Vol 35 - Money Follows the Child (and So Should Democrats) - Jorge Elorza on DFER and the New Tax Credit

Jorge Elorza — former mayor of Providence, now CEO of Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) — joins Jed Wallace and Andy Rotherham for a frank conversation about the federal scholarship tax credit, the Democratic Party’s education problem, and what a reset actually requires.They dig into how the new federal tax credit program actually works (and why Jorge and Arne Duncan called it a “no-brainer”), why more than thirty U.S. senators from the Dem Party are now trying to sunset the entire thing, and what that fight reveals about a Democratic brand that’s gotten badly out of step with the voters it claims to represent. Along the way: Providence’s 2.4% math proficiency, Detroit’s 80% of fourth-graders below basic, Rahm Emanuel’s urgency, Mikey Sherrill’s budget address, fake charter laws and fake science of reading bills, and why Jorge thinks the ideological map of the future isn’t left-vs-right — it’s liberalism vs. illiberalism.In this episode:Jorge’s journey from barely graduating high school to Providence mayor to DFER CEOWhat changed his mind about ed reform while in office — and his final press conference call to charterize the districtRhode Island’s most WonkyFolk fun fact: the Senate President is (or was) also the teachers union presidentHow the federal scholarship tax credit actually works — and why it’s not a voucher programWhy Jorge thinks governors have every reason to opt in, and what Jared Polis is modeling in ColoradoThe 30-senator push to sunset the program — and what it says about Democrats’ education reflexesWhy “money follows the child” is a distinctly progressive idea, not a conservative oneThe generational change Democrats need — and why Pelosi/Schumer aren’t built for itRahm Emanuel’s urgency, Mikey Sherrill’s budget address, and what real leadership on education sounds likeFake charter laws, fake science of reading bills, and the sector’s unwillingness to call balls and strikesLiberalism vs. illiberalism as the real ideological divide of the futureWhere DFER is headed: from a chapter/legislative model to executive/gubernatorial engagementShow Notes & Resources:Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)Jorge Elorza & Arne Duncan — Washington Post op-ed on the federal tax creditSenator Mark Kelly — effort to sunset the federal scholarship tax creditGovernor Jared Polis (CO) — opting Colorado into the programMatt Yglesias — Slow BoringEzra Klein & Derek Thompson — AbundanceGuest: Jorge Elorza — CEO, Democrats for Education Reform (DFER); former Mayor of Providence, RIHosts: Jed Wallace (CharterFolk) and Andy Rotherham (Co-Founder & Senior Partner, Bellwether)Watch the full video on YouTube.