While awaiting President Trump’s specific plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and “send education back to the states,” congressional committees are holding hearings to explore the policy possibilities. In this episode, Dr. Lindsey Burke, Director of the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, and I reflect on our recent congressional testimonies before a U.S. House Appropriation subcommittee. We discuss the federal government’s failure to improve student outcomes and provide our frank takes on questionable claims made during the hearing. We also propose policy solutions, including block granting federal funding and empowering families with education freedom.

Federal Investments in Elementary Education Congressional Hearing:
https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/federal-investments-elementary-education

Ginny Gentles' Congressional Testimony:
https://dfipolicy.org/testimony-education/

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Louisiana was a rare bright spot amid grim Nation’s Report Card math and reading results. Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana’s superintendent of education, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the state's impressive progress and his ambitions for further improvement. He shares insights into the policies driving success–a reading revival focused on the Science of Reading, empowering teachers, and expanding educational freedom for families. Dr. Brumley also highlights Louisiana’s plans to open more charter schools and launch the GATOR program, which will provide flexible K-12 education savings accounts to Pelican State families.

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When asked “Should we keep men out of women’s sports?” the vast majority of the American people respond with a resounding “Yes!” May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the recent executive orders related to protecting women's sports and spaces and restoring biological truth. We explore the implications of these orders, public support for reality and common sense, and the recently-initiated federal Title IX investigations into states (including Maine!), school districts, and athletic associations. The discussion highlights the importance of defining sex and the need for legislative, as well as executive action.

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In this episode of Freedom to Learn, Walter Blanks Jr., spokesperson for the American Federation for Children, shares his personal story of escaping a failing school—thanks to a mother who refused to accept the status quo. He reveals how a school choice scholarship in Ohio transformed his future and why he’s fighting to give every child the same opportunity. Walter also breaks down Tennessee’s landmark Education Freedom Act, exposing the uphill battle to pass it and what it means for families statewide. Plus, he challenges the biggest myths about school choice and weighs in on the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA) and what it could mean for families across the country.

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This week on Freedom to Learn, we break down a major development in Tennessee’s education landscape—the passage of the Education Freedom Act of 2025. Passed during an emergency legislative session, this new statewide program expands school choice while making historic investments in public education. Governor Bill Lee, in his State of the State address, declared, “Tennessee will strive to have the best public schools in the nation and give parents choices in their child’s education, both at the same time.”

But what does this mean for families, students, and schools? Shaka Mitchell joins us to unpack the details, debunk common education freedom myths, and explore the real impact on rural communities, students with disabilities, and public school funding. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on what’s next for education in Tennessee.

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In this episode of Freedom to Learn, we lament the troubling 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Despite billions in recovery funds, the latest data paints a grim picture, particularly for minority, low-income, and special needs students who continue to face significant academic challenges. Former Institute of Education Sciences (IES) director Mark Schneider details the alarming decline in fourth and eighth-grade reading and math scores and the far-reaching implications for the nation’s economy and future workforce. Mark stresses the urgent need for more focused, mission-driven research to address the literacy crisis and improve outcomes for the millions of students still unable to read at a basic level. He also shares his perspective on the future of IES, particularly in the context of ongoing discussions about potentially dismantling the U.S. Department of Education.

Read “If the Education Department Can’t Be Closed, at Least Fix It by Breaking It Up” by Mark Schneider: https://www.the74million.org/article/if-the-education-department-cant-be-closed-at-least-fix-it-by-breaking-it-up/

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Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children, joins Freedom to Learn for a deep dive into the state of school choice in America. From exciting wins in expanding school choice across the nation to major developments ahead in Texas and at the federal level, Tommy breaks down the game-changing progress happening right now. We also take a hard look at the powerful role of teachers' unions in blocking real reform, fueling learning loss, and ultimately harming students and educators. Plus, with the latest Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) alarming reading and math results revealing an ongoing undeclared state of emergency in K-12 education, Tommy makes the case that giving parents control over their children’s education is crucial for the future of America’s students.

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Nicki Neily, founder of Parents Defending Education, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the troubling trends reshaping our nation's K-12 schools. From divisive racial and gender ideologies to foreign influence in our educational system, Nicki details her organization’s efforts to expose the overreach of activist agendas in the classroom and shares her motivation to champion parental rights and protect students from politicized teaching. We dive into "anti-racist" policies, the truth about transformative social-emotional learning (SEL) programs, and the influence of DEI funding. With alarming revelations about Chinese funding in U.S. schools and the misuse of federal grants, this episode highlights the challenges parents face in ensuring a fair and focused education for their children.

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If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, share it, and subscribe for more insights into education law and policy. Thank you for your support!