American Center for
Transforming Education

The mission of Discovery Institute’s American Center for Transforming Education is to work with state government policymakers, parents, educators, business leaders, and other education stakeholders to transform our nation’s education system. We advocate for policies that empower parents, promote innovation, and equip students with the skills, knowledge, and character necessary to thrive as citizens in their communities and as contributors to our increasingly competitive economy. ⋮ Read More.

Blog

Attending the White House St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

_{Keri D. Ingraham
March 25, 2026
3
School Choice}

It was an honor to attend the White House St. Patrick’s Day celebration as a guest of President Trump on March 17. The event brought together leaders from across the United States and Ireland. Among the guests were Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his wife, Mary O’Shea, Cabinet members, Agency Administrators, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, policymakers, media voices, and cultural leaders shaping the future of both nations. Being invited by the President was especially meaningful as the reflection on the life of Saint Patrick holds deep meaning. The White House has reminded Americans that “More than 1,600 years ago, Saint Patrick ventured through the emerald fields and ancient valleys of Ireland to introduce the …

Keri D. Ingraham Discusses Shrinking the Department of Education on The Tony Kinnett Cast

_{American Center for Transforming Education
March 23, 2026
1
Education Policy}

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on The Tony Kinnett Cast to discuss how the Trump Administration has shrunk the Department of Education, returning authority to states and to parents. Dr. Ingraham explained how removing red tape, funding programs such as charter schools, and creating interagency partnerships have reduced federal bureaucracy and improved education opportunities for children nationwide. …

Keri D. Ingraham Talks Anniversary of Executive Order Dismantling Dept. of Ed. on The Silk or Joe Show

_{American Center for Transforming Education
March 20, 2026
1
Education Policy}

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on The Silk or Joe Show to discuss the progress of shrinking the U.S. Department of Education since President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on March 20, 2025, Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities. She talks about the importance of returning power to local communities and parents in K-12 education, the fear-mongering of the teachers unions, and how free market solutions will improve education outcomes nationwide. Listen Here (Starts at 45:18) …

The Education Department Is Shrinking

_{Keri D. Ingraham
March 20, 2026
3
Education Policy}

The U.S. Department of Education has spent more than $3 trillion since 1980, with little to show for it. Reading and math scores have barely budged, achievement gaps remain, and too many families are trapped in a system that fails their children. On March 20, 2025, President Trump took decisive action by signing an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to dismantle the department and return authority to the states. A year later, the results are striking. The department has overhauled operations — cutting nearly half its staff, reducing administrative layers, and consolidating offices. Grants have been streamlined, programs merged, reporting reduced, and oversight of the $1.6 trillion student-loan portfolio shifted to a more capable agency. Critics …

Parents — Not Schools — Must Be in Charge of Their Children

_{Keri D. Ingraham
March 17, 2026
5
Parental Rights}

Earlier in March, the U.S. Supreme Court had to step in and reaffirm the basic reality that parents, not schools, must be the primary decision-makers for their children. In the Mirabelli v. Bonta ruling, the Court determined that the California law, which barred schools from telling parents about their child’s claimed gender identity, violated parents’ constitutional rights — both their First Amendment free exercise rights and their Fourteenth Amendment rights to make decisions about their children’s upbringing. For most of American history, parents were recognized as the primary authority in their children’s lives. Today, that authority is repeatedly under attack, especially in public schools. Across the country, families are being shut out of what their …

A School Choice Breakthrough That Costs Taxpayers Nothing

_{Keri D. Ingraham
March 13, 2026
4
School Choice}

What if you could help a child receive a better education at no cost to yourself? Beginning in 2027, Americans will be able to do exactly that. Under the Education Freedom Tax Credit, taxpayers can contribute up to $1,700 annually to approved scholarship-granting organizations and, in return, receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. Every dollar donated will be offset against the taxpayer’s debt to the federal government. Enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law on Independence Day last year, the policy establishes the first federal tax-credit scholarship program in U.S. history. Many states already have successful state-level tax-credit scholarship programs that can serve as a proof of concept. Nonprofit scholarship-granting organizations such …

Video

Keri D. Ingraham Discusses Shrinking the Department of Education on The Tony Kinnett Cast

_{American Center for Transforming Education
March 23, 2026
Education}

Keri D. Ingraham appeared on The Tony Kinnett Cast to discuss how the Trump administration has shrunk the Department of Education, returning authority to states and to parents. Dr. Ingraham explained how removing red tape, funding programs such as charter schools, and creating interagency partnerships have reduced federal bureaucracy and improved education opportunities for children nationwide. …

COSM Session: Educating the Tech Workforce

_{American Center for Transforming Education
February 19, 2026
Education}

COSM, a technology summit held in Scottsdale, included an important main stage session with Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and Director of the American Center for Transforming Education Keri D. Ingraham, former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, and Founder of Love Your School and school choice advocate Jenny Clark. …

Keri D. Ingraham Talks Education Innovation on the Futures Edge Show

_{American Center for Transforming Education
November 25, 2025
Education}

On Monday, November 24, Keri D. Ingraham appeared live with Jim Iuorio and Bobby Iaccino on their Futures Edge Show. Together, they first discussed last week’s major announcement that the Department of Education would be delegating various responsibilities to other federal departments. They then delved into the reforms required to incentivize teachers to excel in their field, the strengths of industry-specific high schools and microschools, how Indiana is reforming education, the role of AI in education, and more. …

Audio

Keri D. Ingraham Talks Anniversary of Executive Order Dismantling Dept. of Ed. on The Silk or Joe Show

_{American Center for Transforming Education
March 20, 2026
1
Education Policy}

Keri D. Ingraham Discusses the New Federal Tax Credit Scholarship on The Carrie Abbott Show

_{American Center for Transforming Education
February 11, 2026
1
School Choice}

On February 3, Keri D. Ingraham appeared on The Carrie Abbott Show to discuss the exciting new federal tax credit scholarship that will provide education freedom to millions of students across America. Last year, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law, which included the federal tax credit scholarship. “What that is,” Dr. Ingraham explained, “it’s a first in our nation’s history federal school choice program, and governors just need to opt in to that program so students in their state can benefit.” Thus far, 27 governors have opted their states into the program. Dr. Ingraham explains how this dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit scholarship works. Click HERE to Listen to Keri D. Ingraham on the Carrie Abbott Show …

Keri D. Ingraham Talks Universal School Choice on the Knight & Rose Show

_{American Center for Transforming Education
January 26, 2026
1
School Choice}

Keri D. Ingraham recently appeared on the Knight & Rose Show. Together with Wintery Knight and guest host Bonnie, Dr. Ingraham discussed the importance of introducing the free market into K-12 education, the current dismal reading and math scores of public school students, parental rights and involvement in education, and the exciting school choice wave that has swept the nation, offering hope to parents and students for a better education. Or, Listen via Your Favorite Podcast Streamer …

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Events

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