podcastED: SUFS president Doug Tuthill interviews redefinED executive editor Matt Ladner

On this episode, Tuthill and Ladner discuss the past, present and future of education savings accounts, a long-time option for students with unique abilities through programs such as the Gardiner Scholarship that are growing in demand as families seek more flexibility and increased spending power over their children’s education.

Ladner, a recognized national school choice expert who has authored numerous studies on school choice, charter schools and special education reform, served on the team that developed the first education savings account program in Arizona. Decades of experience in education reform has led him to believe families will continue to benefit from the use of education savings accounts to engage multiple providers.

“ESA’s are the most flexible and versatile tool to really empower parents to take charge of the education of their child … It makes them ask what else they can do with this money that serves their children better.”

EPISODE DETAILS:

·       How the Arizona Supreme Court’s strike down of a voucher scholarship based on its Blaine Amendment led to the formation of the first education savings account

·       How education savings accounts help parents see the value and benefit of a “multi-vendor” education and how the COVID-19 pandemic has served as a watershed for the accounts, opening people’s eyes to the value of customization and flexibility

·       How traditional school districts can lead the charge in providing services for families who use education savings accounts

·       Revolutionary school developments occurring in places such as Success Academy and the explosion of micro-school facilitated by organizations such as Prenda

·       How education savings accounts can empower educators to teach in ways that motivated them to choose their profession in the first place


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BY reimaginED staff