EdChoice Chats
Education & Explainer
About
EdChoice is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to advancing educational choice as the best pathway to successful lives and a stronger society. We believe families, not bureaucrats, are best equipped to make K-12 schooling decisions for their children. Our team works at the state level to educate diverse audiences, train advocates and engage policymakers on the benefits of high-quality school choice programs. For podcast inquiries, please contact Chantal at media@edchoice.org.For podcast inquiries, please contact Chantal at media@edchoice.org.
Episodes
- Cool Schools: Bader Hillel High
On this episode of Cool Schools with Mike McShane we talk with Rabbi Yossi Bessman, Director at Bader Hillel High School in Glendale, Wisconsin, about blending college prep with rigorous Judaic studies, how the school maintains its mission…
- How the Church Can Lead the Education Freedom Movement
Pastor Joshua Robertson discusses the church's role in the education freedom movement, emphasizing how unused spaces can become educational hubs. He advocates for customized, non-traditional education to meet individual student needs.
- State of Choice: April 2026
EdChoice Chats features host Ed Tarnowski with guests Katherine Munal Schulze, Cooper Conway, Aaron Gillham, and Nathan Sanders discussing the current state of U.S. school choice programs, including recent developments, challenges, and exp…
- Cool Schools: Basilica School of St. Mary's Star of the Sea
Mike McShane speaks with Robert Wright, principal of Basilica School of St. Mary's Star of the Sea in Key West, Florida. They discuss the school's unique aspects, the challenges of operating on an island including housing and cost of livin…
- How to Help Your Child Be Successful in School
Brian Ledtke discusses parental support for student success with guests Colleen Hroncich, Lauren May, and Kimberlee Tucker. The conversation covers school choice, homeschooling, and the importance of parental involvement in education.
- America at 250: How to Reignite an Interest in History
Brian Ledtke speaks with Madison Marino Doan and Jonathan Butcher about the significance of civics education in America as the nation nears its 250th anniversary. The discussion covers the current state of civics education, the need for re…
- Unpacking the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
EdChoice Chats features Brian Ledtke, John Schilling, and Lauren May discussing the federal scholarship tax credit established by the Education Choice for Children Act. The conversation covers the credit's impact on public schools, state p…
- Robotics, AI, and School Choice
Jennifer Wolverton, CEO of Microcollective for AI, Robotics and the Sciences, joins EdChoice Chats to discuss her educational journey, the founding of MARS Microschool, and integrating AI and robotics into learning. The conversation covers…
- Does School Choice Hurt Teachers?
This episode of EdChoice Chats, titled "Does School Choice Hurt Teachers?", examines the impact of school choice on educators. Robert addresses factual information related to the topic.
- Do Parents Know What's Best for Their Kids?
Robert Enlow discusses the critical role of parents in educational decision-making and challenges the myth that they cannot be trusted to make the best choices for their children.
- What Happens to the Kids Left Behind?
This episode of Tough Questions with Robert Enlow addresses the argument that students remaining in traditional schools are negatively impacted when others choose different educational opportunities. It examines the truth behind this claim…
- Susan Pendergrass on the Supply Side of ESAs
Ed Tarnowski interviews Susan Pendergrass on the State of Choice podcast regarding the effects of universal choice programs, focusing on supply and demand in education, particularly in rural areas, and the development of new educational mo…
- Does School Choice Actually Work?
This episode of Tough Questions examines the effectiveness of school choice by reviewing research, addressing skepticism, and presenting real-world examples. Robert Enlow, President and CEO of EdChoice, shares insights on the topic.
- Fighting for Freedom to Learn
Mike McShane hosts Neal McCluskey and James Shuls to discuss their book 'Fighting for Freedom to Learn.' They examine the history of the school choice movement in America, including key figures and the common schools movement.
- Classic Learning Test: Challenging the Testing Monopoly
Ed Tarnowski speaks with Michael Torres of the Classic Learning Test (CLT) about how CLT offers a liberal arts-based alternative to the SAT and ACT. They discuss CLT's founding, growth, and efforts to foster competition in educational test…
- Rethinking ESA Policy Design
Mike McShane interviews Katherine Bathgate, CEO of SchoolForward, about her paper 'Rethinking ESA Policy Design: A new approach to financial accountability.' They discuss ESA policy, potential misuse, and fraud within these programs.
- How the Herzog Foundation Is Strengthening Christian Education
Chris Vas joins Nathan Sanders on EdChoice Chats to discuss the Herzog Foundation's mission to advance Christ-centered K-12 education through professional development, the SchoolBox platform, and support for tax credit programs. The episod…
- 2025 Legislative Session in Review
The State of Choice podcast reviews the 2025 legislative session, covering momentum in eight states for school choice programs. Six of these states now offer programs with universal eligibility, allowing any student to apply.
- Tackling School Choice Attacks
In this episode, Robert Enlow and Ed Tarnowski discuss persistent criticisms of school choice, evaluating anti-school choice statements from a new report to determine their factual basis.
- Inside School Choice Advocacy with Dr. Shaunette Parker
Host Nathan Sanders speaks with Dr. Shaunette Parker about church-based schools, their role in providing faith-aligned environments, and how programs like South Carolina’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund increase access to private educati…
- School Choice is Racist and Other Myths
Mike McShane hosts Michael Bindas to discuss Bindas's paper, "School Choice is Racist and Other Myths," addressing prevalent myths and arguments concerning school choice.
- From Empty Classrooms to Thriving Schools: Ohio’s Christian Education Movement
This EdChoice Chats episode features Troy McIntosh discussing Ohio's Christian Education Movement and the School Starting Manual, a guide for pastors and church leaders interested in starting Christian schools.
- May 2025 State Updates
Host Ed Tarnowski and guests Katherine Schulze, Nathan Sanders, and Aaron Gillham discuss school choice updates across the US, highlighting news from Texas.
- Why Catholic Schools Matter More Than Ever in the Education Debate
EdChoice Chats features Shawn Peterson, President of Catholic Education Partners, discussing the historical and ongoing significance of Catholic schools in the U.S. The conversation highlights their contribution to academic excellence and…
- From Pulpit to Legislature: Why School Choice Is a Ministry Issue
Doug Richey, drawing on his experience as a pastor and state representative, explains why churches should actively participate in the school choice movement and provides practical guidance on how to do so.
- HopSkipDrive: The Importance of Transportation
Trish Donahue, Senior Vice President of Legal and Policy at HopSkipDrive, joined Ed Tarnowski and Katherine Schulze on the State of Choice podcast to discuss the importance of transportation within school choice discussions.
- Discipleship Beyond Sunday: Churches and Education Choice
The premiere episode of Sunday School Choice features Pastor Tom Kakadelis discussing the role of churches as pioneers in education today.
- School Starter Checklist Rankings
John Kristof and Mike McShane review the School Starter Checklist Rankings report, a compilation of private school regulations in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia.
- March 2025 State Updates
Host Ed Tarnowski and guests discuss March 2025 school choice updates, including Wyoming's new universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program.
- Diving into the Friedman Index
Mike McShane hosts Ben Scafidi and Colyn Ritter on EdChoice Chats to discuss the 2025 EdChoice Friedman Index, which focuses on students, options, and funding.
- Funded Eligibility Rankings
EdChoice Chats features Mike McShane, Colyn Ritter, and Cooper Conway discussing the 2025 Funded Eligibility rankings. Fully funded eligibility indicates that every student in a state with a choice program has access to the necessary resou…
- February 2025 State Updates
EdChoice Chats covers school choice updates across different states, with a focus on significant developments in Tennessee. Host Ed Tarnowski is joined by Katherine Munal, Aaron Gillham, and Nathan Sanders for this discussion.
- EdChoice Share
The EdChoice Share report for 2025 is discussed by host Mike McShane with guests Colyn Ritter and Robert Enlow. The report details the proportion of K-12 students enrolled in private school choice programs in each state.
- January 2025 State Updates
Host Ed Tarnowski speaks with West Virginia State Senator Patricia Rucker about her experiences and advocacy for universal school choice, including the HOPE Scholarship. The episode covers the implementation, impact, and policy aspects of…
- December 2024 State Updates
The EdChoice Chats podcast episode from December 2024 provides updates on state-level news and developments. The content focuses on information shared by EdChoice regarding these updates.
- Post Election 2024
In this episode of EdChoice Chats, host Ed Tarnowski, joined by Katherine Schultz, Nathan Sanders, and Aaron Gillham, reviews state election results and their potential implications for the state of choice.
- August 2024 State Updates
Host Ed Tarnowski speaks with Dr. Vance Ginn, Katherine Munal, and Joey Magaña about August 2024 state updates. Dr. Ginn is chief economist at Pelican Institute for Public Policy and founder/president of Ginn Economic Consulting. Munal is…
- June 2024 State Updates
EdChoice Chats, with new host Ed Tarnowski, provides a monthly update on state policy and advocacy. The episode details the failure of New Hampshire's Education Freedom Account Program expansion and discusses education freedom fallacies. G…
- Getting Education Right: The Importance of Higher Ed
This episode of EdChoice Chats features Lindsay Fryer, Mike McShane, and Rick Hess discussing the current state of American higher education, the federal government's role, and recent developments with FAFSA.
- Getting Education Right: Protecting Children
This episode of EdChoice Chats features host Mike McShane and family policy expert Patrick Brown discussing fertility rates, childcare policy, and online child protection.
- Rethinking Brown 70 Years Later
On the 70th anniversary of Brown v Board of Education, host Dorian McCarroll, Virginia Walden Ford, Howard Fuller, Sekou Biddle, and Gerard Robinson discuss the landmark decision and its continuing effects on the education system.
- Getting Education Right: The Complexity of Student Loans
Mike McShane hosts Jon Pidluzny to discuss the state of higher education in the US, including student loan issues and increasing costs.
- Getting Education Right with Dr. Katie Jenner
Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana's Secretary of Education, joins Mike McShane to discuss initiatives aimed at improving education, focusing on teacher recruitment and strategies for student achievement.
- Introducing the Homeschool Hub
Mike McShane speaks with Angela Watson, senior research fellow at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy, about homeschooling research and her new resource, the Homeschool Hub. This episode of EdChoice Chats covers current resear…
- State of Choice - May 2024
The May "State of Choice" episode, hosted by the EdChoice Policy and Advocacy team, discusses school choice initiatives nationwide and provides legislative updates.
- State of Choice - April 2024
The April episode of "State of Choice" from EdChoice Chats discusses school choice across the states and provides legislative updates. The episode is hosted by the EdChoice Policy and Advocacy team.
- Polling Perspective Podcast
The Polling Perspective podcast reviews monthly polling results from EdChoice Chats, discussing interesting trends and data. A notable finding is the high engagement teens have with their cellphones.
- State of Choice - March 2024
The March 2024 episode of EdChoice Chats covers new school choice legislation passed in Alabama. It also recognizes advocates within the choice movement in observance of Women's History Month.
- Beyond the Test: Redefining Success in Education
Robert Enlow speaks with Lindsey Burke and Macke Raymond about how to redefine educational success beyond standardized tests.
- The Rosenwald Schools
Robert Enlow and Curtis Valentine discuss the Rosenwald Schools, the formation of education, and the current public education system's impact on communities of color.