School Choice Done Right: Finding the Best Fit for Your Child
School choice can feel empowering and overwhelming at the same time. Jared Taylor and Lindsey Crosland welcome Dr. Barbara Duncan and Liz Dreckman to explain how Arizona became a national model and what parents should do with all those options. They cover the “backpack funding” idea behind ESAs, how tax credit scholarships expanded to serve more students, and why real progress includes strong district schools that compete by improving. The group also looks ahead to “School Choice 3.0,” where education becomes more individualized, mixing academics with trades, dual enrollment, tutoring, therapies, and passion-driven learning. If you are navigating kindergarten, high school, or a mid-year switch, this episode offers a clear framework: know your child, tour schools, and choose the best fit right now.
Show Notes:
The Phoenix School Fair on January 24, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 pm at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix gives families a free, one-stop way to explore K–12 education options. Parents can meet representatives from public, charter, magnet, private, faith-based, online, homeschool, and nontraditional schools, while enjoying a fun, family-friendly evening hosted by Choose A School AZ and the National School Choice Awareness Foundation.
https://schoolchoiceweek.com/events/phoenix-school-fair/
Helping Arizona parents find the right school for their child, and helping schools put their best foot forward with quality recruiting, marketing, and services to families.
https://www.facebook.com/chooseaschoolaz
EdChoice is a national nonprofit organization that provides research and resources on K–12 education choice and policy.
National School Choice Week is a nationwide celebration that raises awareness about the full range of K–12 education options available to families. Through events, resources, and community partnerships, it helps parents explore choices and advocate for the learning environment that best fits their children.
If you want to learn more about the American Classroom podcast, please visit AmericanClassroom.Show
https://americanclassroom.show/
To learn more about or take a tour of the great schools mentioned in this episode, visit
Heritage Academy https://heritageacademyaz.com/
or Paul Revere Academy https://paulrevere.tech/
Sponsored by: Heritage Academy, downtown Mesa campus https://www.hamesa.com
What happens when hundreds of scholars arrive, the bell is minutes away, and the principal is responsible for everything? In this episode, Jared Taylor talks with Kim Ellsworth and Heidi Udall about the realities of leading a school through uncertainty, competing...
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Jared Taylor welcomes returning guest Shane Krauser for a thoughtful discussion about the ideas that shaped the nation and why they still matter today. Drawing from his travels across North America and South America, Shane...
Heather Thomas joins American Classroom to share an extraordinary story of perseverance, family, and the power of education to change a life. After a childhood marked by loss and instability, Heather became a mother at 16 and left high school while working long hours...