EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

As we step into fall, I’m reflecting on the incredible momentum we’ve built together over the past two months. At Freedom to Choose Schools, this season has been about movement on the ground, in the data, and across the national conversation. We’re clearer than ever about the work ahead, and more committed than ever to ensuring every family has access to education that meets their needs.

One of our proudest efforts this fall is Campaign 100, a bold parent engagement initiative in Atlanta where we’ve partnered with 14 schools to educate and activate 100 parents from each – 1,400 parents total – ahead of the November school board election. We provided tools on local precincts, school board representation, and the power of showing up at the ballot box. We closed the loop with a Voter Pledge, building a unified block of parents who are ready to vote with education at the center. Visit choosevote.org to learn more. 

In August, we released new national polling capturing what Black and Latino voters think about school choice and education priorities. Then in September, we co-hosted an event during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s annual conference with Agency Inc. titled “The New Swing Vote: Education & Black Voters.” We were honored to feature Cornell Belcher as a guest speaker and to welcome over 80 attendees for a powerful conversation about what voters of color are demanding, and what elected leaders need to hear. Agency Inc. shared parallel polling that confirmed the stakes: voters are ready to support candidates who support school options. This moment wasn’t just informational, it was transformational.

Our work has also taken us into schools across the country, where we continue to listen, learn, and lift up innovative models that work for real families. From microschools to charters to homeschool networks, we’re seeing firsthand how education freedom shows up in diverse, dynamic ways. And we’re proud to be amplifying those stories.

We continued our podcast, Choice Words, which brings fresh voices and real talk to the forefront of education dialogue. Recent episodes include conversations around Latino leadership in education,  homeschooling Black children and the need for wraparound services in schools. I hope you’ll take a listen- these stories are so insightful, fun and engaging.

And finally, we’re thrilled to welcome Ken Campbell to the Freedom to Choose Schools Board. Ken is a longtime champion of educational equity and innovation, and we’re honored to have his wisdom and leadership guiding our next chapter.

Thank you for standing with us. Our mission remains simple but urgent: Families deserve the freedom to choose schools that work. With your continued support, we’re turning that belief into real momentum – community by community, vote by vote, story by story.

In Solidarity,

Jay Artis-Wright
Executive Director 
FCCS