Future of Education Podcast S2E265: (Part 2) Unpacking School Choice and Harvard's "Deep Learning" Theory: A Conversation With Stacy Hock
Sep 25, 2025
Stacy Hock, Vice Chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and a dedicated education leader, dives into K-12 education reform. She passionately advocates for school choice, detailing how it expands options for families. Stacy discusses the limitations of current policies on advanced students and the importance of tailoring education to individual needs. She shares insights on the innovative Alpha schools, emphasizing experiential learning and creativity. Finally, she envisions a future of personalized, lifelong learning, encouraging parents to embrace diverse educational paths.
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Choice Expands Educational Market
- Stacy Hock argues school choice expands the marketplace of educational options without removing a child's entitlement to public education funding.
- She expects the market to respond with more diverse schooling opportunities as families gain choice.
Deep Learning Policy Hurt Advanced Students
- Stacy describes California's 'deep learning' policy that discouraged accelerated math, implemented first in San Francisco and then statewide.
- She remembers being outraged because it would hobble advanced students and private schools were exempt, creating advantage for private schools.
Policy Created Private School Advantage
- Private schools were allowed to keep advanced pacing when public schools imposed restrictions, creating inequity.
- Stacy highlights that policy meant public-school kids could be unnecessarily limited compared to private peers.