Over 25 years ago, Jeanne Allen’s Center for Education Reform newsletters convinced me that it was cruel to trap lower-income children in failing schools and inspired my career in school choice advocacy. Jeanne founded the Center for Education Reform in 1993 to restore excellence to education, and she has been a leading voice for innovation and opportunity in education ever since. The organization’s newsletters, charter school law rankings, Parent Power! Index, and consistent media presence play important roles in grassroots activism and education policy development.
In this interview, I spoke with Jeanne about the history of the Center for Education Reform and her support for charter schools and private school choice. We also talk about the very exciting new STOP Award, which was created in August 2021 to honor and support education providers that provided education opportunities for underserved families during Covid. Twenty STOP Award recipients received a total of $1 million in the first year of the award. Applications are open for the second annual competition are due July 15, 2022. $10 million will be awarded this round, including the new $1 million Yass Prize. Education innovators, providers and entrepreneurs interested in applying should visit theSTOP Award website for more information!