Policy & Law
Stay well-informed about the ever-changing landscape of policies and laws that impact choices for students, parents, and educators.
My son’s success shows why private school IEP mandates are misguided
When our son Keith — affectionately known as “Deuce” — was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3, we were told he might never speak beyond echolalia (the automatic repetition of words or phrases). Until age 5, echolalia was all we heard. But Deuce found his voice, and... READ MOREWe don’t need no Klanducation; We don’t need no thought control
June 1, 2025, marked the 100th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court’s ruling in Pierce v. Society of Sisters– effectively the first victory of America’s school choice movement. In...
READ MOREGet thee behind me, Bootlegger!
Longtime NextSteps readers know that your humble author has been holding forth on the Baptist and Bootlegger problem that helped throttle the growth of the charter school movement. The term...
READ MOREThe systemic improvements public education needs are coming
Student achievement has fallen to its worst levels in two decades. Throughout public education, we see blaring sirens that our students deserve better. At the same time, states across the...
READ MOREOklahoma should avoid the example of Vercingetorix
Julius Caesar led Roman forces to victory in the decisive battle of the conquest of Gaul at Alesia. Having pursued the Gauls to a fortified city, Caesar first surrounded...
READ MOREArizona districts should lower the velvet rope for students with disabilities
Tim DeRoche featured the tale of an Arizona boy named Brayden in a Time Magazine piece on the shortcomings of open enrollment practice and law for students with disabilities: “In...
READ MOREUpsides and downsides of a SCOTUS victory for nation’s first religious charter school
The story: With less than a week to go before the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments about the constitutionality of religious charter schools, supporters and opponents are making wildly different...
READ MORECeilings and floors and Florida (Oh my!)
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the outcome of the status hearing on April 23. When Utah officials defended a union-backed court challenge to its Utah Fits...
READ MORETexas choice triumph calls for celebration and a shift for the movement
Texas school choice opponents are strong. I recall going to look up the number of lobbyists on retainer by groups opposed to choice during the 2013 legislative session, and the...
READ MORELessons from SNAP wargames
On Dec. 16, 2017, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture held a committee hearing on “Pros and Cons of Restricting SNAP Purchases.” SNAP is a federally financed food assistance program...
READ MOREFormer New York charter school authorization boss brings her tough but fair reputation to Florida
When Florida lawmakers established the first statewide Charter School Review Commission in 2022. The National Association of Charter School Authorizers also weighed in, saying that forcing school districts into sponsorship...
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