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.
Freedom to Learn
Michael Torres on Disrupting the SAT/ACT Duopoly, Policy Barriers, & the Fight for Assessment Choice
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
The Classic Learning Test is disrupting the standardized testing status quo. Michael Torres, CLT’s Director of Legislative Strategy, explains how this fast-growing exam is quietly challenging the SAT/ACT duopoly, offering a rigorous alternative with longer reading passages, no-calculator math, and a focus on true college readiness. He traces CLT’s 10-year rise from a niche option for homeschool and classical school students to widespread adoption in public systems, starting with Florida in 2023. We discuss expanding recognition across major university systems, U.S. service academies, and the shifting state and federal policies that are embracing the CLT and reshaping college admissions. Our conversation explores the high-stakes policy battle behind the scenes: how the College Board is fighting to protect its control over education, how exams influence what gets taught in classrooms, and why CLT is pushing for “assessment choice” as a natural extension of school choice.
The Classic Learning Test Takes Aim at the SAT–ACT Duopoly, Education Next: https://www.educationnext.org/the-classical-learning-test-takes-aim-at-the-sat-act-duopoly/
The SAT’s Trust Fall: Legacy standardized-testing firms are cutting rigor to please students: https://jamesgmartin.center/2025/06/the-sats-trust-fall/
Advanced No More: The College Board has politicized and watered down its AP exams. It’s time for an alternative: https://jamesgmartin.center/2026/02/advanced-no-more/
Education Freedom Requires Assessment Choice: https://www.aei.org/research-products/report/education-freedom-requires-assessment-choice/?mkt_tok=NDc1LVBCUS05NzEAAAGXKFUyBMy40Gviu3qkSgUmowda-Q99ea--jWa_3vsQ-AT333_9uPSM-vpECDZudWaSLhUx7iK_tqbplaBdXq_6Dtbz6NOgOXzYCxP3SSO5_3osFXc
🔗 Links & Resources:
- Visit our website: DFIPolicy.org
💡 Stay Connected:
- Follow us on Instagram: @DFIPolicy
- Follow us on Twitter: @DFIPolicy
- Follow us on Facebook: /DFIPolicy
- Subscribe to our YouTube channel (@DFIPolicy) for future episodes!
📩 Contact Us:
If you have feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, please reach out to us at Podcast@DFIPolicy.org.
🎧 Thank You for Listening:
Freedom to Learn is a production of the Defense of Freedom Institute. You can learn more about DFI at DFIPolicy.org.
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!