Description:

Twenty years ago, education reformers on the right and left agreed that promoting charter schools and school choice were appropriate steps to close the achievement gap and improve kids’ educational outcomes. Today, feelings among the reformers about school choice are a lot more polarized. Moreover, the recent shutdowns of many schools during the pandemic may have jeopardized Americans’ decades-long relationship with public schools and shown that education is smack in the middle of the political fray.

In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Robert Pondiscio, a Senior Fellow in education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Robert argues that we may not need bipartisan support for school choice and if the left-wing reformers have abandoned important ideas about accountability and meritocracy in our schools, they may do more to harm than help the movement. Encouraging private school choice and vouchers fits better in red-state politics and Republicans should not wait around trying to save a previously bipartisan coalition that may have outlived its usefulness.

Resources:

Does school choice need bipartisan support? An empirical analysis of the legislative record | Jay P. Green | James D. Paul | American Enterprise Institute

After two years of uncertainty and shaken trust, America's relationship with its public schools is in play like never before | Robert Pondiscio | The 74

The Left doesn’t like school choice. The Right doesn’t need them to | Robert Pondiscio | RealClearPolicy

Demystifying Goliath: An Examination of the Political Compass of Education Reform | Ian Kingsbury | Journal of School Choice

Show notes:

• 01:05 | What is the landscape of education reform two years into the pandemic?

• 05:40 | Do everyday parents share the same ideology as progressive ‘elites’ when it comes to school choice?

• 07:20 | How has the left changed its stance on education reform specifically regarding the school choice movement?

• 15:00 | Has the personal connection between parents and school systems become broken?

• 17:50 | What is the impact of groups like Parents Defending Education when it comes to stopping ideologies they don’t share?