Welcome to the Freedom to Learn podcast. I'm your host, Ginny Gentles. This season, we're diving into what it means to return education to states, communities, and families. And we're exploring what becomes possible when education is freed from union dominance and federal control.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders recently tweeted that the Arkansas legislature just funded another year of universal education freedom.

That means higher test scores, more learning pathways, students reading at an above grade level, the freedom to choose whatever school best fits your kid.

Arkansas's Secretary of Education, Jacobiva joins us today to talk about the state's transformative educational policies.

We cover the Lawrence Act, implementation of educational freedom accounts, the state's federal waiver application, and how states can reduce bureaucracy, foster innovation, support educators,

and expand opportunities for students.

Jacob Oliva was appointed Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Education in January

2023.

He previously served as a state leader, district superintendent, principal, and teacher in Florida.

Secretary Jacob Aliva, welcome to Freedom to Learn.

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

You began your career as an elementary teacher for students with special needs.

What inspired you to become an educator?

Most people that go into what I consider to the greatest profession of all professions probably can think back at a teacher that had a

great impact on them. And I remember even at an early age, watching or having relationships with

teachers that made a difference in my life and saying, how cool would it be to grow up

and be someone like that that can make a difference in other people's lives?

But I remember even like all the way back in kindergarten being a student and decades ago,

and we still do this today, but having story time in kindergarten.

And I remember Ms. Hammond, our kindergarten teacher would put us all in the little carpet.

She was sitting in a chair and read books to us.

And she would hold the book up and read the story upside down so that we could see the pictures.

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