BOULDER, CO (October 15, 2024) – In this month's episode of NEPC Talks Education, Christopher Saldaña interviews Josh Cowen, professor of education policy at Michigan State University's College of Education and Education Law Center senior fellow, and Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr., University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of Education Leadership and Policy Analysis, about school choice, and how culture wars issues impact education policy.

Cowen discusses his new book, The Privateers: How Billionaires Created a Culture War and Sold School Vouchers. He explains the complex landscape of privatization in education, offering a nuanced perspective on how powerful interest groups have shaped public opinion and policy decisions related to school vouchers. Cowen argues that the current push for vouchers is less about improving educational outcomes and more about advancing a right wing cultural and political agenda.

Henry delves into the role of race and racism in school choice and the culture wars. He provides a historical context for understanding how market-based approaches to education, including vouchers and charter schools, have been used to undermine movements for racial and social equity. Henry cautions against the expansion of school choice programs, citing concerns about academic outcomes, teacher rights, and discipline policies that disproportionately affect students of color. He emphasizes the need for justice-centered approaches to education reform that are fundamentally different than market-based reforms.

Both scholars stress the importance of evidence-based approaches to education policy and call for a reimagining of public education that prioritizes equity, teacher support, and student well-being. They argue for a pause in the rapid expansion of school choice programs and advocate for thoughtful consideration of alternative approaches that could better serve all students, particularly those from marginalized communities.

A new NEPC Talks Education podcast episode, hosted by Christopher Saldaña, will be released each month from September through May. 

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