The Bottom Line

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” The Declaration of Independence With the 250th anniversary of our nation upon us, many are reflecting on the past while also considering the future. What makes America unique? Where is the great American experiment headed? Are our best days behind us? Is America doomed to decline? Despite all America has overcome and achieved in the past, many people hold a pessimistic outlook for our nation’s future. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan delivered a charge to the nation in his Inaugural Address. His words ring resoundingly Read More ›

As the price tag of a college degree soars, the perceived value by parents, students, and employers alike is decreasing. A 2024 essay in The Wall Street Journal found, “Nearly half of parents say they would prefer not to send their children to a four-year college after high school, even if there were no obstacles, financial or otherwise.” Additionally, the report noted that two-thirds of high school students believe “they will be just fine without a college degree.” Furthermore, the findings of a November 2023 survey revealed that an astonishing 55 percent of US companies eliminated bachelor’s degree requirements for employment eligibility. Instead, employers are valuing skills and experience over education. Employers face growing challenges filling specialized jobs due to the misalignment between college Read More ›

Keri D. Ingraham was recently on ‪Brandi Kruse’s Sundays with Subscribers to discuss education freedom. In this clip, Ingraham provides hope to Washington State parents who lack the school choice benefits many other parents across the country are enjoying.

Though one could point to many areas in which Mississippi has struggled in the past, the state is clearly now on a roll. Washingtonians would be wise to compare what they are doing versus what our state is doing. Here are just a few immediately identifiable differences in trends between the two states in two essential categories, the economy and education. The Economy: By any of these measures, Mississippi seems to be getting it right — while Washington appears to be heading in the wrong direction. Donald Nielsen Education: By any of these measures, Mississippi seems to be getting it right — while Washington appears to be heading in the wrong direction. The time may have come when we would Read More ›

American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham was at the White House last week. This was the second invitation this spring in recognition of her work to advance education freedom and other meaningful education reforms across the country. Last week’s visit included meetings with senior-level White House staff members. Her visit to the White House in March entailed attending the signing ceremony for the “Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities” executive order. Additionally, the invitation provided Ingraham with the opportunity to speak individually with nine reform-minded governors who also attended the executive order event. Significant education reform victories are happening, more than at any other time in history. We are grateful for your support as Read More ›

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will soon sign a bill that will empower the appointed governing boards of Texas public universities with greater oversight of the institutions under their charge. This comes at a time when an increasing number of people recognize the need for higher education accountability and reform. The bill directs the governing board of the university to review the “general education” curriculum at least once every five years. The specific purpose is to ensure that four critical qualities are met for the courses. First, the courses are “foundational and fundamental to a sound postsecondary education.” Second, courses are necessary for preparing students for their “civic and professional life.” Third, they equip students for “participation in the workforce and in the Read More ›

With Governor Kelly Ayotte’s signature on Tuesday, New Hampshire became the first state in the Northeast and the 17th state in the nation to enact universal school choice. New Hampshire joins Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming in empowering all parents statewide with a portion of their children’s education funding to select the K-12 education avenue of their choice. Previously, New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program, which began in 2021, was restricted to only families meeting a certain household income threshold. However, during this legislative session, the state House and the Senate took up separate bills to make all students eligible for the program. On March 13, House Bill Read More ›

In a state initiative with potential national implications, school districts across California are navigating the complexities of meeting the state’s looming Ethnic Studies requirement. This mandate, based on Assembly Bill 101 (AB 101) signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in October 2021, stipulates that students graduating during the 2029–2030 school year must complete at least one semester of Ethnic Studies. California stands as the first state to enact such a requirement, aiming to ostensibly foster cultural understanding through core concepts of equality, equity, justice, and the study of race and ethnicity, as outlined in the California Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum. As I reported previously here and here, the Northern California Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) took an ambitious approach to implementing this requirement, going Read More ›

There was a mass exodus from district public schools during the prolonged school closures when parents had a front-row seat in their child’s classroom through the remote Zoom sessions. They witnessed the infiltration of radical political agendas and the lack of quality academic instruction. When schools were unresponsive to their concerns, parents who could exit the system for alternative education avenues for their children did so. But it wasn’t just families who left district public schools. Teachers have also found the door. According to a new report from Independent Women, titled “Give Teachers a Break: Cutting Red Tape to Unleash the Potential of America’s Great Teachers,” an astonishing 16% of teachers “left their schools between 2020 and 2022.” Additionally, the Read More ›

The Texas legislature has passed a bill giving the governing boards of Texas public universities more oversight responsibilities. Keri D. Ingraham defends this move on NTD Newsroom as a good step toward ensuring that higher education, funded with taxpayer money, is preparing students for the future.