Innovation

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Keri D. Ingraham Talks Education Innovation on the Futures Edge Show

On Monday, November 24, Keri D. Ingraham appeared live with Jim Iuorio and Bobby Iaccino on their Futures Edge Show. Together, they first discussed last week’s major announcement that the Department of Education would be delegating various responsibilities to other federal departments. They then delved into the reforms required to incentivize teachers to excel in their field, the strengths of industry-specific high schools and microschools, how Indiana is reforming education, the role of AI in education, and more.

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Keri D. Ingraham Speaks at COSM with Governor Doug Ducey & Jenny Clark

In Scottsdale, Arizona, on November 18, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham addressed the audience in a packed ballroom at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort during day one of Discovery Institute’s COSM Technology Summit, spanning three days. She referenced the countless significant accomplishments across various policy areas, including education reform, that the Honorable Doug Ducey achieved during his eight years as Governor of Arizona. Most notably, on July 7, 2022, Governor Ducey signed universal school choice into law by expanding the Empowerment Scholarship Account program to all of Arizona’s more than 1.1 million students. At the time, Governor Ducey explained: Arizona kids will no longer be locked in underperforming schools. We are unlocking Read More ›

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Indiana Is Innovating Education — More Than Any Other State

On Oct. 17, Indiana submitted a waiver application to the U.S. Department of Education seeking flexibility and a reduction of red tape from Washington. Under the leadership of Gov. Mike Braun and Secretary of Education Katie Jenner, Indiana is innovating K-12 education from all angles, and the rest of the nation should take note. Upon taking office in January, Braun expanded eligibility for the Choice Scholarship Program to all families in the Hoosier State, creating a free market K-12 education landscape. Demand for education options has surged, and providers have responded. In Indiana, private school choices have expanded significantly over the past four years, with enrollment up 22 percent. Indiana also offers robust public school choice, including inter-district and intra-district Read More ›

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Keri D. Ingraham & Bryan Mistele Discuss Recent Victories & Advancements in K-12 Education

This week, Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education hosted a special event on Mercer Island, Washington. The evening began with remarks by Discovery Institute President Steve Buri. Then, longtime Discovery Institute Board member Bryan Mistele interviewed Senior Fellow and American Center for Transforming Education Director Keri D. Ingraham. Mistele, a gifted communicator, kicked off the questions by asking Ingraham to share how she became interested in education, her professional journey, and what brought her to Discovery Institute five years ago. Next, the work of the American Center for Transforming Education was discussed. Exciting updates were provided regarding the advancement of education freedom, education entrepreneurship, education innovation, parental rights, and public education reform. The inspiring event left attendees energized and Read More ›

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Keri D. Ingraham, Doug Ducey, and Jenny Clark to Speak on Educating the Tech Workforce at COSM 2025

COSM 2025 will take place in Scottsdale, Arizona, from November 19–21, bringing together leaders to explore the technologies shaping our future. Opening the conference, Keri D. Ingraham, Director of Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education, will join former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey and school choice advocate Jenny Clark to discuss “Educating the Tech Workforce: Has Arizona Provided a Roadmap?” Ducey was a trailblazer in advancing education freedom during his time as governor, fearlessly advancing schooling options. Clark, founder of the non-profit Love Your School, helps families navigate educational opportunities to find the best fit for their children. Together, the panel will examine how Arizona’s innovations in education may provide a model for preparing the next generation of tech leaders. Read More ›

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First Lady Melania Trump participates in the Senate Spouses Luncheon at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 21,2025. (Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks)
Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump_participates_in_the_Senate_Spouses_Luncheon_(54540096258).jpg

The First Lady’s Undeniable Resolve to Win the AI Race

America is in a global artificial intelligence (AI) race. The stakes are historically high with economic and national security implications. As President Trump declared in July, “Whether we like it or not, we are suddenly engaged in a fast-paced competition to build and refine this groundbreaking technology that will determine so much about the future of civilization.” The President, First Lady, and the Trump Administration are taking decisive steps to ensure America is prepared and positioned to win one of the most consequential competitions among nations in modern history, determining future global dominance. On Thursday, First Lady Melania Trump hosted a meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education. Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science Read More ›

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view of light private propeller airplane with opened motor cabinet stands outside hangar, teenager boy standing near, observing motor compartments, waiting his father to come.
Image Credit: alfa27 - Adobe Stock

Giving Students an On-Ramp to Post-High School Success

College is not providing the on-ramp that most students in our country need to a high-growth, high-demand career field. Many students graduate from college saddled with debt and with a degree that is misaligned with the job market. Continuing the status quo can no longer be acceptable. Therefore, it’s essential that we not only ask but also answer the following question. How are we giving kids an education that will prepare them so that when they exit high school without going on to college, they are ready to be contributors to society through something they are excited about, and they can use a passion to do something meaningful with their life? It’s past due time to reinvent high school. It Read More ›

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Happy young woman with her parents on graduation day
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Fewer Parents Want to Send Their Kids to College

There is a growing demand for alternatives to a traditional education as the return on investment in college is plummeting. Combine ever-increasing tuition prices with the reality that only 62% of students who enter a four-year college graduate within six years, and only 40% secure a career in the field of their degree, and this should not be surprising. Fewer parents want to send their children to a four-year college. According to a 2025 report published in The Wall Street Journal, “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.” Furthermore, a growing number of students are not interested in Read More ›

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Keri D. Ingraham Discusses High-Quality Industry-Specific Education on The Tony Kinnett Cast

Keri D. Ingraham joined The Daily Signal’s Tony Kinnett Cast to discuss the advantages of industry-specific high schools. She noted the rising number of parents who are rethinking the traditional college path, pointing out that many degrees fail to prepare students for the jobs they ultimately pursue — and that a growing number of employers are dropping bachelor’s degree requirements altogether. Dr. Ingraham also spotlighted the West Michigan Aviation Academy as a standout example of how high schools can successfully equip students with practical, career-ready skills.

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Keri D. Ingraham Talks Modernizing Education on That Kevin Show

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on That Kevin Show to discuss modernizing education. Ingraham addressed the necessity for reinventing high school for current workforce realities, how one-size-fits-all education is a disservice to our students, and the great example of West Michigan Aviation Academy.

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United States of American flag waving. 3d render
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Is America Doomed to Decline?

“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 ›

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science lab where a group of high school students are actively engaged in a robotics class with the teacher
Image Credit: Ivan Guia - Adobe Stock

The Case for Industry-Specific High Schools

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 ›