Students Over Systems

In his latest book, The Great School Rethink, American Enterprise Institute scholar Frederick Hess argues that “schools are organized today in ways that waste time, overburden educators, misuse technology, and alienate parents.” Rick joins the Students Over Systems podcast to provide a short education history lesson and explain why it is time to rethink, rather than innovatively transform, educati...

EdChoice president and CEO Robert Enlow joins the Students Over Systems podcast to explain Milton Friedman's vision for the role of government in education. Robert reviews the history of the school choice movement and EdChoice's role in expanding education freedom through research, polling, and training. We discuss the importance of informing parents about their options now that numerous states ha...

Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker joins the Students Over Systems podcast to discuss the 30-year history of the original school choice program, the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, and his efforts as governor to expand Wisconsin's school choice options. He also outlines his experience taking on Wisconsin public-sector unions by drastically overhauling collective bargaining. Governor Walker...

Jeanne Allen joins the podcast to discuss the creation and impact of the Yass Prize. The annual award provides education entrepreneurs with a $1 million grand prize, as well as dozens of smaller awards, in order to honor and connect organizations providing sustainable, transformational, and outstanding educational opportunities for students. Jeanne also shares her motivation for founding the Cente...

Are charter schools part of the education freedom movement? Nina Rees, president and chief executive officer of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, joins the Students Over Systems podcast to discuss her influential role in the school choice movement and the history and mission of charter schools. The episode also explores the challenges charter schools currently face, including the B...

Arizona set the gold standard for the nation last year by expanding eligibility for the state's education savings account (ESA) program to every K-12 student in the state. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne joins Students Over Systems to discuss the history of Arizona's school choice programs and the challenges of overseeing the Empowerment Scholarship Account program expansion...

Former Indiana Congressman Luke Messer joins Students Over Systems to explore federal opportunities to support education freedom. As a state legislator and school choice leader, Congressman Messer significantly expanded Indiana's school choice options. He co-founded the Congressional School Choice Caucus while serving in Congress and proposed legislation that would devolve power and funding to par...

On this week's episode of Students Over Systems, former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos discusses her belief that education must be about students, rather than the special interests that control the K-12 education system. We talk about her decades of working with governors and state legislators to create school choice programs and the current momentum to expand education options in states...

On this week's episode of Students Over Systems, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush joins the podcast to discuss the history of the Sunshine State's flourishing education options. Gov. Bush explains how he overcame opposition to education freedom and remained focused on improving K-12 education. We address the then-abysmal state of education in Florida before the state created school choice opportun...

Senator Tim Scott joins Students Over Systems to discuss how education can unlock a person's potential and future. Senator Scott shares his belief that parents should be given access to a range of educational options, so their children have a better chance at succeeding in life. We also discuss his advocacy for federal education freedom options, including the Charter School Program and the portabi...

Stacy Hock joins the Students Over Systems podcast to discuss the possibility and opportunity to expand education freedom in the Lone Star State this year. She explains the open enrollment, charter, and magnet school policies in Texas, and lays out her vision for creating K-12 education savings accounts for families. We address the need for Texas lawmakers to respect and recognize the voices of pa...

In this introductory episode of  Students Over Systems , host Ginny Gentles lays out the need for conversations about education freedom and the hope it offers families. Ginny, who is the director of the Independent Women's Forum's Education Freedom Center, talks with IWF senior policy analyst Inez Stepman about the lack of respect for parents in the K-12 education system, and the need to real...