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McAnneny October Monthly Musings – Ballot Initiatives

/in , , , , , /by Eileen McAnneny

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 on the ballot and what kind of impact ballot initiatives have on the legal and regulatory landscape in the Commonwealth. Below is a summary of the five questions that will appear on the ballot on November 5th.  But first, I wanted to provide you with an overview of the ballot initiative process, significant laws that have been passed using this process and why it has […]

Homeschooling with Hope: Katie Switzer’s ESA Experience

/in , , , /by Editorial Staff

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

/in , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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

/in , , , , , , , /by Editorial Staff

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

/in , , /by Editorial Staff

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.