Making the Legal Case for School Choice

Under the leadership of Thomas Fisher, vice president and director of litigation, EdLA is already working to defend the new Montana education savings account program for special needs students and has offered support to a Michigan choice effort via an amicus brief. In partnership with the Institute for Justice—which is gradually winding down its involvement in education litigation and transferring those duties to EdChoice—EdLA is also working to defend programs in Arkansas, Utah, Ohio, and beyond.

“We’re going into cases on behalf of parents, whose interests in directing their children’s education is most centrally at stake,” Fisher said. “It’s a challenging job, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Defending parents and ensuring their children have access to quality education is at the heart of what we do.”

Meanwhile, EdChoice will continue to do the critical work that comes long before—working alongside partners and policymakers to guide them in crafting constitutionally and legally sound programs. Hiner, EdChoice vice president of legal policy, will maintain the core policy work of LDEC, while EdLA assumes defense duties previously under her purview. Her work will encompass providing legal review and guidance of bill drafts, offering legal policy guidance, and leading legal education.

To that end, the center has been renamed the Legal Policy and Education Center (LPEC) to more closely reflect its focus in the coming years.

“Having a specialized team makes a huge difference,” Hiner said. “It’s not just about winning cases; it’s about giving families the freedom to choose the best educational path for their children. There’s always more work to be done. Every victory is just a step towards greater educational freedom. Every case, every battle, every late night—it’s all worth it when you see the relief and hope in the eyes of parents and children.”