In this pivotal episode, hosts Vashaunta Harris and Jim Goenner explore how the charter school idea moved from a Minnesota innovation to a national movement. They are joined by Ember Reichgott Junge and Don Cooper to reflect on the federal leadership that elevated chartering from a local experiment to a system-shifting strategy supported across the country.
Listeners will hear clips from Senator Dave Durenberger and Jon Schroeder that capture the heart of this moment in history—when federal policymakers saw the potential for chartering to transform public education and chose to champion it. Together, the group unpacks how asking the right question at the right time, combined with strategic policy design, created the federal Charter Schools Program.
Episode Highlights:
Senator Dave Durenberger’s powerful story of the question that sparked action.
How “public service options” and state-level innovation became federal priorities.
Jon Schroeder’s blueprint for funding and authorizing charter schools at scale.
The crucial role of authorizers and why structure drives outcomes.
Lessons in timing, collaboration, and coalition-building that still apply today.
Whether you’re a policy leader, authorizer, or educator, this episode offers a masterclass in how visionary questions and strategic action create the conditions for lasting systems change.
Listen now to learn how federal leadership made chartering a national priority—and how you can keep building on that legacy.
Resources & Show Notes:
Founder’s Library — Explore the documents and oral histories from Senator Dave Durenberger and Jon Schroeder.
1994 Public School Redefinition Act Summary — Learn how the federal Charter Schools Program came to life.
