Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children, joins Freedom to Learn for a deep dive into the state of school choice in America. From exciting wins in expanding school choice across the nation to major developments ahead in Texas and at the federal level, Tommy breaks down the game-changing progress happening right now. We also take a hard look at the powerful role of teachers' unions in blocking real reform, fueling learning loss, and ultimately harming students and educators. Plus, with the latest Nation’s Report Card (NAEP) alarming reading and math results revealing an ongoing undeclared state of emergency in K-12 education, Tommy makes the case that giving parents control over their children’s education is crucial for the future of America’s students.

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Nicki Neily, founder of Parents Defending Education, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the troubling trends reshaping our nation's K-12 schools. From divisive racial and gender ideologies to foreign influence in our educational system, Nicki details her organization’s efforts to expose the overreach of activist agendas in the classroom and shares her motivation to champion parental rights and protect students from politicized teaching. We dive into "anti-racist" policies, the truth about transformative social-emotional learning (SEL) programs, and the influence of DEI funding. With alarming revelations about Chinese funding in U.S. schools and the misuse of federal grants, this episode highlights the challenges parents face in ensuring a fair and focused education for their children.

🔗 Links & Resources:

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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.

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Have you ever wondered how school choice really works? On this episode of Freedom to Learn, we’re joined by Shelby Doyle, Vice President of Public Awareness for the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, to explore education freedom. As we gear up for National School Choice Week (January 26–February 1), Shelby shares actionable insights for policymakers looking to get involved in this nationwide celebration. Shelby talks about her personal journey as a homeschooler and reveals how her organization empowers families year-round to navigate the maze of educational options and make the best choices for their children. Whether you're a parent, educator, or policymaker, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical tips to champion education freedom.

See more from the National School Choice Awareness Foundation:

Here's our NSCW 2025 trailer video. We're looking forward to a better-than-ever celebration this year with more than 27,000 events. You can see all the celebrations planned at https://schoolchoiceweek.com/guide-nscw-2025/

For any assets/background info for newsletters, social posts, blogs, etc. that'll touch on the Week, we have all relevant assets here: https://schoolchoiceweek.com/toolkit-partners/

🔗 Links & Resources:

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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!