This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview New Hampshire Governor Christopher Sununu. Gov. Sununu discusses his upbringing in a well-known political family and how the influence of his father, a former governor and White House chief of staff, and his brother, a former U.S. senator, has shaped his public service.
Yesterday was a bad day for public school students in Massachusetts because the last pillar of the most effective state education reform in modern American history fell. Since 2008, the Commonwealth has been witness to the systematic dismantling of the 1993 Education Reform Act. With every step – the elimination of school district accountability, weakening...
This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview Jeffrey Meyers, acclaimed literary biographer, about his comprehensive exploration of Edgar Allan Poe’s life and work.
This week on Homeschooling Journeys, we meet Tiffany Hoben from West Virginia. Curious Mike chatted with her twice: once in June 2024, and again in October 2024. This October episode shows the nature of homeschooling: plans change. That cuts both good and bad. One cool opportunity disappeared; but at roughly the same time, a new need emerged, as well as the perfect educator to solve that problem. Tiffany, like other homeschoolers using Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), has a variety of experiences: she gets to personalize her son's education, but in doing so, experiences friction that comes both from DIY and from the red tape of actually making purchases (software challenges and bureaucratic hoops). Her $4,900 “Hope Scholarship” is used for her son’s biology curriculum, rock climbing, an AI-aided writing class, and above all, a specialized phonics tutor. She is optimistic about the future of ESAs for homeschoolers in West Virginia.
Recommends Sustainable Policy Responses to Pandemic Learning Loss
This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview Catherine Clinton, Denman Professor of American History at the University of Texas at San Antonio, and author of Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom. Prof. Clinton discusses her definitive biography of Harriet Tubman, the renowned abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor.
Dr. Segev delves into the life and legacy of David Ben-Gurion, Israel's founding father. He shares insights into Ben-Gurion’s early years in Poland, his involvement in Zionist politics, and immigration to Palestine in 1906, which set the stage for his leadership during pivotal moments in history. Segev covers Ben-Gurion's rise to prominence, his role in forming the Zionist Labor Federation, and the strategies he employed during the 1936-39 Arab revolt. Additionally, Segev examines Ben-Gurion's historic leadership in declaring Israel's independence in 1948, the unification of Jewish militias into the Israeli Defense Forces, and the implications of the Arab-Israeli War.
Gains have been particularly notable among low-income, Black and Hispanic students
Election season is upon us. In a few short weeks, voters will go to the polls and vote for our next president and a slate of local officials. They will also decide on five ballot initiatives. It got me thinking about the whole ballot initiative process, why it is necessary, how you get a question...
In this episode of Homeschooling Journeys with Curious Mike, Katie Switzer from West Virginia shares her compelling story as a homeschooling mom navigating the state's Hope Scholarship program. She recounts her pivotal role as a plaintiff in the legal battle that saw the scholarship declared unconstitutional by a West Virginia Circuit Court, only to be appealed to the state Supreme Court. Katie also sheds light on the frustrations and red tape surrounding the reimbursement process, a challenge many parents face when trying to access funds through the scholarship. Despite the hurdles, Katie successfully uses her Hope Scholarship for her children’s education, covering basic curriculum, speech therapy, piano lessons, and online classes with a beloved teacher, Miss Ashley. This episode provides an eye-opening look at the struggles and successes within the evolving landscape of school choice and education savings accounts.
