On a recent college visit, my family learned that the annual cost of attendance was more than $98,000. Four years at that school exceeds $400,000. For me, it raised a question bigger than “Can families afford college?” What happens to the choices graduates can afford to make afterward? I explore that question in my new piece for The Preamble. @sharon_says_so buff.ly/NV6idxU

America's K-12 crisis in a nutshell: The average 18 year old student scores at the same level as a top 10% 9 year old in Reading

ICYMI MOScholars grew from 1,361 students in its first year to more than 10,000 today. For 2026-27, the program awarded $68.7 million in educational funds to 10,235 students. And nearly all surveyed parents reported being satisfied with the program. That's what happens when families have more educational options. @afcpress @mojeanevans buff.ly/ja9h28G

JP Saxe texted the "Dead Parents Club" to pick this song Full episode: piped.video/oFt0x0L9mNg

Monday Music - Nov. 2, 2026 - I took a month off from posting music on Monday. Not because I haven't been listening but because things got so busy. Well, I'm back with some music that I bet will be new to you and will be a good reentry into the week. Enjoy! buff.ly/UezdjTa

Tax pros - the @WSJ Journal podcast insinuated that people might contribute to Trump accounts for the tax deduction but my understanding is that you cannot receive a tax deduction for contributing to someone else’s account. Can anyone confirm?

New three-year data from Missouri’s MOScholars program: ELA scores rose from the 46th to the 51st national percentile. Math scores rose from the 47th to the 49th. By year three, MOScholars students were performing at or above national averages in both subjects. Early results worth watching. buff.ly/UU8NPDf @MOTreasurer

One reason I like the structure of the EFTC is that it doesn't assume every child needs the same thing. One family might choose a private school. Another might stay in public school and use scholarship funds for tutoring. Another might need technology or other educational services. The EFTC emphasizes that students aren't all the same.

This morning I got to take the stage at @QualityCharters after Dr. Brenda Jones, the founder of Invictus Nashville Charter School, to talk about the many parts of the charter school community that must coalesce so that students have the opportunity to shine. I can't wait to share the videos when they're out!

Ask strangers from opposite parties about the Second Amendment and you get talking points. Ask them for a song from a hard season of life and you get a story. Join @shakamitchell , Braver Angels & @DerateTheHate Monday, 10/26. Details + registration: braverangels.substack.com/p/…

Virtual education doesn't work because someone buys the right technology. Leadership has to believe in the model. Then it has to resource it. Teachers and families can tell the difference between something an institution believes in and something it's simply tolerating.

The best virtual education isn't defined by the technology. It's defined by whether students are learning. I explore the difference between virtual schools and emergency remote instruction in my latest piece: buff.ly/npVRSRd

The @parthurgraff report keeps on delivering: "The federal Treasury Department estimates the program could bring in $26 billion over the next four years. The American Federation for Children estimates the program could generate $60 million for Alaska schools per year if 10% of eligible taxpayers contribute."

Shout out to Dalia Contreras for bringing so many people together in San Antonio to discuss what the Education Freedom Tax Credit (and new federal rules) could do for students throughout the region. I'm hopeful that San Antonio will be ready when the donations begin pouring in. How's your city doing? If the above was gibberish - it's not too late to learn and implement a cross-sector scholarship plan. Cities that do this well (like San Antonio & Denver) are poised to award scholarships to students in public, charter, and private schools. Exhausting as the travel has been, I’m thrilled to play a small part in making this policy more clear for civic and school leaders and, eventually, families. @dyrnwyn

It's only a week away! I look forward to joining charter school leaders, authorizers, and education innovators for conversations about how charter schools can incorporate the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit into the work they’re already doing to give families better educational options. It's beginning to get clearer with the recent release of the Treasury's Rules. I’ll be joining a panel discussion on this topic—exploring what the federal tax credit could mean for charter schools and the families they serve. And I’ll also have the opportunity to kick off the conference as the October 28 keynote speaker. Can't wait to see you there! NACSACon 2026 | October 27–29 | Nashville, TN

A great decision yesterday from a three judge panel in TN dismissing the lawsuit against the Education Freedom Scholarship. Plaintiffs claimed the general assembly cannot support students by giving them options beyond the public schools. Wrong! Glad this decision happened now as families will start to make decisions about next year’s schools in the coming months. @afcpress edchoice.org/wp-content/uplo…

The Education Freedom Tax Credit is no longer just a policy idea. Treasury has now issued the rules for its 2027 launch. But what matters most is that this isn't really a tax story. It's a student opportunity story. Millions more students can access a scholarship and an educational option they didn't have before. @schoolchoicenow