Joyful classrooms, but zero public transparency: Inside an ESA micro-school | Episode 987 of The Education Gadfly Show
Update: 2025-09-24
Description
This week, Chandler Fritz, author of Harper’s Magazine’s cover story The Homemade Scholar, shares what he discovered when teaching in an ESA-funded micro-school—including a lackluster curriculum but undeniably joyful kids.
On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner unpacks California’s big school-spending surge—showing that despite major funding increases, starting teacher pay hasn’t risen and staffing levels have barely changed.
Recommended content
- The Homemade Scholar —Chandler Fritz, Harper’s Magazine
- The “à la carte education” accountability conundrum —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Student experience data is sending a message. Will we listen? —Dr. Deborah A. Gist for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Why I’m wary of universal education savings accounts —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Institute
- Doing educational equity right: School finance —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham
- Teacher Staffing Trends in California: Assessing the Impact of Recent Spending —Julien Lafortune, Iwunze Ugo, and Brett Guinan, PPIC (2025)
Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org
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