Educational Freedom: A Tale of Two Governors
By John A. Charles, Jr. Last November, voters in Arkansas elected Republican Sarah…
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HB 3068 Allows Students to Take the GED for a High School Diploma
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Cascade Policy Institute’s bill to make it easier for…
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Cascade Policy Institute Research Finds School Choice programs Can Boost Public School Performance
February 16, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Cascade Policy Institute Research Finds School Choice Programs Can Improve Participants’ Academic Performance and Educational Attainment
February 15, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Press Release: Cascade Policy Institute Research Shows Education Savings Accounts Can Foster School Choice While Boosting Pre-Student Funding
February 9, 2023 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute48/50 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Report shows ESA programs can give students the options they need, while increasing per-student funding for those remaining in district schools
By Kathryn Hickok Cascade Policy Institute has released a new report evaluating the…
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Small Steps Toward Solving Oregon’s Education Crisis
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the “Doonesbury”…
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Education Savings Accounts Would Make Oregon Students Better Off
By Kathryn Hickok This is National School Choice Week, an annual celebration of…
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3 Ways Oregon Legislators Can Expand Options for K-12 Students Today
By Kathryn Hickok January 22-28 is National School Choice Week, a celebration of…
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A Holiday Wishlist for Oregon
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. ‘Tis the season for holiday wishes. And, toward that…
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Education Savings Accounts: A School Choice Solution That Can Save States Money
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Critics of education savings accounts, or ESAs, claim that…
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Education Savings Accounts Can Boost Per-Student Spending in Public Schools
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Critics of education savings accounts, or ESAs, claim ESA…
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Research Shows Voucher Programs Boost Test Scores and Improve Educational Attainment
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Vouchers and education savings accounts (ESAs) are a subset…
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Decades of Research Finds Voucher Programs Are Associated with Improved Public School Quality
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. In recent years, school vouchers and education savings accounts…
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Education Group Works to Put School Choice on the Ballot in Oregon
By Kathryn Hickok This year, Arizona became the first state to expand eligibility…
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2023 Should Be Oregon’s Year of Opportunity in K-12 Education
By Kathryn Hickok A June poll of Oregonians conducted by Nelson Research and…
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For Oregon’s New Governor, Great Power Comes with Great Responsibility
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. It’s the day after Election Day and the votes…
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Oregon Needs a Free-Market Makeover
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D “What’s the one thing you’d do to fix Oregon?”…
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Closing the Racial Learning Gap in Schools: Spending Money Is Not Enough
By James Swyter For years, policymakers in Oregon have wrung their hands over…
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Oregon Ranks 40th on Heritage Foundation’s “Education Freedom Report Card”
By Kathryn Hickok The Heritage Foundation recently released its first Education Freedom Report…
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Arizona Offers All Children School Choice; Oregon Should, Too
By Kathryn Hickok This summer, Arizona expanded the nation’s first Education Savings Account…
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3 Ways New Oregon Leadership Can Improve K-12 Education Fast
By Kathryn Hickok Oregon soon will have a new governor and a new…
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Biden’s Student Loan Bailout Brings Chaos to College Students
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. By now you’ve heard of President Biden’s student loan…
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Biden Administration May Control School Suspensions
By James Swyter In less than two weeks, Oregon students will be heading…
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The $60 Million Question for Portland Public Schools: Where is the Money Going?
Projected spending for the Center for Black Student Excellence may violate Oregon Law…
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Portland Public Schools Needs a Plan for Declining Enrollment
By Mia Tiwana This year, Portland Public Schools is in a financial sweet…
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Press Release: The $60 Million Question: Cascade Policy Institute Questions PPS Bond Spending
May 24, 2022 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts: Eric Fruits, Ph.D.Office: (503) [email protected]…
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The $60 Million Question: What Is the Center for Black Student Excellence?
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. and Mia Tiwana Executive Summary In November 2020, Portland…
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Lift the Cap on Oregon Charter Schools
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Next week is National Charter Schools Week. Oregon passed…
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Poll: 72% Believe Parents Should Have School Choice
By Kathryn Hickok The last two years have made it clear: Oregon parents…
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Testimony of Kathryn Hickok before the Senate Committee on Education
February 24, 2022 Senate Committee on EducationOregon State Legislature Re: Support for SB…
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Oregon Should Expand Education Choices to Help All Students Succeed
By Kathryn Hickok Oregon students are now half-way through their third school year…
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National School Choice Week Celebrates Options and Opportunities in K-12 Education
By Kathryn Hickok January 23-29 is National School Choice Week, a 50-state celebration…
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Remove Oregon’s Age Restriction on GED Tests
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. COVID-19 disrupted—and may continue to disrupt—in-person learning at many…
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Oregon’s Century-Old Lesson in Public Education
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Earlier this week, the Michigan Democratic Party’s Facebook account…
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Let’s Hope for Something New This New Year
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. As 2021 is wrapping up, it turns out that…
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Testimony of John Charles Before the State Land Board Regarding the DSL Strategic Plan
By John A. Charles, Jr. Testimony of John A. Charles, Cascade Policy InstituteBefore…
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Public School Closures Are Hurting Oregon Students
By Rachel Dawson The public school shutdowns have gone too far. Once reserved…
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How COVID-19 Turned 2021 into “The Year of School Choice”
By Kathryn Hickok This fall, Oregon children began their third school year since…
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A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Shake Up Metro
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. With the retirement of Bob Stacey earlier this month,…
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Poll Shows a Growing Majority of Registered Voters Support School Choice
By Kathryn Hickok During the past 18 months, parents have taken a hard…
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Oregon’s New Graduation Standards Turn Diplomas into Participation Trophies
By Micah Perry In this summer’s Olympic Games, Oregon natives Kim Hill and…
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Dropping High School Graduation Standards Hurts Students’ Future Prospects
By Stewart Robertson Recently, Governor Kate Brown quietly signed Senate Bill 744. The…
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Oregon Senate Passes Largest School Budget in State History
State spending per student in public school is $2,000 more than average private…
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Four Things You Should Know About Learning Pods in Oregon
By Helen Doran Learning pods have become a popular solution for parents searching…
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Oregon Families Deserve Choice in Online Learning: SB 240 Would Lift the Cap on Online Charter Schools
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. We’ve heard a lot of bad news during the…
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Oregon Families Deserve Choice in Online Learning: Cascade Policy Institute Supports SB 240 – Lift the Cap on Online Charters
April 21, 2021 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd.,…
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Eric Fruits, Ph.D. provided testimony to the Oregon Senate in support of SB 240
Via EmailApril 20, 2021 Senate Committee on EducationOregon State Legislature Re: Support for…
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Are Oregon students looking at distance learning in the fall?
By Helen Doran The president of the National Education Association recently said she…
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Beware the Four Day School Week
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. As Oregon students return to the classrooms, watch out…
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Every Student Deserves Access to a Quality Education
By Helen Doran Every student deserves access to a quality education. Despite the…
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Eric Fruits, Vice President of Research of Cascade Policy Institute, submitted testimony regarding SB 223
Via EmailMarch 11, 2021 Senate Committee on Education Oregon State Legislature Re: Opposition…
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Press Release: SB 223 Is an “All-Out Attack” on Private Schools
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 11, 2021 Cascade Policy Institute4850 SW Scholls Ferry Rd., Ste….
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Empower Oregon Families Today by Funding Students, Not Systems
By Kathryn Hickok and Helen Doran Every parent knows a solid education prepares…
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Make Oregon the Opportunity State
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Oregonians blame Californians for many of our state’s woes….
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Oregon Should Increase Parents’ Education Options to Help Every Child Succeed
By Kathryn Hickok January 24-30 is National School Choice Week, the world’s largest…
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Compensate Families for Schooling During the Shutdown
Repurpose money from the Student Success Act to offset the cost to families…
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What is Going On? Cases Rise and Oregon Schools Open
By Helen Doran “What is going on?” That’s what many Oregon parents are…
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Poll Shows Support for Parents to Use State Education Funding for School Choice
By Kathryn Hickok A RealClear Opinion poll released at the end of September…
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I was homeschooled. Here is why I support school choice.
By Helen Doran Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents now find themselves…
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Achieving Equity: Oregon Students Deserve a Money-Back Guarantee
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. On September 21, 2020, Oregon’s Senate heard policy proposals…
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Emancipate the Students
By John A. Charles, Jr. The state legislature is seeking policy proposals for…
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Oregon Students Deserve Stability
By Helen Doran Oregon guidelines for the 2020 fall semester have been remarkably…
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A Money-Back Guarantee for Oregon Students
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Oregon public school students are not likely to return…
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School Choice Means Equitable Funding
By Cooper Conway Last week, the United States officially surpassed 4 million documented…
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COVID-19 is limiting classroom access; it’s time to stop limiting Oregon’s online charter school enrollment
By Cooper Conway The Oregon Education Association (OEA) recently penned a letter to legislators urging…
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Coronavirus Shouldn’t Stop Learning
By Cooper Conway On March 16, Governor Kate Brown directed Oregon schools to…
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Supreme Court Upholds Parents’ Right to Choose Religious Schools
By Kathryn Hickok The U.S. Supreme Court ruled June 30 in Espinoza v….
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Supporting Students, Not Systems, Is Social Justice
By Cooper Conway George Floyd’s tragic death has led to growing calls for…
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To Meet Kids’ Urgent Education Needs, Oregon Should Give Parents a “Money-Back Guarantee” Through School Choice
By Kathryn Hickok School choice has been increasing in popularity with parents for…
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Education Savings Accounts Are an Innovative Way to Provide Flexible, Safe K-12 Options
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. The COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked state and local budgets….
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School Choice Can Help Solve K-12 Social Distancing Challenges
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. The COVID-19 pandemic has wrecked education budgets. And, it’s…
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Flexibility and Students’ Needs Should Drive Education Options in 2020
By Kathryn Hickok Oregon’s experience with COVID-19 will change the ways students in…
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Portland’s homeless population needs a “hand-up,” not another Metro money grab
By Rachel Dawson The Oregon nonprofit Cascadia Clusters understands the value of providing…
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Online charter school students were learning at home just fine, so why have their schools been taken away from them?
By Kathryn Hickok If Oregon charter school students can stay at home and…
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Supreme Court Espinoza Case Debates Parents’ Freedom to Choose Religious Schools
By Miranda Bonifield When Kendra Espinoza’s husband suddenly left their small family, her…
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Miss Virginia: A Trailblazer for Educational Opportunity for Today’s Kids
By Kathryn Hickok and Miranda Bonifield Virginia Walden Ford is a Washington, D.C….
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National School Choice Week Celebrates All the Ways Kids Learn
By Kathryn Hickok January 26-February 1 is National School Choice Week, the world’s…
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Espinoza and Equal Opportunity in Education
By Miranda Bonifield In 1926, an Oregon school controversy made it all the…
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Miss Virginia
By Miranda Bonifield Virginia Walden Ford is a mom whose extraordinary sacrifice and…
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Charter Schools Create Diverse Choices for Students with Different Needs
By Miranda Bonifield Parents know the educational needs of their children are as…
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Fresh Spinach for Indifferent Students: Oregon’s Costly Farm-to-School Program
By Helen Cook When did you last hear a child profess his love…
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Is Oregon Really “Disinvesting” in Education?
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. The Portland Association of Teachers declares Oregon has suffered…
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Education Savings Accounts Give Parents the Power of Choice in K-12 Education
By Kathryn Hickok This month, the Tennessee legislature passed a new Education Savings…
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Tennessee’s New Education Savings Account Law Puts More Parents in the “Driver’s Seat” of Their Kids’ Education
By Kathryn Hickok This month Tennessee enacted a new Education Savings Account (ESA)…
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Why Record-Breaking Revenues Aren’t Enough
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. This week, Oregon is facing a one-day teacher strike,…
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Florida Legislature Gives 18,000 More Children the Chance for a Great Education
By Kathryn Hickok This week, the Florida legislature passed a bill that would…
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Free to Choose with Freedom Scholarships
By Miranda Bonifield School choice made a splash in the headlines last month…
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Cultivating Educational Choice with Education Savings Accounts
By Miranda Bonifield A Portland public school made headlines last week for offering…
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Education Savings Accounts: A “Ticket to the Future” Today
By Kathryn Hickok Derrell Bradford has spent his adult life passionately advocating for…
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What’s at the Root of Oregon’s Rock-Bottom Graduation Rate?
By Kathryn Hickok Last week the National Foundation for Education Statistics released the…
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Education Savings Accounts: Fiscal Analysis of a Proposed Universal ESA in Oregon
By Eric Fruits, Ph.D. Executive Summary Education Savings Accounts deposit a percentage of…
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More Money for Schools Is Meaningless Without Controlling PERS Costs
By John A. Charles, Jr. Several members of the Portland Public Schools Community…
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Taiko Drums, Jazz Choir to Perform at Salem School Fair during National School Choice Week
RSVP for FREE to Options in Education Fest – 2019 SALEM (Jan. 11,…
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Options in Education Fest Celebrates Oregon Parents’ Education Choices
By Bobbie Jager As a mother of 13 children (no, that’s not a…
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Annual School Choice Week Celebrates K-12 Education Options
By Kathryn Hickok Every January, National School Choice Week shines a spotlight on…
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More Spending Won’t Solve Educational Woes
By Miranda Bonifield Increasing funding to Oregon’s school system may seem like an…
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Lessons in Education from Gandalf the Grey
By Miranda Bonifield Cascade Policy Institute has supported parental choice in K-12 education…
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School Choice Improves Student Mental Health
By Miranda Bonifield If you’ve done your homework on school choice, you know…
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Survey Shows Florida Scholarship Parents Are Overwhelmingly Satisfied with Their Children’s Schools
By Kathryn Hickok Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program currently helps more than a…
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