Welcome to the Freedom to Learn podcast. I'm your host, Jenny 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.

Students are always at the top of the list in terms of how might we get bureaucracy out of

the way to best serve kids and to not spend $2.5 million on its staffing just to fill out

paperwork.

Headlines about K-12 education are often bleak. Test scores are

historically low, chronic absenteeism is persistently high, and discipline issues abound. There are

glimmers of hope out there, though, especially in states with strong leadership and a clear vision.

Indiana Secretary of Education, Katie Jenner, joins us today to share good news from her state.

Indiana's third grade reading scores improved at a record-breaking rate, with increases for

every student group measured. The state has been redesigning the high school experience,

making it more flexible and student-centered. Indiana's statewide school choice program,

which served over 76,000 students last year, is now universal, and parents are

taking advantage of additional education freedom options like open enrollment, microschools, and

charter schools. Secretary Jenner and I discuss these developments, and we delve into the

flexibilities from the federal bureaucracy that Indiana is seeking in its waiver application

to the U.S. Department of Education.

Dr. Katie Jenner leads the Indiana Department of Education and the Indiana Commission for Higher

Education, as well as six additional state agencies and boards. She was previously a high school

teacher, a district leader, and a vice president of a statewide higher education institution.

Secretary Jenner, welcome to Freedom to Learn. Thank you. It's so good to be here, Jenny. Good to see you.

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