Entries by Editorial Staff

Becket Fund’s Eric Rassbach on Loffman v. CA DOE, Religious Liberty, & Schooling

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This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Eric Rassbach, Vice President and Senior Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Mr. Rassbach discusses the Loffman v. California Department of Education case, where Becket successfully secured a unanimous Ninth Circuit decision ensuring equal access to special education funding for religious school students.

Pioneer Institute Statement on Vocational-Technical School Admissions

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Advocates seek to require that admission to vocational-technical high schools be done strictly via lottery, but this would only rearrange who gets excluded. Thanks to their strong performance, voc-tech schools in Massachusetts have roughly 8,000 students on waiting lists. There are good reasons why mandated admissions lotteries are not the answer to the problem.  First, Massachusetts voc-tech high school enrollment in the aggregate already generally reflects the demographics of sending districts. There are equally good reasons why the current admission criteria include categories such as discipline, grades, attendance, guidance counselor recommendations and personal interviews.  First, the high-tech equipment voc-tech students use can be dangerous, and precautions must be taken to ensure that students can operate it responsibly.  Second, a voc-tech […]

NH Gov. Chris Sununu on School Choice

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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.

Five Reasons Why Project Labor Agreements Are Bad Public Policy

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Project labor agreements (PLAs) essentially prevent non-union firms from participating in construction projects. They generally do so by including the following language: Union recognition and employment The Contractor recognizes the union as the sole and exclusive bargaining representative of all craft employees working within the scope of this agreement. All applicants for various classifications covered under the agreement required by the contractor shall be referred to the contractor by the local union. PLAs are back in the news because pending state economic development and climate legislation each call for their use. Their inclusion in the economic development bill is incongruous with and counterproductive to the purpose of the bill which is to make Massachusetts more competitive, affordable and equitable. PLAs fail on all counts. 1. PLAs […]

Statement of Pioneer Institute on MCAS Ballot Failure and State of Education in Massachusetts

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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 of academic standards, severely limiting the growth of the nation’s best charter public schools and now eliminating the MCAS graduation requirement – the performance of Massachusetts students has fallen further from the time when Massachusetts eighth graders tied for best in the world in science and achievement gaps were narrowing. Today, few states are seeing their National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores decline as […]

Dr. Helen Baxendale on Great Hearts Classical Liberal Arts Charter Schools

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This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Helen Baxendale, the chief of staff and vice president of strategy at Great Hearts Academies. Dr. Baxendale discusses how her global educational experiences inform her perspective on K-12 policy and Great Hearts’ mission to integrate the humanities, math, and science for intellectual and character development.

Mountain State Modifications: Tiffany Uses ESA Flexibility to Pivot Quickly For Her Son’s Education

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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.  

U-TX at SA’s Catherine Clinton on Harriet Tubman & the Underground Railroad

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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.

Award-Winner Tom Segev on Israel’s Founding Father, David Ben-Gurion

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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.

Homeschooling with Hope: Katie Switzer’s ESA Experience

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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.

Lynch Foundation’s Katie Everett on School Finance Model for Catholic Schools & School Choice

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This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Mike Goldstein interview Katie Everett, the Executive Director of the Lynch Foundation. Ms. Everett shares her journey into K-12 education reform and discusses the influential vision of Carolyn and Peter Lynch, and their foundation’s role in shaping education policy in Massachusetts and beyond.

Pioneer Institute Study Finds Wide Range of Approaches to Compliance with MBTA Communities Law

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Lexington’s approach seen as a model BOSTON – As Massachusetts’ Supreme Judicial Court prepares to hear a challenge by the Town of Milton to the enforceability of the MBTA Communities Act, a new Pioneer Institute study finds that the 177 municipalities covered by the law are taking a wide range of approaches to implementing it. The Act, enacted in 2021, requires that 177 communities create at least one reasonably sized district within half-a-mile of a transit station where multi-family at a gross density of at least 15 units per acre is permitted as of right.  All these communities are deemed to benefit from access to public rail transit, either because they have a station in their municipality or nearby. The […]

Surf, Skate, Learn: Hands-On Science for Homeschoolers

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In this episode of Homeschooling Journeys, Curious Mike interviews Uli and Toni, the founders of Surf Skate Science, a unique program that combines beach-based science lessons with surfing and skateboarding activities. The program offers kids hands-on experiences in physics and chemistry, both on land and in the water. They explore how Surf Skate Science highlights the advantages of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which allow families to fund specialized, engaging educational experiences. This episode also reflects on how traditional schools often lack the resources, freedom, and partnerships, like those between Uli and Toni, that can make learning truly relevant and memorable for kids.

Vitamin Parents Part 2: Twin Moms Converting a Decent Traditional School Experience Into a “Wow” Homeschool One

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This week’s episode of Homeschooling Journeys features Andreina, twin sister of Mariana (last week’s interview). Using Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), Andreina funds activities like competitive jujitsu, music lessons at School of Rock, and Surf Skate Science. As a “Vitamin Homeschooler” (Curious Mike’s term), Andreina enhances her children’s education through independent learning tasks and family projects. While the kids’ desire for homeschooling serves as the foundation for their motivation, she experiments also with small rewards like a little screen time or chocolate. Andreina also benefits from family support with her twin; Mike observes that formal feedback isn’t common in homeschooling, unlike in traditional classrooms.

Edward Achorn on Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War, & Slavery

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This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Charlie Chieppo and Ret. MN Justice Barry Anderson interview Edward Achorn, a noted writer, historian, and author of “Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln” and “The Lincoln Miracle: Inside the Republican Convention That Changed History”. Achorn shares insights into Lincoln’s improbable political rise and the critical events leading to his 1860 Republican presidential nomination, including his strategic maneuvering following his defeat in the 1858 Illinois Senate race.

Vitamin Parents Part 1: Twin Moms Converting a Decent Traditional School Experience Into a “Wow” Homeschool One

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The upcoming episodes of “Homeschooling Journeys” feature twin sisters, Mariana and Andreina, originally from Venezuela and now living in Florida. Each is a mom of two kids. Curious Mike describes them as “Vitamin Homeschoolers”—they see homeschooling as a way to enhance their children’s education rather than addressing any major issues with traditional schooling. They discuss the challenges of balancing time and responsibilities but emphasize the benefits of stronger family bonds and the enriching experiences they’ve been able to provide through Educational Savings Accounts (ESA). Non-homeschoolers often worry about the socialization of homeschooled kids, but Mariana and Andreina have their children socializing a lot—playing in rock bands, competing at a high level in soccer, and attending in-person, unusual academic classes, like Surf Skate Science and competitive extracurriculars.

PRI’s Lance Izumi on The Great Classroom Collapse

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Lance Izumi delves into his latest book, “The Great Classroom Collapse: Teachers, Students, and Parents Expose the Collapse of Learning in America’s Schools”. He discusses why, despite decades of education reforms and vast spending, many American students remain underprepared in critical subjects like reading and math.

From Stress to Success: How Daniella Transformed Her Son’s Learning with ESA Funds

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This week on Homeschooling Journeys Curious Mike talks with Daniella Moreci-Pack, an Arizona mom utilizing her state’s Education Savings Account (ESA) to homeschool her son with ADHD. Daniella shares how she spends ESA funds on special needs therapies, curriculum products, and in-person enrichment activities like karate and dance classes. She explores key themes, including the flexibility of homeschooling, the initial anxiety of leaving traditional schooling, and the common shift from structured schedules to more child-led learning. Daniella also discusses navigating ESA red tape, as new rules add bureaucratic hurdles. Tune in to hear highlights of Daniella’s approach and resilience in overcoming these challenges to give her child a personalized education.

AFC’s Denisha Allen on School Choice & Black Minds Matter

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Denisha shares her journey and the motivations behind founding Black Minds Matter, a national movement dedicated to celebrating Black excellence and promoting high-quality educational options for Black students. She delves into the politics of urban school reform, highlighting the challenges posed by race and class-based achievement gaps and the political influence of teachers’ unions.

From Garden to Table: How Alicia Garcia Reshapes Home Ec with ESAs

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In the debut episode of Homeschooling Journeys, we meet Alicia Garcia, the founder of Project Flourish Community. Alicia offers an innovative Home Ec experience where students participate in hands-on learning, from picking ingredients in her backyard to cooking healthy meals. As both a provider and user of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), Alicia shares her unique perspective on homeschooling. The episode delves into the challenges of setting up ESA payments and the benefits of specialized learning. Alicia also touches on a heartwarming story of how she used ESA funds to help her introverted son join a local stage musical.