In an in-depth interview with Robert Enlow, president and CEO of EdChoice, key issues surrounding education reform, school choice, and federal oversight were explored. EdChoice, originally the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, advocates for universal educational freedom, aiming to empower parents with options for their children’s education.
Enlow highlighted the rapid expansion of school choice programs, with 75 initiatives across 33 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico now serving over one million students. He credited the pandemic for supercharging the movement, shifting focus to a parent-driven demand for more options. "What started as a slow-growing movement has become parent-centric and is seeing unprecedented growth," he said.
On the federal level, Enlow criticized the Department of Education for its regulatory burdens. He noted that federal funding, which constitutes 9-11% of state education budgets, comes with extensive compliance requirements, creating inefficiencies. "Every dollar from the federal government brings layers of bureaucracy," he said. He suggested reforms, such as transferring the Office for Civil Rights to the Department of Justice and streamlining Title I funding to better serve students directly.
Enlow also addressed declining student enrollment in Michigan and nationwide, driven by frustrated parents seeking alternatives like homeschooling and private education. "Parents are fed up, and the current system isn’t working," he said, emphasizing the need for systemic change.
Looking ahead, Enlow expressed cautious optimism about the incoming administration’s potential to reduce bureaucracy and advance school choice initiatives. "There’s a lot of work to be done, but I’m hopeful we’ll see real changes," he said.
Share this post