Dear Friends,

Times of crisis can be clarifying. As millions of American parents pivot to new forms of education, the Education Establishment has launched an all-out war on educational choice.  
 
Parents, students, and educators face tremendous challenges in the wake of our national shutdown. Yet instead of working to solve these challenges, leading scholars at Harvard are taking this time to spread the false notion that homeschooling is detrimental to students.
 
Professor Elizabeth Bartholet has called for a ban on homeschooling and was quoted saying: “Do we think that parents should have 24/7 authoritarian control over their children from ages zero to 18? I think that’s dangerous."

The good news is: Lance Izumi, Senior Fellow and Director of PRI’s Center for Education, is dedicated to shining a light on the benefits of educational choice, which includes not just private, charter, and traditional public options, but also homeschooling and hybrid options as well.
 
His new book tells the story of Mia, a student who faced serious learning disabilities that made homeschooling the ideal situation—a choice her parents made for the sake of her happiness and development. And after four years at home, she now thrives at a prominent charter high school in the San Francisco Bay Area.
 
Success stories like Mia’s are made possible by loyal Americans like you. Your support for PRI helps to advance charter school education and other school choice options that have literally changed Mia’s life. Thank you.

If you want to read more about Mia’s story, stay tuned for the release of Lance's new book about her story, entitled Mia’s Journey: How School Choice Allowed One Student to Beat the Odds.
 
To keep telling the important story of educational choice and parental rights in education, your generosity is greatly needed. With your renewed support, we can advance meaningful reforms that allow students like Mia access to the specialized instruction that they need.

Click here to make a gift through our secure, online portal.

Thank you and stay healthy.

With gratitude, 
Sally C. Pipes
President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy
Pacific Research Institute

P.S. Don't forget to register for PRI's May 4 webinar, "Distance and Online-Learning Options for Parents and Children During COVID-19". Click here to sign up.