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
Ron Matus on Florida’s School Choice Families, Educators, & à la Carte Options
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Over a million Florida K-12 students attend a school of choice through magnet programs, open enrollment, career and technical academies, and charter and lab schools. Over 500,000 Florida students participate in the state’s education savings account and tax credit scholarship programs. Ron Matus, director of Research & Special Projects at Step Up for Students, joins the podcast to share the stories of the families and educators driving innovation and expanding opportunities across the state. We explore the growth of the ESA programs, how students with disabilities benefit, rural school choice options, the rise of specialized à la carte options, and the surprising growth in Catholic school enrollment.
Catholic School Update Brief 2026: https://nextstepsblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Catholic-school-update-brief-2026-final-approved.pdf
Next Steps Blog: https://nextstepsblog.org/author/ron-matus/
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