Episode 49 - Legislative Preview with Greg Harrell: Universal School Choice, Literacy, and Indiana’s Top Education Priorities
Podcast: Education Matters With MySchoolOptionsPublished On: Thu Jan 08 2026
Description: In this episode of Education Matters, Cesar and Sarah sit down with Greg Harrell, Executive Director of Policy and Government Affairs at the Institute for Quality Education (IQE), for an in-depth preview of the 2026 Indiana legislative session and a discussion on why education policy—and advocacy—matter as much as ever. Episode Highlights Greg Harrell’s Journey in Education and Advocacy: Greg shares his professional background, including his decade of service with the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the mentors that shaped his thinking on school choice, and what brought him to IQE. The Mission of IQE: IQE’s concise but ambitious mission: improving the quality of education for all Indiana students by advancing student-centered policies, expanding school choice, and ensuring equitable funding. Why Advocacy at the Statehouse Matters: Greg explains why consistent advocacy is essential for educational progress and how IQE has helped drive major policy accomplishments, from tax credit scholarships to universal school choice. Making Education Policy Relevant: How legislative decisions made “under the dome” directly shape the lives of students, families, and communities across Indiana. Balancing Quality, Accountability, and Choice: Greg discusses how IQE sees these as complementary, not competing, goals—emphasizing informed family decision-making and the importance of strong accountability systems. IQE’s Top Priorities for 2026: Defending recent advancements in school choice Raising literacy rates, especially among third-graders Boosting math proficiency and parent engagement Improving career pathways and high school redesign Maximizing use of Career and Education Scholarship Accounts Expanding tax credit scholarships to be universal Lowering eligibility age to three for certain scholarship programs Opening teacher residency programs to accredited non-public schools Recent Wins and Ongoing Challenges: A look back at implementing universal school choice and why Indiana is being watched by other states. Updates on persistent challenges like chronic absenteeism, teacher shortages, and improving alignment between K-12 and higher education. Did you find this episode informative? Help us out! Leave a review Share it with your friends Give us a 5 Star rating on your podcatcher of choice For more information about school choice and your school choice options, visit our website at https://www.i4qed.org
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