# Cato Experts Available to Discuss Importance of Educational Freedom 

Education works best when families have options and schools have the freedom to meet students where they are.

January 28, 2026 • News Releases 

As we celebrate National School Choice Week, the director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom, [Neal McCluskey](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.cato.org%2A2Fpeople%2A2Fneal-mccluskey/1/0100019c0517c1db-e4cdba26-6bb0-4658-94d3-0d370cd8b95a-000000/gUGrvetfJixppuJr5AgLD6Z2aA4=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjVjZmNiMDE4MDZjOTBjNzM1MmU0ZDllZjdkZjhjOTc5Ojc6NTNjZjplNGMwNWIwNTU5MzNjZDc1MjZiYmViZDRhYWJkMGUwMDI3ODQ5YTcxNTNmYWNiN2ZmNTFmZTc4ZGJkZTEzMTdlOmg6VDpO), released a new podcast titled: [History Makes Clear: School Choice Is Necessary in a Diverse Society](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.cato.org%2A2Fmultimedia%2A2Fcato-podcast%2A2Fhistory-makes-clear-school-choice-necessary-diverse-society/1/0100019c0517c1db-e4cdba26-6bb0-4658-94d3-0d370cd8b95a-000000/YjGTyLvHN0qqtdjPm5qci9fhObE=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjVjZmNiMDE4MDZjOTBjNzM1MmU0ZDllZjdkZjhjOTc5Ojc6MjdkNzphZjUyMjIwZDk0MmU1NTI2YmY0ZDQ2MTc4MzZmODJlZDVhYWVkNmNjMjRlZWE1ZTg2YmMzNzFiMmU1NTRkMmQ5Omg6VDpO), where he discusses the new book *Fighting for the Freedom to Learn*, which examines the history of school choice in America.

Cato Institute policy analyst [Colleen Hroncich](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.cato.org%2A2Fpeople%2A2Fcolleen-hroncich/1/0100019c0517c1db-e4cdba26-6bb0-4658-94d3-0d370cd8b95a-000000/J_OUqI1LYq6QMZY-N0F4Fd8Ooqc=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjVjZmNiMDE4MDZjOTBjNzM1MmU0ZDllZjdkZjhjOTc5Ojc6YjkyYzplNjBmMDQ4NjhhYTZlYTA4ZDZkOTNkYmQyY2NmZjY1MGM2NDg4M2VhYWZkYmZlY2Q3YjFhMTBkY2Q0MmY1ZGI1Omg6VDpO) has a new [op-ed](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.clarionledger.com%2A2Fstory%2A2Fopinion%2A2F2026%2A2F01%2A2F27%2A2Fmississippi-is-moving-toward-educational-freedom%2A2F88317638007%2A2F/1/0100019c0517c1db-e4cdba26-6bb0-4658-94d3-0d370cd8b95a-000000/XZMEbXP6CrsU7dtEb-N8BnguTUs=463___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjVjZmNiMDE4MDZjOTBjNzM1MmU0ZDllZjdkZjhjOTc5Ojc6ZWI5MDpmNTEzNGRlNGRiNzk3NzliYjA5M2E1YzgxYzRlNjIwNTZkNmQwZjA1MjRiZjJjYzIzZTQwYzI4MGJmM2NkNjRkOmg6VDpO) examining the benefits Mississippi’s proposed Magnolia Account Program will bring to the state. The program would provide educational freedom for families throughout the state. She writes in part:

> *“No education system is perfect, and choice programs require careful drafting and implementation. But the old way of doing things — a system where kids are limited by their addresses, struggling students can’t escape schools that aren’t meeting their needs, and innovative approaches can’t get funding — is no longer good enough.*
> 
> *Education works best when families have options and schools have the freedom to meet students where they are. Mississippi is moving decisively in that direction.”*

To speak with McCluskey and Hroncich on school choice policies throughout the country, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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