competition.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways July 2022

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways July 2022

Ep. 334: What’s Up with Kind Academy

We talk with Iman Alleyne who runs the Kind Academy, which features an interesting micro school/hybrid school/online model.

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways – June 2022

Learn what America’s K-12 teachers think about staying in their profession, teacher savings accounts and more.

Ep. 333: Monthly Tracker – June 2022

For our June 2022 edition of the Monthly Tracker Podcast we focus on school parents and how they feel about how their child or children progressed in the 2021-2022 school year.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways June 2022

Take a look at the top nine takeaways from our June general population poll.

New Report: How Do Teachers Spend Their Time?

Reporting Findings from a National Survey of Educators in District, Charter, and Private Schools

Ep. 331: How Do Teachers Spend Their Time?

Mike McShane director of national research at EdChoice joins the show to talk about his most recent paper on teacher's usage of time.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Perspectives on School Safety (June 2022)

Here are the top six takeaways from our June public opinion poll about school safety.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways May 2022

Check out the top eight takeaways from our recent polling wave.

Ep. 324: Monthly Tracker – May 2022

We hear from members of the research team about the results from May's general population poll, including answers to some new questions.

Ep. 323: Michigan Student Opportunity Scholarship with Ben Degrow

In this episode we talk with Director of Education Policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Ben DeGrow. He and EdChoice's Director of Fiscal Research and Education Center, Marty Lueken, co-wrote a report that discusses the potential impacts of a proposed ESA program in Michigan.

Ep. 322: What’s Up with Learning Pods?

Amar Kumar joins the show to discuss his new venture called KaiPod.

Ep. 321: Teen Survey

In today's podcast we talk about the recent teen survey which answers some questions about post-pandemic life for students.

Ep. 320: Monthly Tracker – April 2022

We hear from members of the research team about the results from April's general population poll, including answers to some new questions.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways April 2022

Take a look at the top takeaways from our new general population poll.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Perspectives of Teenagers and High School Parents (March 2022)

In this wave of our teen survey we ask high school teens and their parents about their experiences and opinions during another pandemic school year.

Ep. 315: Monthly Tracker – March 2022

We hear from members of the research team about the results from March's general population poll, including answers to some new questions.

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways – March 2022

Learn what America’s K-12 teachers think about staying in their profession, school board disruptions, COVID-19 restrictions, school choice and more.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways March 2022

With new questions about local school board disruptions and why people oppose school choice policies, you won’t want to miss these findings.

Ep. 312: Researcher Profile — with James Shuls

Sit down with Dr. James Shuls, Dean of the College of Education at Southeastern University where he is the Academic Director for the American Center for Political Leadership. 

Educational Choice’s Blurred (Political) Lines

Digging into survey data reveals the political divide in K–12 education doesn’t actually extend to school choice.

Navigating the Pandemic: The Views of Special Education Parents

Our latest polling report reveals parents of students with special needs’ unique perspectives on K–12 education throughout the pandemic.

Ep. 310: Researcher Profile — with Lindsey Burke

During this Researcher Profile episode, we talk to Lindsey Burke about her beginnings in the educational choice movement as well as her relationship with EdChoice.

Ep. 307: Kentucky Private School Survey

Drew Catt, director of state research and special projects at EdChoice, sits down with co-author John Kristof and colleague, Jordan Zachary. They are joined by Andy Vandiver, President of

Ep. 306: Monthly Tracker – February 2022

We hear from members of the research team about the results from February’s general population poll, including answers to some new questions.

Ep. 305: Researcher Profile — with Ben Scafidi

During this Researcher Profile episode, we talk to Ben Scafidi about his beginnings in the educational choice movement and his partnership with EdChoice.

Ep. 304: Researcher Profile — with Angela Dills

Drew Catt the choices director of state research and special projects sits down with Dr. Angela Dills, Gimelstob-Landry distinguished professor of regional economic development at Western Carolina University.

Cool Schools: Season Four Roundup

Binge season four of our Cool Schools podcast series to your heart’s content. We rounded all six episodes up for your convenience.

Ep. 297: Monthly Tracker – January 2022

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our January 2022 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker.

Ep. 295: International School Choice and Reform Conference 2022

In this episode we speak with some members of the conference planning committee and hear their take on ISCRC and what makes it such a beneficial event.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways January 2022

As another COVID outbreak surged post-winter holidays, we asked parents about their K-12 schooling experiences and more.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (December 2021)

Learn how Black parents characterized their schooling experiences as we closed out December 2021.

Ep. 292: Monthly Tracker – December 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our December 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker.

The States Ranked by Spending on School Choice Programs, 2022 Edition

After major shifts in educational opportunity in 2021, here are the 2022 states rankings by how much of education spending goes to private educational choice programs.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2022 Edition

Which of America’s school choice programs has the most and least students participating? Our ranking has the answer.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Eligibility, 2022 Edition

Get this year's comprehensive list of every private school choice program in America ranked by program eligibility.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2022 Edition

We rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power—so how empowering they are for families—based on data in our 2022 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.

President’s Letter: The 2022 ABCs of School Choice

With six new programs, 2011 was the year of school choice. A decade later, 2021 became the year of educational choice.

The 2022 EdChoice Yearbook Superlatives

After the officially dubbed Year of Educational Choice, find out the EdChoice team’s annual yearbook superlatives, including Best New Program and Most Likely to Succeed in 2022.

2022 EdChoice Share: Where Are America’s Students Educated?

Which types of schools and educational settings are they choosing?

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways Q4 2021

As the Omicron variant began its spread in December, we polled K–12 teachers about their experiences, education policies and more.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways December 2021

Learn how the Omicron variant affected school parents’ opinions on education and more in our latest polling wave

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (November 2021)

Learn how Black parents characterized their schooling experiences as we closed out November 2021

Ep. 289: Monthly Tracker – November 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our November 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways November 2021

Check out the key findings from our November public opinion polling, including parents' thoughts on Covid restrictions.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (October 2021)

Learn the four key findings from our October poll of Black parents on K–12 education.

When states consider expanding #schoolchoice policies, opponents inevitably start claiming that the sky is falling on public education. Spoiler Alert: It's not, and we have the receipts. The full report is free to view or download here: https://www.edchoice.org/ChickenLittle.

Ep. 285: The Chicken Little Report

In this episode we speak with colleague Jason Bedrick the coauthor of a new report, Who’s Afraid of School Choice: Examining the Validity and Intensity of Predictions by School

NEW REPORT: Who’s Afraid of School Choice?

Predictions about the harm to the district school system have not materialized in the five states with the oldest and most robust school choice programs.

Navigating the Pandemic: The Views of Special Education Parents

We release a new polling report that describes the firsthand schooling experiences and views of special education parents during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ep. 281: The Fiscal Effects of School Choice

A new, updated analysis of the fiscal effects of school choice is out now!

NEW RESEARCH: The Costs and Savings of Educational Choice Programs in the U.S.

EdChoice’s fiscal expert breaks down the short- and long-run costs and savings of America’s school choice programs

Ep. 280: The Ohio Survey with Yitz Frank

In this episode we hear from Chairman of the Board of School Choice Ohio Yitz Frank and the results of their recent survey they conducted of Ohio families on

Ep. 279: 25 Years — 25 Research Findings

The EdChoice research team talks about their list of the 25 most significant research findings over the last 25 years.

25 Years: 25 Most Significant School Choice Research Findings

We asked our research team to identify the top 25 choice-related reports from the past 25 years, and they delivered.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways October 2021

Check out the key findings from our October public opinion polling.

Ep. 278: Monthly Tracker – September 2021

In this episode we dive deeper into the four polls we put in the field during the month of September. We break down some of the results from our

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (September 2021)

Learn the five key findings from September poll of Black parents on K–12 education.

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways Q3 2021

Check out our latest results and takeaways from our quarterly polling of K-12 teachers.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways September 2021

Check out the key findings from our September public opinion polling.

Ep. 273: Big Ideas — Arizona Mapping with Matt Beienburg

In this episode we hear from Matt Beienburg, director of education policy at the Goldwater Institute, and our own director of state research and special projects, Drew Catt. The

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (August 2021)

Learn the four key findings from our August/September poll of Black parents on K–12 education.

NEW REPORT: The Accountability Myth

McShane’s new paper—The Accountability Myth—delves into how public, private and charter schools are held accountable … or are they?

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Teen Perspective (August – September)

In this wave of polling we ask high school teens their opinions on COVID-19 and the current school year.

Ep. 269: Monthly Tracker – August 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our August 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker.

Ep. 268: Cool Schools with Christian Dallavis

We kick off season four of our Cool Schools series with Christian Dallavis, the Assistant Superintendent for the Partnership Schools, that started in New York and has since expanded

Ep. 267: 25 Years with Susan and Robert — An Early History of the Movement

Our own President and CEO Robert Enlow teams up with longtime advocate Susan Mitchell to discuss the past 25 years of the educational choice movement. What are those early

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways August 2021

We share our four key findings based on our August polling wave.

The Top 10 Findings from EdChoice’s 2021 Schooling in America Survey

Since 2013, we’ve surveyed the American public and school parents about the state of K–12 education, their schooling preferences and educational choice policies.

Ep. 266: 2021 Schooling In America Survey

The annual edition of our Schooling in America Survey with Braun Research launched today. Check out the key findings according to the report’s authors on your commute, over lunch

Ep. 265: Monthly Tracker Results – July 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our July 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (July 2021)

Learn the four key findings from our July/August poll of Black parents on K–12 education.

How Many Students Are Now Eligible for New, Expanded School Choice Programs

We crunched the numbers and ordered them by percent of students eligible and maximum participation.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways July 2021

We share our five key takeaways based on our July polling wave.

Ep. 262: Researcher Profile – Dr. Adaobi Anakwe

Adaobi Anakwe discusses her research study into the virtual challenges that African-American school-aged children faced during the pandemic.

Parents of School-age Kids Need Tech Support

More survey data reveals parents, especially Black parents, access to tech and tech literacy is top problem to solve in today’s educational climate.

Ep. 261: Quarterly Teacher Survey – June 2021

In this episode, we share our top findings from our second quarterly survey of educators this year—including teacher opinions on COVID-19 and flexible teaching locations.

A Portrait of American Homeschooling in 2021

Check out the top five findings from the capstone report in our homeschooling trilogy.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (June 2021)

Learn the five key findings from our poll of Black parents on K-12 education.

Ep. 258: Monthly Tracker Results – June 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our June 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

Some Nerdy Stuff About Education Polling

A new analysis of education polling shows that, at least with respect to education, opinions are reasonably consistent.

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways Q2 2021

We share our top findings from our second quarterly survey of educators this year.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways June 2021

We share our five key takeaways based on our June polling wave.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Black K-12 Parent Perspectives (May 2021)

We share the biggest takeaways from our recent polling of Black American parents.

Focus Group: Homeschooling Families on Personalized Learning

Working with Hanover Research, we conducted six focus groups of parents, three with homeschooling parents and three with non-homeschooling parents but who identified that they had in some way personalized their child’s learning over the last year.

Ep. 256: Monthly Tracker Results – May 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our May 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways May 2021

We share our five key takeaways based on our May polling wave.

New Large Survey of Homeschooling Families Lifts Hood on Homeschooling During COVID-19

Learn why families homeschool, the obstacles they face and more in this new survey report.

12 New EdChoice Website Features You Should Know About

If you’re reading this, you’re on our new website! Here’s what’s new and improved.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Perspectives of Black K-12 Parents (April 2021)

We share the biggest takeaways from our recent polling of Black parents, including that they support three major school choice policies more than white parents.

Ep. 252: Monthly Tracker Results – April 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our April 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

Project Nickel: A New Tool to Help Everyone Understand What Public Schools Spend

What does the local public school in your community spend per-student? A new tech tool developed by Lincoln Studio in partnership with EdChoice can give you an answer.

Ep. 250: 123s of School Choice 2021 – A Chat with the Authors

A few authors of our annual report, The 123s of School Choice, discuss what you’ll find in this year’s edition. Click here to view the fully digital report.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways April 2021

We share our 10 key takeaways based on our April polling wave.

The New 123s of School Choice – What You Need to Know

We’ve got a new one-stop shop for our most popular research report.

Florida Families Overwhelming Satisfied with School Choice Despite Complexity of Programs

Researchers from Boston University and the University of Arkansas released a new study of Florida families’ experiences with two of the state’s private school choice programs.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Perspectives of Black K-12 Parents (March 2021)

In the latest wave of our monthly Public Opinion Tracker, we obtained completed surveys from 400 Black parents of school-aged children.

Ep. 248: Monthly Tracker Results – March 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our March 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

Parents and Teachers Both Want More Learning Pods

We knew parents liked microschools. It turns out teachers might be even more excited

Ep. 247: Teen Survey – Thoughts and Opinions on Schooling During the Pandemic

In our recent Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive, we asked teenagers about mental health since the start of the pandemic, social issues they care about and more. Click here to

Ep. 247: Teen Survey – Thoughts and Opinions on Schooling During the Pandemic

In our recent Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive, we asked teenagers about mental health since the start of the pandemic, social issues they care about and more. Click here to

2021 EdChoice Share: Where Are America’s Students Getting Their Education?

Which types of schools and educational settings are they choosing?

Public Opinion Tracker: Teacher Survey Top Takeaways Q1 2021

We share our top findings from our first quarterly survey of educators this year.

Ep. 249: Big Ideas – “A Search for Common Ground” with Pedro Noguera and Frederick Hess

In this episode, we are joined by the co-authors of a new book, A Search for Common Ground: Conversations About the Toughest Questions in K-12 Education. We discuss the

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Teen Perspectives

Teens generally think their schools could have better COVID-19 safety measures and prefer a hybrid attendance option.

U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey Shows Homeschooling Is Booming

In the spring of 2020, about 5.4 percent of U.S. households with children reported homeschooling. By fall, that number had more than doubled.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Perspectives of Black K-12 Parents (February 2021)

As of February, EdChoice decided to increase our sampling of Black K–12 school parents to better understand their unique perspectives, experiences, concerns and preferences.

Ep. 243: Big Ideas – “Hybrid Homeschooling” with Mike McShane

Our Director of National Research Mike McShane hops on the podcast to talk about his recently-released book, Hybrid Homeschooling: A Guide to the Future of Education.

What You Should Know About the New IES Study of Indiana’s Voucher Program

Mike McShane highlights findings from the report, as well as some criticisms from the research community.

Public Opinion Tracker Deep Dive: Let’s Zoom in on Homeschooling Opinion

As a part of our Public Opinion Tracker, we have been following opinions on education issues. In this post, we take a deep dive into the questions we’ve been asking parents about homeschooling.

Ep. 241: Monthly Tracker Results – February 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our February 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways February 2021

We share our 10 key takeaways based on our February polling wave.

The Fiscal Effects of the Kansas Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program

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.

Ep. 240: Iowa Voter Poll with Trish Wilger

We’re joined by Trish Wilger, executive director of Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education (ACE), to discuss results from the Iowa K-12 & School Choice Survey.

Will Hybrid Homeschooling Continue After the Pandemic Ends?

My new book, Hybrid Homeschooling: A Guide to the Future of Education, releases March 14. I wrote the vast majority of it before the pandemic, when hybrid homeschooling was

Ep. 236: Monthly Tracker Results – January 2021

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our January 2021 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

Iowans Show Support for Flexible School Choice Programs, Want More Options

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.

Ep. 235: Big Ideas – “Freeing America’s K–12 Education System” with Clint Bolick and Kate Hardiman

Justice Clint Bolick of the Arizona Supreme Court and Kate Hardiman, Rehnquist Fellow at Cooper & Kirk, join us to discuss their latest book, Unshackled: Freeing America’s K–12 Education

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways January 2021

We share our key takeaways based on our January polling wave.

Ep. 234: Our 2021 School Choice Yearbook Superlatives

As we do every year, the EdChoice team got together to vote on yearbook superlative categories, such as Most Empowering, Biggest Setback and our newest recognition, Most Choice-y State,

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2021 Edition

Which of America’s school choice programs has the most students participating? What about the least?

The States Ranked by Spending on School Choice Programs, 2021 Edition

For the fifth year in a row, here are the rankings of states spending share on private educational choice programs.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Eligibility, 2021 Edition

Get this year's comprehensive list of every private school choice program in America ranked by program eligibility.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2021 Edition

We rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power based on data in our 2021 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.

The 2021 EdChoice Yearbook Superlatives

We caffeinated. We debated. We declared this year’s yearbook superlatives, including dubbing a winner of a new category—Most Choice-y State.

Ep. 233: Monthly Tracker Results – December 2020

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our December 2020 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways December 2020

We share our eight key takeaways based on our December polling wave.

Ep. 231: Big Ideas – “Defining Hybrid Homeschools in America” with Eric Wearne

In this episode, Eric Wearne joins us to discuss his recent book, Defining Hybrid Homeschools in America.

Reducing Higher Ed Debt: K-12 Education Savings Accounts Can Help Beyond K-12

Kids are encouraged to study hard to prepare for college, but ESAs allow them to prepare financially, too.

Ep. 229: Schooling in America Survey – Public Opinion on K–12 Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Unlike previous years of our Schooling in America survey project, our researchers released multiple sets of results in a chart-focused format. This report focuses on the second wave of

2020 Schooling in America Series: Changing Perception on Schools and Record Support for School Choice

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.

Ep. 228: Big Ideas – “Reducing Inequality in Outside-of-School Learning” with Dan Lips

Dan Lips, visiting fellow with the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity,  joins us to talk about his recent paper, “Reducing Inequality in Outside-of-School Learning.”

Ep. 227: Monthly Tracker Results – November 2020

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our November 2020 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways November 2020

We share our eight key takeaways based on our November polling wave.

Ep. 226: Big Ideas – “Toward Equitable School Choice” with Paul Peterson

In his latest report, Paul Peterson breaks down what the evidence says about the effectiveness of school choice. He also outlines a variety of action items policymakers can take to

Ep. 224: Religious Liberty and Education – An Interview with Kevin Vallier

Kevin Vallier, associate professor of philosophy at Bowling Green State University, joins us to discuss his chapter in the book, Religious Liberty and Education: A Case Study of Yeshivas

What Parents Think About Getting to School Before and During a Pandemic

I think it is safe to say it has been a long year. It feels like more than just 14 months ago that the survey for my newest report

Ep 222: Monthly Tracker Results – October 2020

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our October 2020 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. For more from the full report, visit

Ep. 221: Commuting Concerns with Drew Catt and Mike McShane

The author of our latest report, Commuting Concerns, discusses the process used to collect responses, inspiration for the report, and more.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways October 2020

We share our 14 key findings based on our October polling wave with Morning Consult.

Ep. 220: Big Ideas – “Protecting Learning Pods” with Jonathan Butcher

Jonathan Butcher joins us to discuss is report, Protecting Learning Pods: A 50-State Guide to Regulations Threatening the Latest Education Innovation. He explains learning pod regulation concerns and more.

Ep. 217: Big Ideas – Charter School Study with Danish Shakeel

Danish Shakeel discusses his co-authored report, Changes in the Performance of Students in Charter and District Sectors of U.S. Education: An Analysis of Nationwide Trends. 

Ep. 216: Big Ideas – “An Appraisal Market for K-12 Education” with Lindsey Burke

Lindsey Burke joins us to discuss An Appraisal Market for K-12 Education, her recently-authored report for the American Enterprise Institute.

U.S. States Ranked by Educational Choice Share, 2020

Where are America’s students getting their education? Which types of schools and educational settings are they choosing?

Ep. 214: Big Ideas – “Online Learning” with Ian Kingsbury

We are joined by Ian Kingsbury, an education policy fellow with the Empire Center for Public Policy. He discusses his recently-authored EdChoice study, Online Learning: How do Brick and

Ep. 213: Teen Survey – August 2020

We asked teens how COVID-19 has impacted their schooling, what social issues they care about the most, and more.

Ep. 212: Religious Liberty and Education – France’s Crackdown on Islamic Education and Homeschooling

We are joined by Jibran Khan and Danish Shakeel to discuss Islamic education and homeschooling—specifically in regards to recent announcements made by France's president.

Black Children Continue To Be Pushed Out of American Schools During Pandemic

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.

Ep. 211: Big Ideas – “School Choice Myths” with Neal McCluskey and Corey DeAngelis

Co-editors of the book, School Choice Myths: Setting the Record Straight on Educational Freedom, unpack just a few of the 12 school choice myths you will find in the book.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways September 2020

We share our 12 key takeaways based on our September polling wave.

Ep. 210: Big Ideas – “Let’s Get Small” with Matthew Ladner

Matthew Ladner joins Jason Bedrick in this episode of our Big Ideas series to discuss their co-authored report, Let’s Get Small: Microschools, Pandemic Pods, and the Future of Education

Survey: But What About The Kids?

Our new poll reveals teen views on back-to-school, the pandemic and other hot topics.

Ep 205: Monthly Tracker Results – August 2020

In this episode, we share key takeaways from our August 2020 wave of polling as reported on our EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker. We talk about the new questions we

Ep. 204: Big Ideas – “A Fine Line” with Tim DeRoche

In this episode, we chat with Tim DeRoche about his book, A Fine Line: How Most American Kids are Kept Out of the Best Public Schools. We cover topics

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways August 2020

We share our seven key takeaways based on our August polling wave.

Ep. 203: Schooling in America Survey – K–12 Education and School Choice

In this episode, we chat about results in part two of our Schooling in America Survey, “K–12 Education and School Choice Reforms.” We unpack the American public’s views on the

2020 Schooling in America Series: School Choice, Education Spending and More

Learn what parents, the public and people of different races and ethnicities think about K–12 education issues, including school choice, funding and more.

What Parents Think About Getting to School During a Pandemic

We share the ways transportation influences parents’ decisions regarding where to send their children to school and more.

Breaking Down Our National Survey Responses by Income, Political Affiliation and Community Type

How did Americans of different incomes, political affiliations and communities—urban, suburban and small town/rural—respond to our Schooling in America Survey?

Ep. 201: Schooling in America Survey – Homeschooling

In this episode, we chat about results in part two of our Schooling in America Survey, “Homeschooling Experiences and Opinions During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” We unpack why parents choose

2020 Schooling in America Series: Homeschooling Experiences and Views During the Pandemic

What are the reasons parents choose homeschool, and how do these experiences vary by race?

Ep. 200: The Unbundling Series – Five Services Public Education Should Do Differently

The authors of our latest blog series, "The Unbundling Series," discuss creating a more resilient education system and more.

Ep. 199: Monthly Tracker Results – July 2020

In this episode, we share key takeaways from last month’s EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker polling waves, including increased favorability of homeschooling and more.

Unbundling: How K–12 Education Could Do Transportation Differently

In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle how student transportation can change as schools reopen in the Fall.

Unbundling: Three Ways Public Schools Can Rethink Food Services

In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle how to help schools and school districts 'unbundle' food services.

Unbundling: Three Policies That Would Improve Schools’ Core Education Services

In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle what it might look like to 'unbundle' core academic elements of schools.

Unbundling: A New Way to Approach Teacher Professional Development and Classroom Supplies

In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle paying for classroom supplies.

The Unbundling Series: Five Services Public Education Should Do Differently

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.

Unbundling: Rethinking How We Deliver Remedial Services to Students Who Need Them

In this edition of The Unbundling Series, we tackle funding for remediation programs.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways July 2020

We share our five key takeaways based on our July polling wave.

Ep. 198: Schooling in America Survey – COVID-19 & K-12 Education

Authors of our latest report, Schooling in America: COVID-19 & K–12 Education, discuss some of the findings that stood out the most.

Ep. 197: Monthly Tracker Results – June 2020

In this episode, we share key takeaways from last month’s EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker polling waves.

2020 Schooling in America Series: COVID-19 Impacts on K–12 Education and Racial Disparities

The pandemic drastically altered students’ learning environments while affecting parents’ views on remote learning and reopening, but experiences differed by racial/ethnic backgrounds.

What the EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker Tells Us About Teacher Pensions

Educators make mobility decisions based on retirement plans and portability.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways June 2020

We share our eight key takeaways based on our June polling waves.

Key Findings from the Indiana School Voucher Program 2019–20 IDOE Report

Learn more about the report in this handy infographic.

Ep. 187: Pennsylvania K–12 & School Choice Survey

The authors of the brief, Pennsylvania K-12 School Choice Survey, discuss the findings—including voters’ views on school choice program types and more.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways May 2020

We share our eight key takeaways based on our May polling waves.

Ep. 183: Private School Survey on COVID-19

Learn more about what you will find in the Private School COVID-19 Response Survey, prepared for EdChoice by Hanover Research.

Ep. 182: Big Ideas – “School Choice: Separating Fact from Fiction” with Patrick Wolf

Patrick Wolf, professor and 21st Century chair in School Choice in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas, joins us to discuss a book he edited.

Ep. 181: EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker

We discuss the goals of our new EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker, along with some of the data you’ll find⁠—including COVID-19 teacher survey results.

Ep. 179: Comparing Ed Reforms

Learn more about our recent brief, Comparing Ed Reforms. We partnered with Hanover Research to assess the experimental research on nine K-12 education reforms.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker: Top Takeaways April 2020

We share our eight key takeaways based on our January-to-April polling waves.

What You Need to Know About the EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker

Learn more about our goals for the new polling dashboard, and get tips on how to navigate its various tools and pages.

SURVEY: Private School Response to COVID-19

We asked nearly 800 schools how they’re doing, what they fear and need.

Ep. 175: Big Ideas – “The Not-So-Great-Society” with Lindsey Burke

In this episode of the Big Ideas series, we chat with Lindsey Burke of the Center for Education Policy about the book, The Not-So-Great-Society. The book, co-edited by Burke,

The Trillion Dollar Problem: Pandemic Puts State Pension Plans At Even Greater Risk

The current economic downturn will have rippling effects on the health of pension funds for public school teachers and other public employees.

K-12 Fiscal Relief in the Aftermath of COVID-19

Shuttering school choice programs would cost states $3.3 billion.

Polling American K–12 School Parents About COVID-19

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.

The K-12 Financial Cliff: What States Could Face If Students Switch Schooling Sectors

What would happen to state and local budgets if a percentage of private school students wind up back in the public system?

Ohio’s Educational Choice Scholarship Program Frozen Despite Strong Public Support

Lawmakers revert to old “failing” schools list while punting on means-tested conversion.

Ep. 171: 123s of School Choice 2020 – A Chat with the Authors

A few authors of our annual report, The 123s of School Choice, discuss what you’ll find in this year’s edition. Click here to download the full report, or order

Researching the Research on Nine Major Ed Reforms

We partnered with Hanover Research to see what areas have been the most studied.

How Private Schools and Groups Serving Schools and Families Could Be Eligible for Forgivable Loans

Find out if you're eligible and learn how you can submit an application.

Public Aid for Private Schools Already Happens

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?

Studying the School Choice Student Transportation Problem

Taking a look at the national landscape of student transportation policy, the best we can say is that it is complicated.

Ep. 165: Transporting School Choice Students – A Chat with the Authors

In this episode of EdChoice Chats, Mike McShane and Michael Shaw, authors of our latest report Transporting School Choice Students, discuss inspiration, methodology and findings. Click here to read

What America Thinks of K–12 Education (Told in Infographics)

We share some of the most compelling results of our 2019 Schooling in America survey in the form of infographics.

The Real Roots of School Choice Lie in Inclusion and Integration

School vouchers helped create integration academies but school choice opponents don’t want you to know that.

Ep. 158: Big Ideas with Phil Magness

Phil Magness, senior research fellow with the American Institute of Economic Research, discusses the history of school choice and critics’ claims of segregationist roots. Magness delves into this and

Ep. 157: Segregation Research with Brian Kisida

Brian Kisida, assistant professor at the University of Missouri, discusses his co-authored report, When is a School Segregated? Making Sense of Segregation 65 Years After Brown v. Board of

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2020 Edition

We rank the nation’s educational choice programs by purchasing power based on data in our 2020 edition of The ABCs of School Choice.

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2020 Edition

Which of America’s school choice programs has the most students participating? What about the least?

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Eligibility, 2020 Edition

Get this year's comprehensive list of every private school choice program in America ranked by program eligibility.

The States Ranked by Spending on School Choice Programs, 2020 Edition

For the fourth year in a row – here are the rankings of states spending share on private educational choice programs.

Sensible K–12 Governance and Why It Probably Won’t Happen

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.

Ep. 152: A New Era for K–12 Education Funding

Our VP of External Relations Brian McGrath, Director of Fiscal Policy and Analysis Marty Lueken and EdChoice Fellow James Shuls discuss big takeaways from this year’s Walton Finance Symposium.

Hybrid Home Schooling’s “Whole Product” Problem

We present three steps to making hybrid homeschool work.

Who Should Hybrid Home-school?

We present four profiles of potential hybrid home-schoolers.

Can Hybrid Home Schooling “Cross the Chasm?”

Hybrid home schooling proponents must tackle three questions to grow beyond early adopters and into the mainstream.

Ep. 144: 2019 Schooling In America Survey – A Chat with the Authors

The authors of our 2019 Schooling in America Survey highlight the findings they found most intriguing

Ep. 143: Researcher Profile – Kathaleena Monds

Learn more about her mission to support disadvantaged communities and education researchers

The 2019 EdChoice Yearbook Superlatives

The EdChoice team debated and dubbed this year’s yearbook superlatives, including most likely to succeed in 2019.

Ep. 63: Indiana’s Schooling Deserts with Drew Catt, Mike Shaw & Robert Enlow

The authors of Indiana’s Schooling Deserts used Geographic Information System software to map Hoosier families’ drive times to traditional public, magnet, charter and voucher-participating private schools. That first-of-its-kind mapping

Ep. 31: Future Louisiana Voucher Research with Jonathan Mills

Jon talks about his current research projects, what he’s learned from collaborating with a diverse team and how research can be useful for parents and policymakers.

Chris Stewart of brightbeam joins members of the EdChoice team to discuss findings from our Public Opinion Tracker.

Ep. 15: Why IN Parents Choose Survey with Drew Catt & Evan Rhinesmith

Authors of our newest research report, Why Indiana Parents Choose, Drew Catt and Dr. Evan Rhinesmith hop in the studio to discuss the responses of Indiana school parents from

Cool Schools: Season One Roundup

Pick from all 14 episodes of our second season of Cool Schools with Mike McShane.

Four Ways Evidence Shows School Choice Can Help Teachers

No more theories: The data show school choice actually helps teachers in these four ways

Key Findings from the 2019 Schooling in America Survey

The 2019 Schooling in America Survey provides gauges on K–12 issues now as well as trends over the past seven years

Not All Teachers Oppose Inter-District Busing

New polling might point to inter-district busing being a lost cause among teachers, but there are some pockets of opportunity

Where the “Funding Competing Systems” Argument Falls Completely Apart

School choice opponents say we should “fully fund” one system (public schools), but here’s where that all falls apart

Ep. 133: Researcher Profile – Nate Barrett

Discussing his journey from academia to the advocacy world

What do parents of school-age kids and public school teachers have in common? How are their views on education different. This 2019 national poll has some answers.

What You Need to Know from the Massive NCES School Choice Report

As a longtime school choice researcher, here are my picks for the NCES report’s most interesting findings

Which studies are the most reliable? The best way to get an apples-to-apples comparison in social science is to perform something called a randomized control trial (RCT). Here's how they work.

The 10 Most Popular Episodes of EdChoice Chats

For National Podcast Day, we’re taking a look at some of our most popular tracks

Ep. 131: Big Ideas – Discussing the Book, “Education in the Marketplace”

Our Director of Policy Jason Bedrick talks with the author of this new book

A staffing surge has been happening in public schools for decades, and it's hurting teachers. Watch author Dr. Ben Scafidi break down what the US DOE data say about it.

New Poll Shows Americans Are More Than A Little Confused About K–12 Education

EdNext survey reveals what parents, teachers, Democrats and Republicans know about schooling in America—and what they want to change

Cool Schools: Season Two Roundup

Pick from all seven episodes of our second season of Cool Schools with Mike McShane

Ep. 129: Researcher Profile – John Merrifield

EdChoice fellow and professor of economics discusses 20 years of researching school choice and reform

Cool Schools: All-Boys High School Focuses on Building Brotherhood, Being Leaders

Founder of Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School talks leading a faith-based institution made up of predominately non-Lutheran students

Mapping Drive Times to Hope Scholarship-Accepting Private Schools in Florida

How far might Florida Hope Scholarship students travel to attend a qualifying private school?

Want Parents to Stop Cheating and Lying? Fix the Public Education System

Recent cheating scandals have shone a light on funding inequities in American public education

New Government Report on Educational Options for American Indian Students Omits Private Schools

Charters, magnets and career and technical education schools aren’t the only non-traditional options for American Indian and Alaska Native students

Schooling in America Series Roundup

Get the rundown on all nine installments of this survey-driven series

Schooling in America Series: Rural Revisited

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

Schooling in America Series: Parents’ Views on Accountability and School Choice

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

Mapping Drive Times from Private Schools in West Virginia

One in eight West Virginia students has a far commute to the nearest private school

Ep. 119: 2019 Surveying The Military

The authors of our latest report get together to talk about active-duty military families' views on education and school choice

Schooling in America Series: Teachers’ Views on Accountability and School Choice

EdChoice Research Assistant Mike Shaw takes a look at teacher surveys to identify their views on school choice policies and accountability.

Schooling in America Series: The Public on K–12 Accountability

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2019 Edition

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

Ep. 116: Researcher Profile – Albert Cheng

He discusses developing our 'moral ecology' and understanding how students use technology in the classroom to figure out guiding values

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2019 Edition

...Tax-Credit Scholarship | 20,976 scholarships 16. Arizona’s Low-Income Corporate Income Tax Credit Scholarship Program (16) Tax-Credit Scholarship | 20,076 scholarships 17. Pennsylvania’s

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Eligibility, 2019 Edition

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

U.S. States Ranked by Educational Choice Share, 2019

How many K–12 students use educational choice out of all students in your state? Find out in this list.

Ep. 113: Discussing School Climate, Parent Involvement and More Findings from Recent Survey

Researchers Drew Catt and Albert Cheng unpack results from their recent Arizona parents survey

The States Ranked by Spending on School Choice Programs, 2019 Edition

How much of states’ total K–12 funds are spent on school choice programs? Find out in this list.

The Object of Our Taxation

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, “It

The Roots of Educational Freedom

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 the

Liberating Education

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

Ep. 106: Talking Rural Education with Mike McShane and Andy Smarick

Get a glimpse inside the book, "No Longer Forgotten: The Triumphs and Struggles of Rural Education in America"

Schooling in America Series: The Public on School Choice

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

Schooling in America Series: K–12 Education Funding

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

Ep. 104: Nevada K–12 and School Choice Poll with Don Soifer

The President of Nevada Action for School Choice Options chats with our researchers about the results of a recent Nevada poll

Schooling in America Series: Getting to Know the Public on Public Education

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events.

Schooling in America Series: Getting to Know School Parents

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

Schooling in America Series: Getting to Know Our Teachers

In this series, we delve deeper into our 2018 national survey data and how it ties in with current events

Key Findings from the 2018 Schooling in America Survey

The new EdChoice national survey data support what many assume about teachers and parents with some notable surprises

Ep. 103: Researcher Profile – Danish Shakeel

We talk with Harvard post-doctoral student and researcher Danish Shakeel about his history with school choice and what research he has in the pipeline.

America’s Public Worker Pension Crisis Hits Primetime

PBS recently aired an episode of Frontline that reported on public employee pensions in Kentucky. This is an issue that affects so many Americans, not only the workers who benefit from pensions, but also taxpayers that pay to help fund them.

Study Finds America’s School Voucher Programs Have Saved Billions

Many think school vouchers drain money from public education, but data tell a different story

How Tennessee’s ESA Spending Compares to Other States

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

After IRS impacts tax-credit scholarships, a chance for altruism (and better program design)

An IRS response to high-tax states may affect all charities, including tax-credit scholarships. What’s next?

New Analysis Maps K–12 Schooling ‘Deserts’ in Choice-Rich Indiana

Indiana is ripe with school choice, but families in some areas lack access to highly rated schools or alternatives to their zoned public schools

Ep. 101: The Private School Teacher Skills Gap with Mike McShane

What skills do private school teachers need to be successful? Are they getting everything they need? Our latest report has the answers.

Ep. 99: School Survey Series – Exploring West Virginia’s Private Education Sector

EdChoice's Drew Catt talks with Garrett Ballengee, Cardinal Institute's executive director, about lack of school choice options in West Virginia

Mapping Drive Times from Private Schools in New Hampshire

New Hampshire students, on average, don’t have a far commute to private school options

New UVA Study of Limited Help in Understanding School Vouchers

Education policy wonks are atwitter over what a recent University of Virginia (UVA) press release said about school choice, but should they be?

Ep. 97: Researcher Profile – Emily Coady

Emily Coady talks about her path to education reform and what she's working on now

Ep. 96: Reviewing the 2019 International School Choice and Reform Conference

Our VP of legal affairs and two members of our research team recap their time at the annual International School Choice and Reform Conference

Mapping Drive-Times from Private Schools in Oklahoma

More than three-quarters of Oklahoma families could drive their K–12 students to a private school in 20 minutes or less

Ep. 95: The Future of K–12 Funding with Marty Lueken and James Shuls

In this new EdChoice report, two fiscal experts propose how policymakers might make K–12 funding more equitable

The Five Things You Should Know about the New D.C. Voucher Test Score Study

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

Defining Market Failure (with Examples)

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.

What the Latest Data Say About Chile’s School Voucher System

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.

The Next 200 Years: A Post Mortem of the Once Promising Jubilee Catholic Schools

What happened with Jubilee Catholic Schools in Memphis, and what can we learn from it?

Mapping Drive-Times from Private Schools in South Carolina

In general, South Carolina students aren’t far from private school options

Ep. 91: Research Profiler with James Shuls

Marty Lueken interviews James Shuls about his journey into school choice research and what he's working on now

The Next 200 Years: Studying the Long-Term Effects of Catholic-to-Charter “Conversion”

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.

Should Anyone Use Student Test Score Studies to Determine School Choice Success or Failure?

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.

What You Actually Need to Know About the Two New School Choice Attainment Studies

Milwaukee and D.C. studies continue trends, but context is important

Mapping Indiana’s K–12 Student Transfers

Based on Indiana Department of Education data, which public school districts are students leaving and why?

Mapping Indiana’s Public District School Choice Transfers

Check out these maps showing outgoing, incoming and net public district school choice transfers and where the state’s public transfer hot spots are.

Ep. 70: Researcher Profile – Grant Clayton

We chat with a professor and researcher in the University of Colorado’s College of Education

Struggling Schools, School Choice and the Fear of Gentrification

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.

Why Do Experts Disagree on How to Approach Concentrated Poverty and Education?

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.

Could We Solve Poverty and Pollution with School Choice?

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.

What is Empirical Evidence?

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.

Ep. 69: Surveying Florida Scholarship Families with Jason Bedrick and Lindsey Burke

Florida’s tax-credit scholarship program—a type of private school choice program—serves some of the most disadvantaged students in the state.

School Vouchers Gone Wild? The Truth About Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarships

Recent media coverage of Florida’s tax-credit scholarships wrongly paints them as breeding ground for evil deeds.

Could School Choice Be a Solution for Segregation in Private Schools?

Which is to blame for segregation in the private education sector: private schools or our current economy?

EdChoice Offers New Service: Mapping Private School Hot Spots

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.

Ep. 69: Do-Over or Double Down? – A New Report by Mike McShane and Paul DiPerna

Two researchers boil down 700+ pages of focus group discussions into this revealing report on K–12 accountability in America.

Summarizing 2017’s National K–12 Education and School Choice Surveys

A handful of organizations released high-quality surveys of Americans on education issues in 2017, and here’s what they found in a nutshell.

School Choice Research is Not a Rorschach Test

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 Chicken and the Egg of Educational Choice

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?

Ep. 64: Researcher Profile – Corey DeAngelis

Marty Lueken interviews Corey DeAngelis about what brought him to the school choice movement and what research is next for him

Ep. 59: Researcher Profile with Mike Podgursky

In this EdChoice Chat, we interview Dr. Mike Podgursky, a labor economist who has studied teacher labor markets and pensions for decades.

New Study Examines What the Data Say About School Accountability Driven by Parents

Find out why policymakers should understand what the data say about the power of parents’ school choices before condemning this alternative accountability mechanisms.

Ep. 54: NH Private School Survey with Drew Catt & Jason Bedrick

Our latest brief, which compiles the results of a survey of New Hampshire Private Schools, had some results that surprised even EdChoice Director of Policy and former New Hampshire legislator Jason Bedrick. Listen to the team’s discussion of the results here.

Ep. 53: Fiscal Issues in LA Unified with Lisa Snell

LA Unified School District, one of the largest in the nation, has some serious money troubles. Listen to this EdChoice Chat to find out how school choice could be part of the solution for LA Unified and school districts across the nation.

Why the Fuss Over School Choice and “Certified” Teachers is Overrated

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

Ep. 51: Researcher Profile with Greg Forster

Drew Catt talks with Dr. Greg Forster, an EdChoice Friedman Fellow, about why he joined the school choice movement, what challenges he sees for the future of the movement and more.

Friday Freakout: Why Doug Harris is Wrong About the Empirical Evidence on School Choice

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

Ep. 49: Rethinking Regulation with Mike McShane

We discuss a new report called Rethinking Regulation, and posit a four-step solution to optimizing how we regulate schools.

Understanding the New IES Report on the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program

This new study finds some negative results for voucher students in their first year in the program, but there’s much more to learn.

Continuing to Learn from School Choice in Washington D.C.

“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

Would School Choice Segregate Well-Off Students?

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

EdChoice at the annual AEFP Conference

We came. We presented. We listened. Here’s (most of) what we learned at the AEFP 42nd Annual Conference.

Study finds private schoolers express anti-Semitism, intolerance at lower rates than public schoolers

Why looking at quantitative and qualitative evidence could change The Anti-Defamation League’s position on school choice

What the Data Show on School Choice and Segregation

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.

Research Finds Higher Private School Share Directly Linked to Higher Test Scores, Stronger Human Rights Internationally

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.

Debunking Arguments Against School Choice: “Privatization” Drains Money From Already “Underfunded” Public Schools

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

The Right Reasons for Supporting (or Opposing) School Choice

EdChoice’s VP of Research and Innovation explains why people should take school choice opponents’ cherrypicked data with a grain of salt.

Good Districts Aren’t Enough

With homes in “good districts” priced 77 percent higher than in neighboring districts, families need more individualized options.

Study Finds Proposed Arkansas Universal ESA Likely to Save Money

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.

The States Ranked by Spending on School Choice Programs

How much of states’ education dollars are spent on school choice programs?

Ep. 37: New SC Private School Survey with Shaunette Parker

Shaunette Parker, a South Carolina parent advocate, joins us to talk about new private school survey data and how it informs the local education landscape.

The 2017 EdChoice Yearbook Superlatives

Do you know which states the EdChoice team thinks are most likely to succeed in 2017?

Ep. 34: Reviewing the International School Choice and Reform Conference

In this episode of EdChoice Chats we talk about the International School Choice and Reform Conference as well as forthcoming research.

U.S. States Ranked by Educational Choice Share, 2017

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

Why Milwaukee’s Voucher Program Isn’t the Litmus Test for School Choice Everywhere (Despite Its Positive Results)

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

Ep. 32: How Florida Families Use ESAs with Jason Bedrick & Lindsey Burke

In this podcast, we discuss new research on how Florida families are using the state’s ESA program and more with the report’s authors.

Milwaukee school vouchers to drive more than $499 million in socioeconomic benefits

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.

Nevada Teachers’ Union Poll Finds Support for Educational Choice

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

Exploring Arizona’s Private Schools After Nearly Two Decades of Educational Choice

New report finds Arizona private schools could increase student enrollment by 37 percent

EdChoice on the 2015 PISA Results: “Meh.”

  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

Ep. 28: Researchers to Watch with Frederick Andersson, Christian Buerger & Mike Ford

Frederick Andersson, Christian Buerger and Mike Ford talk about their current research, tips for school choice researchers and more.

Ep. 27: Urban Sprawl, the Environment and School Choice with Bart Danielsen

We interview Dr. Bartley Danielsen about his ideas on school choice’s potential effects on poverty, pollution, urban blight and gentrification.

Breaking Down “The Tax-Credit Scholarship Audit”

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

Breaking Down Our “2016 Schooling in America” Survey

This year’s report features a special focus on Millennials and new questions for parents.

How to Accurately Calculate the Fiscal Impact of School Voucher Programs

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

Ep. 24: Behind the Scenes with EdChoice’s Research Team

Meet the EdChoice research team as they discuss some of our frequently asked questions and criticisms in our latest podcast.

Breaking Down the EdChoice “Surveying State Legislators” Report

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

How Nevada Can Do Right by Students by Doing Right by Teachers

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

Ep. 22: 2017 Schooling In America Survey with Paul DiPerna & Team

Get the key findings from EdChoice’s annual survey of Americans on education issues and more, with a special focus on small town and rural families as well as new questions about the role of the federal government.

Top Findings From Arkansas Private School Survey

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.

Ep. 19: The Pension Crisis with Michael Podgursky & Marty Lueken

We break down teacher pensions—how they work, why they’ve created problems and how school choice can help.

What School Choice Advocates Should Learn from the New Study of Ohio’s Vouchers

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

Ep. 18: Surveying the Military with Lindsey Burke & Paul DiPerna

Our new research, Surveying the Military, is the first of its kind and methodology to delve deeper into former and current military families’ thoughts on K–12 education in America.

School Voucher Systems Across the Globe Make the Case for School Choice in the U.S.

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

Ep. 17: The Disability Rights Community’s Skepticism with School Choice with Sivan Tuchman

Sivan Tuchman joins us to discuss her latest research, what policymakers should know and what school choice advocates should do to properly serve families of students with special needs.

Ep. 16: New Research on Charter School Funding Inequity with Pat Wolf

EdChoice’s director of state research and policy analysis talks with Dr. Patrick Wolf about his latest research.

New Survey Says Parents Can Get Mo’ Satisfaction with School Choice

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

Friday Freakout: Cherry-Picking Better Than Nose-Picking, But Not By Much

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

Breaking Down “A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Choice”

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

How Nevada’s Pension Structure is Hurting Teachers, Taxpayers—and What Can Be Done to Fix It

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

How the Friedman Foundation Estimates Educational Choice Program Eligibility

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

Studying the Pursuit of Innovation: How Does Competition Affect K–12 Education?

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.

Exploring Nebraska’s Private Education Sector: Top Three Findings

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

The Fiscal Impact of Nevada’s ESA Program

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

Going Bold, Not Broke, in Oklahoma: Education Savings Accounts

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

New Study Shows How Arizona Parents Spend Education Savings Accounts

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

U.S. States Ranked by Educational Choice Share, 2016

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

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Purchasing Power, 2016 Edition

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

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Participation, 2016 Edition

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

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked By Eligibility, 2016 Edition

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

Ep 5: Back to the Staffing Surge with Ben Scafidi

This post is your one-stop shop for resources breaking down new research—“Back to the Staffing Surge: The Great Teacher Salary Stagnation and the Decades-Long Employment Growth in American Public Schools.”

Hoosier Views on Indiana’s School Vouchers and More Survey Snapshots

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

What You Need to Know About “The ABCs of School Choice” 2016 Edition

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

Seven Survey Snapshots of Colorado’s K–12 Education Landscape

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

What Are Private School Management Organizations?

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

Friedman Foundation Earns AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative Membership

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

Ep 3: Renewing Our Cities with Bart Danielsen

Urban economic development resources are often focused on bringing jobs and affordable housing to downtown areas. In contrast, there has been very little consideration given to how public charter

Top Findings from the “Latino Perspectives” Survey

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

New Research on School Segregation Shows Startling Trends

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

Exploring Colorado’s Private Education Sector: Top Three Findings

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,

Friday Freakout: Are Nevada Secular Private Schools Affordable with ESAs?

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

Will Wisconsin School Vouchers “Drain Billions” from Public Schools?

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

Will School Choice Lead to Fewer Resources for Students Who Remain in Public Schools?

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

Friday Freakout: The Truth About Nevada’s Education Spending

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

Top Findings from “Exploring Nevada’s Private Education Sector”

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

Breaking Down the “2015 Schooling in America Survey”

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.

Ep 2: Exploring Texas’ Private Education Sector

Join author Drew Catt as he discusses top findings from his Texas private school survey in our latest EdChoice Chat podcast.

Breaking Down “Earning Full Credit”

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

School Choice Could Alleviate Worry from New Population Trend

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

Analyzing Indiana’s School Vouchers

...voucher students and public school students as bundles of data, not the unique human beings they are. Few, if any, parents or teachers will say they

Breaking Down “The Achievement Checkup”

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

Top Seven Findings from Our Minnesota School Choice, K–12 Education Survey

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

Ep 1: The Private School Landscape with Drew Catt

Listen as EdChoice Director of State Research and Policy Analysis Drew Catt discusses a new research report concluding that school choice programs across America have not delivered increases in

Are School Voucher Studies Biased from Front to Back?

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

Six Survey Snapshots of Nevada’s Education Landscape

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

A New Look at Data from the Nation’s Largest School Choice Program

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

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked By Purchasing Power

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

America’s School Choice Programs Ranked by Eligibility

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

New Estimates of Statewide School Vouchers’ Competitive Effects on Public Schools

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

Keeping Up with Indiana Private Schools of Choice

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

Surveying the Path for ESAs in Delaware

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 Has Plenty of Private School Gems Worth Discovering

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

Philadelphia Families Stuck on Waiting Lists Calling for School Choice

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

Breaking Down “The School Voucher Audit”

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

Is Swedish School Choice Disastrous – or Is the Reading of the Evidence?

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

Private Schools Must Explore Unchartered Territory

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

Breaking Down “The Chartered Course”

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’

Friday Freakout: Are Friedman Surveys Reliable?

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

Breaking Down “Public Rules on Private Schools”

“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,

Does School Choice Rob from the Poor to Give to the Rich?

“…[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

You Can Disparage School Choice — As Long As You Ignore Facts, Thousands of Kids

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,

Breaking Down “Sector Switchers: Why Catholic Schools Convert to Charters and What Happens Next”

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

If You Think Expanding School Choice Is Expensive . . .

…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

Miami Herald Misses Key Facts and Context in School Choice Takedown

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

Good Research vs. Bad Research

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

Properly Counting Indiana’s Voucher Students, Step by Step

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

7 Observations on Oklahoma Voters and Pre-K–12 Education

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

The “Fruits” and the Future of Centralization in Public Schools

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

Are Private Schools Accountable?

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

Less Money for Public Schools Makes Them Better

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

Friedman Foundation Responds to Diane Ravitch

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

America’s Favorite Education Reforms: Do They Treat a Symptom or the Cause?

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

Support for School Choice Based on Political Affiliation and Race/Ethnicity

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

The Decline of “Voting with Your Feet” in American Public School Districts

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.

Testing Educational Justice

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

Rhode Island Democrats and Independents Key to Driving Statewide Education Reform

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

What’s “Wrong” with School Choice?

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?”