Educational Choice Isn’t Enough—Implementation Will Make or Break It
Host Michael Horn speaks with Andrew Clark, president of yes. every kid., about the rapid expansion of education savings accounts (ESAs) across U.S. states and what it will take for school choice policies to succeed in practice. Clark argues that universal programs are more politically viable and that implementation design—not just policy passage—will determine whether ESAs empower families or become bureaucratic obstacles. The conversation highlights the importance of parent-led, consumer-flexible models over restrictive voucher-style systems.
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Key takeaways
Universal ESA programs are up to 30% more politically viable than those restricted to specific student populations.
Parents want the flexibility to mix-and-match education options—tutoring, private school, extracurriculars—not just a simple school swap.
Poor implementation risks turning ESA programs into bureaucratic systems as unpopular and restrictive as health insurance models.
The U.S. education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as more states adopt education savings accounts (ESAs), signaling a broader push toward personalized, parent-directed learning and broader educational choice. With over a dozen states now offering universal ESA programs, debates around school choice have reached a new level of urgency. Throughout 2024, enthusiasm for school choice remained high, especially among parents. A survey found 70 to 75 percent of school parents to be in favour of policies like education savings accounts (ESAs), charter schools, vouchers, and open enrollment. Among the general public, backing for these options also held steady, with around 60 to 65 percent expressing approval.
How can education choice be expanded in ways that actually resonate with families—and not just policymakers?
In this episode of The Future of Education, host Michael Horn sits down with Andrew Clark, president of yes. every kid., to explore the fast-evolving landscape of educational choice in the U.S. Clark, a lobbyist-turned-education-innovator, breaks down the current state of school choice, the pitfalls of narrow policy design, and how implementation decisions will define the movement’s success or failure.
Key takeaways from the conversation…
- Universal programs are significantly more popular: Policies open to all students are up to 30% more politically viable than those restricted to low-income or special-needs students.
- Parents want control, not just alternatives: Educational savings accounts that empower parents to mix-and-match learning (tutoring, private/public school, extracurriculars) are far more appealing than limited voucher models.
- Implementation is everything: Clark warns that overly bureaucratic ESA systems risk becoming the educational equivalent of health insurance companies—unpopular and restrictive. Instead, he advocates for parent-led models with consumer-like flexibility.
Andrew Clark is a policy strategist and education reform advocate with nearly two decades of experience leading market-driven, data-informed campaigns. As President of yes. every kid., he spearheads efforts to redesign education through learner-centered, parent-empowered approaches. Previously, he held leadership roles at Americans for Prosperity and Generation Opportunity, where he focused on mobilizing grassroots support for systemic reform in education, criminal justice, and economic policy.
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About the author
Michael Horn speaks and writes about the future of education and works with a portfolio of education organizations to improve the life of each and every student. He is the co-founder of and a distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, and host of the Future of Education podcast on MarketScale.
