Joyful classrooms, but zero public transparency: Inside an ESA micro-school | Episode 987 of The Education Gadfly Show

This week, Chandler Fritz, author of Harper’s Magazine’s cover story The Homemade Scholar, shares what he discovered when teaching in an ESA-funded micro-school—including a lackluster curriculum but undeniably joyful kids.

On the Research Minute, Adam Tyner unpacks California’s big school-spending surge—showing that despite major funding increases, starting teacher pay hasn’t risen and staffing levels have barely changed.

Recommended content

• The Homemade Scholar —Chandler Fritz, Harper’s Magazine
• The “à la carte education” accountability conundrum —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• Student experience data is sending a message. Will we listen? —Dr. Deborah A. Gist for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• Why I’m wary of universal education savings accounts —Chester E. Finn, Jr., Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• Doing educational equity right: School finance —Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham
• Teacher Staffing Trends in California: Assessing the Impact of Recent Spending —Julien Lafortune, Iwunze Ugo, and Brett Guinan, PPIC (2025)

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for our show? Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org