On Wednesday, November 19, powerhouses of the education freedom movement took the stage together at COSM 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona, to discuss educating the future technology workforce. Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, Discovery Institute Senior Fellow and Director of the American Center for Transforming Education Keri D. Ingraham, and Love Your School founder and school choice advocate Jenny Clark addressed the COSM 2025 attendees.
Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, opened the program. Ingraham then introduced former Governor Ducey, highlighting his groundbreaking success in implementing statewide school choice during his tenure. Arizona became the gold standard of education freedom when he signed universal school choice into law in 2022. Since then, sixteen more states have passed universal school choice laws, an unprecedented wave of education freedom in a very short time span.
“Just an idea” — and some hard slogging
Universal school choice was “just an idea” ten years ago, Gov. Ducey explained to the crowd. It took his entire eight years in office to accomplish it. Arizona tried and failed to pass sweeping school choice in 2017, but his commitment was unwavering. The advocates needed to make the case to Arizona’s voters more effectively. It was COVID, Ducey explained, that catalyzed the 2022 victory. For the first time, as children attended classes online from home, parents could see for themselves what sort of education their children were receiving. Many were apparently less than impressed.
It comes down to fairness
If you can afford private school or a move to a better zip code, you have school choice, Ducey told the audience. But if you can’t afford those luxuries, you don’t. How is that fair? he demanded to know.
He likened the opposition to school choice today to the segregationists of the Civil Rights era. According to Gov. Ducey, politicians used to stand in the schoolhouse door and refuse to let minorities in; today they stand in the doors of public schools and refuse to let minorities out — of a failing education system.
Ingraham emphasized the importance of providing students with a path to a prosperous, thriving future. Education is critical to achieving and maintaining dominance in the modern-day technology race, most especially the artificial intelligence race, she argued. However, K-12 education, as it is currently set up, is a one-size-fits-all model that crushes creativity. But kids need to be unleashed into what excites them about the world.
She advocated for industry-specific education at the high school level. “What we have is disengaged students,” she explained. A growing number of high schoolers aren’t planning to pursue college and don’t have a plan for an alternative post-graduation. Why not prepare students in high school for high-growth, high-demand industries, equipping them for a future in which they can be personally fulfilled and contribute to society?
School choice can help address current low standards, says Clark
Jenny Clark discussed the current quality of education nationwide, framing the situation as a terrifying crisis. According to recent data released in January, “only about 31% of fourth graders are reading proficiently at grade level.” It’s school choice that will right the ship, she asserted, “by unlocking the dollars and giving families control of their children’s education.”
She spoke of her five kids, who have each thrived under Arizona’s education spending account system, which lets them “tinker,” pursue their interests wherever that leads, and get the specialized care they need for their different learning needs. She also debunked common myths about Arizona’s school choice system, including objections raised over accountability and the cost to taxpayers.
Together, Ducey, Ingraham, and Clark made a robust and compelling case for education freedom. Parents and students deserve the freedom to choose a school that best fits their needs, rather than being trapped in a system that fails to provide the education necessary for future success. The futures of our children depend on it, as does the future of our society.
