30 years ago my mom founded one of the first microschools in Florida.
Gov. @JebBush fought the early, contrarian battles to unlock that education for our family and millions of others.
Quite a full-circle moment to sit down and discuss the state of US K-12 together:
Florida has become one of the clearest test cases for what happens when educational choice reaches real scale.
In my recent conversation with former Governor @JebBush and Ryan @Delk of @Primer schools, what stood out to me was not just how much the landscape has changed over the last quarter century, but also which questions now matter most.
A few takeaways:
1️⃣ The conversation has shifted from demand to supply - For years, the central policy push was about funding following students and giving families more options. Now, in places like Florida, a big question is whether enough new schools and models can emerge to meet that demand—especially low-cost, high-quality options.
ExcelinEd's Chairman, Gov. @JebBush, joined @michaelbhorn on the Future of Education podcast this week to discuss the evolution of education choice in Florida and what it means nationwide. Watch the clip and listen to the full episode here: https://t.co/m7qeH2RSn8
Today, we pause to remember those who lost their lives in service to their country and honor the sacrifice they made. We are grateful today and always.
ExcelinEd in the field ➡️ Earlier this month, Senior Policy Fellow Christy Hovanetz, Ph.D., presented at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Master Class, "Building Business Leadership for Data, Assessment, and Accountability." During her presentation, she shared how to build and support a rigorous, transparent accountability system. This two-day event brought together 35 state and local chamber leaders as part of USCCF's ongoing effort to educate members on the importance of assessment and accountability.
More than 200 studies point to a consistent trend: school choice programs can improve outcomes for students, families and taxpayers. In a new review of this research, @bendegrow, Senior Policy Director for Education Choice, highlights gains in graduation rates, parent satisfaction, school safety and even public school performance. Read it here ⤵️ https://t.co/cSZTPmrezh
Charter schools are just one part of a robust school choice policy system. At ExcelinEd, we believe every child deserves access to a quality education that equips them with the knowledge, skills and values they need for a successful career and fulfilling life—and school choice gives families the power to find it.
Explore more of our model policies and see where your state stands at https://t.co/YhdOtdzIGs. #NationalCharterSchoolWeek
"As policymakers digest this report, it’s important to remember that there is no single policy that will turn around falling student outcomes or struggling schools."
https://t.co/TcgfiB9qk9
Every student deserves a school that works for them. Charter schools are creating more pathways to success. Learn more about charter schools and #NationalCharterSchoolWeek on the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools' website here: https://t.co/edtuUfsHvz
It's National Charter School Week, so let’s talk about #charterschools! Swipe through for some fast facts about charters in America and visit https://t.co/93Cdmg4aKS to learn more about the policies that affect them. #NCSW@charteralliance
We're wrapping up Teacher Appreciation Week by rewatching this special video series featuring heartfelt stories from our incredible staff about the teachers who inspired them growing up. Explore it here: https://t.co/TciklsnVOm #TeacherAppreicationWeek
ExcelinEd Senior Policy Fellow Dr. @kymyona_burk served as a moderator at The Reading League Summit in New York! The panel, Taking Action on Policy, explored how to "effectively implement screening legislation, identify gaps in current policies and leverage existing frameworks to advance literacy."
Panelists included Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, Jill Pentimonti, Associate Research Professor at the University of Notre Dame, and Tim Odegard, Professor of Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University.
ExcelinEd in the field ➡️ Senior Policy Director Lindsey Henderson was a panelist at Education Week's Virtual Leadership Symposium 2026 today!
She shared ExcelinEd's https://t.co/VMb0CbOI2b and discussed the instructional practices most effective for strengthening math education across states.
Thank you to @educationweek for including Lindsey in this important conversation!
"Teacher Appreciation Week is an opportunity to celebrate the hard work and dedication of educators across the country, including the mentors who help shape them. Mentor teachers, like Dave Nichols, play a vital role in developing successful educators and making the profession more sustainable. By investing in high-quality mentorship, we can build a system that demonstrates our appreciation for great teaching and enhances the educational experiences of our students."
Revisit Associate Policy Director Teresa Lundgren's blog on the important role mentor teachers play in shaping the future of education: https://t.co/498IHpI5s2 #TeacherAppreciationWeek
This Teacher Appreciation Week, we're taking a look back at our Leading the Way Video Series featuring state education leaders in Arkansas, Indiana, South Carolina and North Carolina as they discuss the policies shaping teacher support in their states.
If you missed this insightful series, now is the perfect time to dive back in: https://t.co/X82V8a0Uwk #TeacherAppreciationWeek
ICYMI ➡️ Students are pursuing career pathways. Employers are looking for prepared talent. So why does the gap persist?
Our recent blog explores how intermediaries bridge education and industry, and the policy levers that help them do it at scale. ⤵️ https://t.co/stirh3pSGl
New Episode: “The Future of Homeschooling: ESAs, Policies and Freedoms” on the Ultimate Homeschool Community Podcast.
This episode features our Senior Policy Director for Education Choice, @bendegrow, on the continued expansion of ESAs and the importance of balancing flexibility with accountability in policy design. #schoolchoice https://t.co/g6rHAMIHPg
📣 New report out of Delaware finds career pathway programs can support strong postsecondary enrollment and employment outcomes when they are intentionally aligned to labor market demand and paired with robust work-based learning experiences. Give it a read ➡️ https://t.co/ptblaL26FC