Displaying 1-14 of 14 results
White House
Commentary
12.3.2024
Charter Schools, Governance, Private School Choice

So you want to make education great again? 3 executive orders for Trump on day 1.

Jeanne Allen

The Founding Fathers never envisioned that executive orders would be a major policymaking tool, circumventing legislative and executive deliberations, political stalemates, and partisanship. But recent history has deemed them essential levers if there is to be urgent action on the most important matters of the day.

White House
Catholic school
Commentary
11.7.2024
Accountability & Testing, Evidence-Based Learning, School Finance, Governance, Private School Choice

How to ensure accountability in private-school choice programs

Michael J. Petrilli, Devon Nir

Yes, choice itself is a form of accountability, but “customer satisfaction” isn’t enough when tax dollars are in play—even for private-school choice programs. The public has a right to know that participating students are gaining essential skills. To that end, this post discusses four tiers of escalating accountability and where state policy should land, depending on the amount of taxpayer dollars provided to individual schools, among other considerations.

Catholic school
Colorado State Capitol
Commentary
10.10.2024
Charter Schools, Governance, Private School Choice

Calling for a constitutional right to school choice in Colorado

Dale Chu

As the clock winds down towards Election Day, Colorado voters—myself included—face an important decision beyond the presidential contest: whether to amend the state constitution to enshrine a “right to school choice.” To be clear, the Centennial State has a long and proud record on the issue.

Colorado State Capitol
Food spread
Commentary
9.26.2024
Accountability & Testing, Evidence-Based Learning, Charter Schools, Governance, Private School Choice

The “à la carte education” accountability conundrum

Michael J. Petrilli, Devon Nir

Of the school choice options available to many U.S. families today, few embody the spirit of “power to the parents” quite like education savings accounts (ESAs).

Food spread
J.D. Vance
Commentary
7.18.2024
Charter Schools, Governance, Private School Choice

Vance vs. Pence: How Trump’s VP picks compare on education

Dale Chu

On Monday, Donald Trump chose Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate, signaling a doubling down on his MAGA brand. As far as education is concerned, this means tapping into broad parental discontent over educational and education-related issues, many of which were turbocharged by the pandemic.

J.D. Vance
Getty Images/Drazen Zigic
Commentary
6.20.2024
Governance, Private School Choice

Education navigators are an investment in social capital

Travis Pillow

Ten years ago, when Florida launched the nation’s second education savings account program, a beautiful thing happened. Friedrich Hayek would have called it “spontaneous order.” Parents, within days, began forming a multitude of Facebook groups where they traded advice on how to access the accounts, how to use them, and what learning options were available in their area.

Getty Images/Drazen Zigic
Protest
Commentary
5.16.2024
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction, Private School Choice

How a parent movement could revolutionize education

Daniel Buck

In his new book, “The Parent Revolution,” school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis explains the notable plummet in the public’s trust of public education, especially in the past five years. By his telling, school choice is the answer to all that ails us. But he’s likely overselling its healing powers.

Protest
Hammer piggy bank
Commentary
4.4.2024
Evidence-Based Learning, School Finance, Charter Schools, Governance, Private School Choice

School choice need not mean an expensive windfall for the rich

Michael J. Petrilli

The school choice movement continues to rack up dramatic wins nationwide. This growth in “educational freedom,” as many advocates now call it, is a fantastic development. But under the surface of these victories, an important debate is brewing: how to balance the drive for maximum choice with other values, including fiscal responsibility and fairness.

Hammer piggy bank
Students in a classroom
Commentary
3.14.2024
Charter Schools, Curriculum & Instruction, Private School Choice, Teachers & School Leaders

The “no excuses” model is due for a renaissance

Robert Pondiscio

Many of the conditions that led to the prominence of “no-excuses” charter schools a quarter-century ago have returned. For students, teachers, and parents who have never lost their appetite for safe and orderly schools, it can’t come soon enough.

Students in a classroom
an 2-8-24 SR image
Commentary
2.8.2024
Private School Choice

Have students who left public schools during the pandemic returned?

Amber M. Northern, Ph.D.

Examination of Covid-era impacts on students, families, and schools continues apace. Getting a full picture of the fallout, who was affected, and how helps education leaders better direct their resources to serve impacted students.

an 2-8-24 SR image