Who's Getting Million-Dollar Contracts?

As school choice programs continue expanding across the United States, a new industry has emerged to help administer education savings accounts (ESAs), scholarship programs, and other forms of educational choice. But who manages these programs, who competes for the contracts, and what happens when hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake?

In this episode of Learning Curve, Ross Izzard and Erin Brantley examine the growing business of school choice administration. They discuss why states increasingly rely on private organizations to manage complex education programs, how competitive government contracts have become, and why lobbying and political influence are beginning to play a much larger role in the school choice movement.

Ross and Erin also explore the benefits and potential drawbacks of this emerging industry. While private organizations can provide expertise and innovation that governments often lack, the rapid growth of these programs raises important questions about transparency, accountability, competition, and ensuring families receive the services they were promised.

Whether you're interested in education policy, school choice, government contracting, or the future of K–12 education, this episode offers a thoughtful look at an issue that will likely shape education reform for years to come.