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VIDEO: Secretary McMahon and Keri D. Ingraham Celebrate Returning Education to the States at Special Event

Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education welcomed U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon during a special event held in Woodway, Washington, on October 19, 2026. The event also featured Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham. The event kicked off Secretary McMahon’s trip to Washington state as part of her “Returning Education to the States” tour.

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A Special Event with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon & Keri D. Ingraham

On October 19, 2026, Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education hosted a special event with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon and Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham. The event, which took place in a private home in Woodway, Washington, kicked off Secretary McMahon’s visit to Washington state as part of her “Returning Education to the States” tour. Washington was the 46th state visited by the Secretary and her team as they travel through the country to visit with teachers, parents, students, and local leaders about successful education initiatives. The American Center for Transforming Education event kicked off Secretary McMahon’s visit to Washington State as part of her “Returning Education to Read More ›

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The Education Freedom Tax Credit: A Historic Win for American Families

A historic expansion of education freedom is underway in America. Signed into law by President Donald Trump on Independence Day 2025, the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship, also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, is poised to transform educational opportunities for millions of American children. Beginning January 1, 2027, taxpayers can contribute to an approved nonprofit scholarship granting organization and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 for individuals and $3,400 for married couples filing jointly. Importantly, the program has no annual cap on total contributions and does not sunset, creating the potential for billions of dollars in privately funded scholarships each year long into the future. The impact could be extraordinary. By 2030, the U.S. Department of Read More ›

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Keri D. Ingraham Speaks at CESA Symposium

On October 5, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham spoke at the Council on Educational Standards and Accountability (CESA) Symposium in Arlington, Texas, about the historic Education Freedom Tax Credit, also known as the Federal Tax Credit Scholarship. Ingraham addressed the audience of Christian school leaders about the unprecedented opportunity to expand access to Christian education for families nationwide through the first Federal Tax Credit Scholarship program in American history. Signed into law by President Trump on Independence Day 2025, the Education Freedom Tax Credit takes effect January 1, 2027. The program allows taxpayers to contribute to approved nonprofit scholarship granting organizations and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 Read More ›

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Is School Choice a Threat to Freedom? Keri D. Ingraham Addresses a Common Objection on Unmasking Government Schools Podcast

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on the Unmasking Government Schools Podcast on October 6 to discuss education freedom, the growth of alternative education options to traditional public schools, and the progress occurring at the federal level under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. Dr. Ingraham explains how school choice creates more opportunities for students to succeed.

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Historic Advancement of Education Freedom

In January, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham participated in the important School Choice Roundtable at the White House during National School Choice Week. That event marked one of many in which the White House has recognized Ingraham’s significant contributions toward advancing education freedom. Following the event, the White House released a short video featuring Dr. Ingraham. Click HERE to watch the video or click on the image below: Fast forward eight months and incredible progress has been made. In March, Dr. Ingraham wrote, “The department has overhauled operations — cutting nearly half its staff, reducing administrative layers, and consolidating offices. Grants have been streamlined, programs merged, reporting reduced, and oversight of Read More ›

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Returning Education to the States: Keri D. Ingraham Offers Insight on The Carrie Abbott Show

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on The Carrie Abbott Show on September 17 to discuss the education progress underway at the federal level. Dr. Ingraham offers insight into the various ways the Trump Administration and the U.S. Department of Education under Secretary McMahon are returning education to the states and expanding education freedom nationwide.

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Keri D. Ingraham Talks the Classic Learning Test on the Drive Home with Dr. Greg Seltz

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on The Drive Home with Dr. Greg Seltz on September 17 to discuss the Classic Learning Test (CLT). The CLT was founded in 2015 as an alternative to the SAT and ACT amid growing concerns about the quality of traditional college entrance exams. Dr. Ingraham explains why competition and college admissions testing are valuable. Read Dr. Ingraham’s article, “Move Over, SAT and ACT. There’s a Better Test.“

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Is a Four-Year College Degree Still Worth the Price?

With some American colleges charging $100,000 a year, families are right to ask a basic question: What are we actually getting for that price? A college degree can be tremendously valuable, but a prestigious name and an astronomical price tag do not guarantee a strong education, a meaningful career, or a successful future. Parents and students should look beyond rankings and historic reputation and ask about graduation rates, career outcomes, debt, and return on investment. The goal is not simply to get a degree. The goal is to be prepared to succeed. For too long, America has treated a four-year college degree as the default next step after high school. It shouldn’t be. Some students will thrive at a four-year Read More ›

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Keri D. Ingraham to Speak on Vocational Education at COSM 2026: Reality Check

Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and Director of the American Center for Transforming Education Keri D. Ingraham will be speaking at Discovery Institute’s annual COSM Technology Summit this November in Scottsdale, Arizona. The conference is a three-day premier national summit on the technologies remaking the world as we know it. Spearheaded by technology futurist George Gilder, COSM gathers together industry and thought leaders to discuss and debate the present and future of up-and-coming technologies and to defend human purpose, creativity, and innovation. The title of Dr. Ingraham’s talk is “Adapt and Compete: The Return of Vocational Education.” Other speakers will include Inventor of Ethernet and Turing Award Winner Bob Metcalfe, former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, Chief Futurist at OpenAI Joshua Achiam, and Read More ›

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Keri D. Ingraham Receives Presidential Commission Appointment

President Donald Trump has appointed Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham to serve on the Commission on Presidential Scholars. The Presidential appointment is a significant honor and recognizes Ingraham’s leadership and contributions to education throughout the United States. Read More ›
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Why More Families Are Rethinking Four-Year College: Keri D. Ingraham on Newsmax

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on Newsmax on Monday, September 14, to explain why more families are considering alternatives to a four-year college degree for their kids. Dr. Ingraham also discussed the Trump Administration’s efforts to cut out DEI programs from the U.S. Department of Education and to improve learning outcomes nationwide. “Students need to be rewarded for their merit, for academic excellence, not based on their skin color,” said Ingraham.