Florida’s Erika Donalds on School Choice, Edu Federalism, & K-12 Reform

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark. Professor Albert Cheng and American Federation for Children’s Shaka Mitchell speak with Erika Donalds, America First Policy Institute’s Chair of Education Opportunity and Chair of the AFPI-Florida State Chapter. A nationally recognized education policy expert, Ms. Donalds shares the formative educational experiences that shaped her passion for school reform. With experience founding or working with multiple classical charter public schools over her career, she offers insight on how the U.S. can address its declining reading and math scores through higher-quality academic curricula. She discusses how education policy can better suit students' needs, strengthen school choice programs. She also highlights Florida’s leadership in expanding school choice and outlines core principles for strengthening parent-driven choice programs across the nation. Concluding the interview, Ms. Donalds reflects on the country’s persistent struggles with teaching basic U.S. history and civics education; the federal education tax credit program; and importance of returning the U.S. Department of Education's policymaking and spending to the states, localities, and parents.