Bridging the Divide – Centering Students and Families in a Polarized Choice Landscape

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Jorge Elorza, CEO at Democrats for Education Reform; Ashley Berner, Director at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy; Lindsay Fryer, President and Founding Principal at Lodestone DC; Corey DeAngelis, Visiting Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research; and Robert Enlow, President and CEO at EdChoice.The speakers explored how choice had become politically charged, but did not need to be. They convened leaders from across the spectrum to ask a sharper question: where could stakeholders align around what worked for kids — and the families who knew them best? The session examined areas of fusion already emerging across systems, as parents exercised greater agency and demanded more responsive, high-quality options.As federal education tax credits entered the national conversation, panelists discussed how states, districts, and providers faced a new layer of opportunity and complexity. They explored how these policies could be navigated responsibly to expand access for all students while strengthening public systems.This conversation focused on moving beyond labels to shape innovative, durable solutions together. The session highlighted this moment as an opportunity for leaders across differing perspectives to center students and families while building practical, effective approaches that respond to evolving educational needs.