Freedom to Learn
Season 2 of the Freedom to Learn podcast makes the urgent case for returning education to states, communities, and families. In Washington, President Trump is challenging partisan teacher unions and federal bureaucrats by enacting a new K–12 scholarship tax credit, restructuring the Department of Education, and rooting out civil rights violations in schools. Each week, host Ginny Gentles speaks with policymakers and advocates about bold reforms that improve academic performance and shift power closer to students. Every episode examines what becomes possible when education is freed from union dominance and federal control. Produced by the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC.
Episodes
50 episodes
Lindsey Burke on Returning Education to the States through IAAs, RIFs, & Bureaucratic Consolidation
Lindsey Burke returns to Freedom to Learn to discuss the Trump administration’s plans to “return education to the states.” Lindsey, who serves as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Programs at the U.S. Department of Education (ED), discusses ...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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25:14
Neal McCluskey & James Shuls on Fighting for the Freedom to Learn: Examining the Nation’s Centuries-Old School Choice Movement
Neal McCluskey and James Shuls join the podcast to discuss their new book, which has a fantastic title: Fighting for the Freedom to Learn: Examining America’s Centuries-Old School Choice Movement. We talk about the true origins of educ...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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41:56
Re-Release: Senator Ted Cruz on School Choice, the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), & 529 Plan Expansion
This week on Freedom to Learn, we’re re-releasing a fan favorite: U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. He takes us behind the scenes of how the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit became law—and why he’s fought for school choice for decades. We are grateful this ...
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Season 2
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Episode 12
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22:00
Lauren May on Expanding School Choice, Unbundling Education, & Empowering Parents in Florida
Lauren May, Director of Advocacy at Step Up for Students – the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization (SGO) – joins the podcast this week to dispel education freedom myths, explain how Florida became a national leader in educational...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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33:19
Andy Smarick on an AI Moratorium, Innovation’s Seductive Promises, & Edu-Fads that Harm Students
Will AI revolutionize education or steal students’ opportunity and ability to learn? Andy Smarick, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, worries that AI is a threat to learning, and we’re just letting students outsource their education to A...
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Episode 10
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38:21
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Erika Sanzi on How Districts Defy Federal Law, Fail Families & Evade Consequences
Erika Sanzi joins the podcast to discuss the urgent need for states and school districts to undertake “legal housekeeping” and stop violating federal laws. She shares examples of school board policies that hide information from parents, discrim...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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30:32
Jorge Elorza on Supporting the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, School Choice, & Education Abundance
Jorge Elorza, former mayor of Providence, RI, and current leader of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER), is dislodging the “sticky” forces of the K–12 status quo, including the powerful teachers unions. He joins the podcast to discuss the pol...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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33:48
Brian Jodice on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, Polling, & Myths
“Americans of all parties and backgrounds overwhelmingly support school choice – and will vote accordingly.” Brian Jodice, National Press Secretary for the American Federation for Children (AFC), joins the podcast to share the polling that back...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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32:29
Natalya Murakhver on the Truth About School Closures, Its Harm to Students, & Union Responsibility
Natalya Murakhver, the creator of the documentary 15 Days: The Real Story of America's Pandemic School Closures, joins the podcast to discuss the prolonged school closures that harmed a generation of American students. 15 Days...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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41:11
Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner on Federal Waivers, Investing in Literacy, & Rethinking High School
Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner joins Freedom to Learn to explain how Indiana’s ambitious education initiatives are boosting reading scores, revolutionizing high school experiences, and expanding education freedom. Secretar...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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29:10
Matt Frendewey on Reducing Federal Bureaucracy, Freeing Families, & Funding Innovative Options
Matt Frendewey, vice president of strategy at yes. every kid., joins the podcast to discuss the shift from reforming existing systems to empowering families through education freedom. He highlights the inadequacies of the current public school ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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32:48
Hayley Sanon on Returning Education to the States, Increasing Flexibility, & Expanding Freedom
Hayley Sanon joins the podcast to discuss the Trump administration's vision for returning education to the states. We delve into recent guidance issued by the federal Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), the role of Dear Colleag...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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33:47
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Dr. Marty West on NAEP Results, Smartphones, & the Future of National Assessments
The latest Nation’s Report Card scores are truly terrible: 12th-grade scores reached historic lows and achievement gaps widened. An alarming number of students are leaving high school without basic math and reading skills. Dr. Martin West, vice...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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28:29
We’re Back With New Episodes of Freedom to Learn
Season 2 of the Freedom to Learn podcast makes the urgent case for returning education to states, communities, and families. In Washington, President Trump is challenging partisan teacher unions and federal bureaucrats by enacting a ne...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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0:40
We'll Be Back! Season Two Explores Returning Education to the States
Season One of the Freedom to Learn podcast concluded on a triumphant note, with three episodes celebrating the federal scholarship tax credit’s inclusion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, opening K-12 scholarship opportunitie...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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2:46
Rabbi A. D. Motzen on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit’s Coalition, Champions, & Future
This week’s episode dives into the intricacies of the newly enacted federal scholarship tax credit with Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of government affairs at Agudath Israel of America. We explore how this groundbreaking legislation is s...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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32:16
Senator Ted Cruz on School Choice, Federal Scholarship Tax Credits, & 529 Plan Expansion
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joins the podcast to share a behind-the-scenes look at the Senate’s passage of the new federal scholarship tax credit. He details negotiations with the Senate Parliamentarian, fending off a middle-of-the-night amendment to...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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21:55
John Schilling on the New Federal School Choice Tax Credit, Rulemaking Realities, & the Future of School Choice
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by the President on July 4th includes a new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit that could expand education freedom nationwide. Starting in 2027, individual taxpayers can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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29:54
Jason Bedrick on School Choice Whoppers, New Hampshire’s EFAs, & What Happens Next
School choice trailblazer Jason Bedrick joins the podcast to explore the evolution of education freedom in New Hampshire and beyond. From his roots as a young legislator to his role in passing groundbreaking policies, Jason shares insights on t...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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31:10
TN Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds on Getting Education Freedom, Literacy Instruction, & Flexible Pathways Right
After Tennessee expanded the state’s Education Freedom Scholarships program during a special legislative session earlier this year, demand for the state’s education savings accounts (ESAs) soared. TN Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds joi...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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25:54
Madison Yandell & Vanessa Tanner on Passing Education Savings Accounts in Texas
Last month, Governor Greg Abbott signed the nation’s largest day-one universal school choice program into law. Madison Yandell, the governor’s education advisor, and Vanessa Tanner, chief of staff to Texas House Public Education Committee Chair...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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42:22
Jody Underwood on Expanding, Understanding, & Navigating New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Options
New Hampshire is now the 17th state to offer an education freedom program to every student in the state. Governor Kelly Ayotte recently signed legislation that expanded eligibility for the state’s education savings accounts (ESA) program to all...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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25:03
Paul Zimmerman on Title IX, the RESPECT Title IX Act, & the Need for Congressional Action
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. My colleague Paul Zimmerman joins the podcast to explain Title IX’s original intent to ensure equal educational opportunities regardl...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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31:40
Erin Lee on Protecting Children, Families, & Schools from the Cult-like Mentality of Gender Ideology
Erin Lee, executive director of Protect Kids Colorado, shares her harrowing experience navigating gender ideology’s impact on her daughter. She discusses the alarming rise of rapid onset gender dysphoria, the cult-like mentality surrounding gen...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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35:44
Tony de Nicola on Education Freedom, Budget Reconciliation, & the ECCA
The U.S. House budget reconciliation bill includes a federal tax credit that could make K-12 scholarships available to students in every state across America. Tony de Nicola, Invest in Education chairman, joins the podcast to discuss the Educat...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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24:05