A Think Twice Review of:

Review of Helping Families Navigate the Changing Education Landscape

Think Twice - Sep 10, 2024

Publisher/Think Tank - Cato Institute

Author(s) - Colleen Hroncich and Jamie Buckland

A recent Cato Institute report describes how Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), the newest form of private-school voucher, have the potential to transform education by giving families increased options for tailoring their child's education, especially with the guidance of special consultants along the way. A review of that report, however, determines that it fails to provide useful evidence to support its conclusions and its recommendation that the cost of these "choice navigators" should be included as an eligible expense.

Reviewer(s) - Huriya Jabbar, University of Southern California

In her review of Helping Families Navigate the Changing Education Landscape, Huriya Jabbar of the University of Southern California agrees with the report's assertion that the school choice environment is becoming increasingly complex, particularly with the advent and rapid growth of ESAs. She also does not contest the likelihood that families, particularly those from historically marginalized groups, may benefit from additional guidance, a documented challenge stemming from differential access to information and resources needed to successfully access and enroll in educational programs.