Good day, CharterFolk.
Today we’re pleased to share a WonkyFolk recording with Lisa Graham Keegan, former Superintendent of Public Instruction in Arizona, member of the Charter School Hall of Fame, and all around ed reformer extraordinaire.
In addition to reflecting on reform efforts that have placed Arizona “on the bleeding edge,” Lisa walk ed us through several of her long-standing obsessions: how to redesign public education funding, how to expand access to better educational opportunities regardless of where a family lives, and how to keep your political bearings in the hyper-partisan world we now inhabit.
Here is a link to the podcast and a transcript of the conversation on the CharterFolk website.
You can also access the discussion here on Youtube.
You can find us on Spotify here.
An archive of all past recordings is available on our website.
Throughout the conversation, Lisa took us “upstream” to trace current education challenges back to the historical policy decisions that created them.
She’s been at it a long time, winning her first race for legislature in 1990 …
… and four years later securing election as Superintendent of Public Instruction …
… where her unapologetic support for school choice was a defining feature of the campaign.
A long time at the bleeding edge, indeed.
One last thank-you to Lisa for joining us.
On we go.
Links to Topics Referenced in the Discussion
- “Backpack Funding” report from A for Arizona and Reason giving background on weighted funding going back to the 80’s
- EdWeek article from 1998 about court challenges to Arizona education funding system.
- Matt Ladner Op-Ed at The 74 about the success of the “Wild West” charter school approach.
- The 50 CAN report on Opportunity in America.
- Matt Ladner’s current perch at the Arizona Chamber Foundation.
- Arizona Governor Ducey’s Results-Based Funding Program.
- Oral History from the National Charter School Founders’ Library about the Passage of Arizona’s charter law and open enrollment in 1994.
- ACLU report from 2017 criticizing California charter school admissions but making no mention of district admissions.
- ACLU website criticizing Arizona charter school admissions while making no mention of district practices.