Learning Curve

As school choice programs continue expanding across the United States, a new industry has emerged to help administer education savings accounts (ESAs), scholarship programs, and other forms of educational choice. But who manages these programs, who competes for the contracts, and what happens when hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake? In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izzard and Eri...

What happens when federal Title IX requirements collide with Colorado law? In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard unpack one of the most significant education policy disputes currently unfolding in Colorado. Using Jefferson County Public Schools (Jeffco) as a case study, they explain how Title IX has evolved since its passage in 1972, why it has become the center of inte...

The Colorado legislative session may be over, but the work of education policy is far from finished. In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley explain what happens during the legislative interim, the often, overlooked period between sessions when state agencies, school districts, policymakers, and advocates work to interpret and implement new laws. From changes to school fi...

Mississippi's education system was once ranked near the bottom in the nation. Today, it has become one of the most discussed literacy success stories in America. In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard examine Mississippi's remarkable improvement in reading scores and ask what Colorado can learn from it. The discussion compares Mississippi's Literacy-Based Promotion Act w...

Colorado's legislative session may be over, but the debate surrounding homeschool enrichment programs is just getting started. In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley unpack the final days of Colorado's 2026 legislative session and the last-minute amendments that dramatically altered the future of part-time funding and homeschool enrichment programs across the state. As la...

What happens when a handful of concerned parents decide they’ve had enough? In this episode of Learning Curve , we examine the growing controversy surrounding Jefferson County Public Schools and the grassroots movement that emerged in response. As questions about leadership, accountability, student safety, and district governance continue to make headlines, parents have begun organizing, speaking...

Learning Curve is a Colorado-based podcast focused on the real conversations shaping education, parenting, school choice, public policy, and the future of learning in America. Hosted by Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley, the show breaks down complicated education and political issues in a way that is honest, practical, engaging, and easy to understand. Whether discussing homeschool enrichment programs...

In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down the different teaching models used in schools and why they matter for parents and students. They discuss STEM, Core Knowledge, traditional public schools, and charter schools, explaining how each model approaches learning differently and why some students may thrive in one environment more than another. The conversation al...

Colorado’s universal preschool program is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court, and it could have national implications. In this episode, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley break down the legal challenge surrounding UPK, focusing on whether the state’s requirements effectively excluded faith-based providers from participating. They explore the constitutional issues at stake, the existing Supreme Court prec...

Education funding is at an all-time high, but student outcomes aren’t keeping up. In this episode, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard examine the disconnect between increased school spending and stagnant academic performance. With billions flowing through the system, they ask a critical question: where is the money actually going? The conversation explores the complexity of school finance, the lack of t...

Are charter schools actually private schools? It’s one of the most common misconceptions in education, and in this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izard and Erin Brantley set the record straight. Charter schools are public, tuition-free, and open to all students , yet many families still believe they operate like elite private institutions. This episode breaks down what charter schools really are...

Who actually decides what your child learns in school? In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izzard break down the complex (and often confusing) system behind education in Colorado. From state standards to local control, they explain the difference between standards vs. curriculum , who influences each level, and where parents actually have a voice. If you’ve ever wondered why...

Colorado is facing a growing budget crisis, and tough decisions are ahead. In this episode, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley unpack the state’s $1.5 billion deficit, what’s driving it, and how lawmakers are scrambling to respond. From education funding cuts to debates over raising revenue, they explain how the process works, and why so many bills are currently stuck in limbo. They also highlight a ke...

In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin Brantley and Ross Izard explore one of the most overlooked, but most impactful, areas in education: local school boards . While national and state politics often dominate the conversation, the reality is that school boards control the vast majority of what students experience day-to-day, from curriculum and staffing to policy and transparency. The challenge...

Who should have the final say in a child’s education, parents or schools? In this episode of Learning Curve , Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley unpack a rapidly developing legal battle over parental notification policies in schools. Sparked by a case out of California, the conversation explores whether schools can withhold critical information from parents, and what the Constitution actually says abou...

In this episode of Learning Curve , Erin and Ross break down Colorado’s HB 261292 and what it could mean for school choice, private education, and families across the state. At the center of the conversation is a key question: Who actually has access to educational opportunities, and who gets left out? The hosts unpack how federal tax credit scholarship programs are designed to expand access for l...

Ep. 2: Colorado lawmakers are facing a massive state budget deficit, and education funding may be caught in the crossfire. In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley break down a proposal that could cut funding for homeschool enrichment programs in half, reducing part-time student funding from 50% to 25% of per-pupil funding. These programs allow homeschool families to access...

Education policy affects every family, but most parents have no idea where the decisions impacting their kids are actually made. In this episode of Learning Curve, Erin Brantley and Ross Izard break down why parents need to start paying closer attention to education policy and how those decisions shape what happens in classrooms across Colorado. From school choice and charter schools to legislatio...