In this episode of Freedom to Learn, Nathan Cunneen, Texas State Director for the American Federation for Children, addresses the momentum behind the push for universal education freedom in the Lone Star State. Nathan shares his personal journey from a scholarship student in Florida to a leader in the Texas school choice movement. He discusses why school choice is crucial for families, and describes powerful opposition from rural superintendents, unions, and the education establishment. With overwhelming public support and the powerful leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott, could 2025 finally be the year Texas embraces Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)? Tune in to learn why Nathan believes this time, the wave of school choice is unstoppable.

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The education world is fixated on the fate of the U.S. Department of Education, but federal funding is a small portion of school budgets. Dr. Marguerite Roza, director of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab, joins the podcast to break down the financial realities currently facing U.S. school districts. Financial mismanagement by school districts across the country is leading to tough budget decisions about staffing and school closures. The problems are exacerbated by the end of Covid-era temporary ESSER funding and smaller student enrollments. Roza addresses the demographic cliff affecting K-12 education, how districts spent ESSER funding, and the importance of state leadership in driving educational outcomes.

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Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) envisions a more flexible, competitive system that better prepares students for the workforce—no matter the path they choose. In this episode, Rep. Walberg shares his insights on the evolving landscape of education in America, with a focus on vocational training, school choice, and the role of the federal government in shaping educational opportunities. Drawing from his personal background and experiences as a parent, Walberg emphasizes the importance of providing students with diverse educational paths, rather than pushing all students toward a four-year college degree. He discusses the need for more flexibility in funding, the challenges posed by the federal Department of Education, and the vital role parents and local communities play in shaping the educational journey of their children. Walberg also touches on the frustrations of teachers caught between unions and their desire to provide quality education, stressing the importance of putting students at the center of the education system.

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Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT), former NFL player, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for education freedom, joins the second episode of Freedom to Learn to discuss how education is a critical national security issue and the foundation of the American Dream. In this insightful conversation, Rep. Owens highlights key federal legislative efforts, including the Educational Choice for Children Act, aimed at expanding access to education options and empowering families across the country.

Rep. Owens brings a personal perspective to the discussion, having grown up in the segregated South with educators for parents. He speaks candidly about how education transformed his life and the lives of others in his community. Today, he is fighting to restore educational excellence by promoting school choice, merit-based systems, and innovation in the classroom. He also tackles the challenges posed by teacher unions, ideological battles over curriculum, and the ongoing FAFSA fiasco under the U.S. Department of Education.

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In the opening episode of the “Freedom to Learn” podcast, host Ginny Gentles speaks with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, about expanding education freedom, protecting parental rights, and reducing the federal government’s role in K-12 education. Dr. Foxx also discusses the committee’s recent accomplishments, including holding the U.S. Department of Education responsible for the FAFSA rollout debacle and combating the dangerous rise in anti-semitism in our nation’s educational institutions.

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Freedom to Learn is for policymakers and advocates fighting for parental rights and education freedom for students and teachers. Host Ginny Gentles, Director of the Defense of Freedom Institute's Education Freedom and Parental Rights Initiative, interviews guests who are confronting powerful unions and bureaucratic systems. Each episode demystifies school choice, counters misconceptions, and spotlights the people who put students over systems.

Freedom to Learn is produced by the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC.

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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!