Education's Conclave
All eyes on the Vatican, too.
Texas’ New ESA: A Victory — And A Mandate
The education choice world is abuzz: Texas has enacted what’s being called the largest first-day education choice program in U.S. history. Friends who gathered at the Lone Star State’s Capitol Saturday say the excitement was palpable. And no wonder — as I’ve written before, Governor Greg Abbott poured enormous energy, political capital, and time into making this happen. He delivered — or at least achieved — a meaningful version of what he set out to do. Politics is, after all, the art of the possible. And given the conditions, what was possible got done. Kudos. Truly.
This program - 30 years in the making - is amazing. But once they hit the cap, that’s it — unless lawmakers act again.
So now that the ink is dry, it’s time to renew efforts to ensure that more than 100,000 students out of the state’s 5.5 million public school students will gain access.
Every state leader should know that equity, and excellence in education can only be achieved when full and fair funding follows every child. We know this. Let’s celebrate the battle but win the war.
As the Cardinals gathering in Rome understand, true success should have no ambivalence, no equivocation.
If not us, who? If not now, when? Perhaps what the education freedom movement needs is its own conclave — a gathering of those who align on the principles of educational opportunity to set clear, non-negotiable standards for the next generation of policymakers, advocates, and parents.
We must ensure that:
When courts strike down programs, as happened recently in South Carolina, we are ready to appeal — even to the Supreme Court.
When charter school laws, like those in D.C., are undermined by lawmakers and mayors (who were deliberately excluded from charter management when the laws were written), we respond with condemnation, not acquiescence.
When amazing Governors enact education choice programs, we are at the ready to do more and not rest on what has been done. Take a break. Kiss the kids good night. And let’s get started - again.
The Cardinals entering the Vatican’s conclave know they have a mandate. A certain president in Washington claims a mandate.
We have a mandate too. A majority of U.S. students are being failed by the education system. A critical mass of parents and the public now support real education freedom.
It’s time we start acting like it.
Conclave, anyone? I’ll bring the donuts.
Jennifer Garner’s Education Lesson
She is literally the cutest thing in the world and one of my favorite actresses. But like so many well-intentioned entertainment folks in America, her power would be so much greater if she understood the intricacies of and details of policies and programs that have long term impact.
Advocating for Head Start regularly and on the Today Show this week, Jennifer Garner said she is determined to make sure zip code does not determine a child’s destiny - the very principle that guides the Edreform movement. Her passion for Head Start is admirable. But there’s more to the story. As they say in bella Italia, “Ascolta mi, Jennifer.” Listen to me…
Decades of research show that while Head Start can improve readiness and early learning outcomes, those gains often fade when children transition into K-12 schools that fail to provide strong instruction in foundational skills, like reading and math.
A major 2010 study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the largest to date — the Head Start Impact Study — found that while participants entered kindergarten with improved cognitive and social-emotional skills, by the end of third grade, most of the positive effects had dissipated. Follow-up research confirmed that quality of the K-12 schools children attended largely determined whether early gains persisted. That’s because, in part, unless you enter a school that is prepared to meet your needs, what you gained will most likely dissipate in the absence of strong, quality education and supports.
This is not an argument against great early childhood education — quite the opposite. It highlights the need to ensure continuity of quality education. Providers like Bright Horizons, which has delivered high-quality early childhood education since the 1980s, demonstrate the power of pairing nurturing care with robust, lasting academic preparation. Studies of high-quality early childhood programs, including Bright Horizons and others, show long-term benefits in academic achievement and even life outcomes when paired with strong elementary and secondary schooling.
I love that Garner, influenced by her own education, wants this for all kids. But we need folks like her to understand the challenge. To truly change outcomes, we must build pipelines from excellent early learning into exceptional K-12 experiences that continue to accelerate students’ growth. This underscores the critical importance of ensuring families have access to a wide range of high-quality schools and programs through robust school choice policies. Without that continuity, even the best early learning efforts risk being a brief bright spot rather than the foundation for lifelong success.
Now imagine if Garner was saying that on TV or in the Capitol.
Ready, girlfriend?
Breaking: $1 Million Yass Prize Launches 2025 Competition!
The "Pulitzer of Education Innovation" returns to reward transformational education providers embodying the STOP Principles
PROVIDENCE, RI — Standing today at the flagship school of 2024 finalist Big Picture Learning, CER’s Chief Program Officer, Caroline Allen, announced the official launch of the 2025 Yass Prize competition — offering $1 million to the education provider that most powerfully demonstrates Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless (STOP) education.
"As we enter the fifth year of the Yass Prize, we are more energized than ever," said Janine Yass, who co-founded the prize with her husband Jeff in 2021.
"With more states embracing ESAs, the demand for new, innovative schools has never been greater. We continue to be impressed by the quality of education providers waiting in the wings to start schools. Our goal is to empower organizations that give students not only education, but also dignity, value, and a sense of family. With CER’s national network and growing momentum, we aim to spark bold action among policymakers and philanthropists alike."
Exciting times ahead, indeed, for those who embody S-T-O-P. Read more here and here! And spread the word!
April showers did indeed bring May flowers and the colors are magnificent. Every child’s future should be as vibrant. And here’s to seeing white smoke soon!
Pace - Jeanne
