Show-me Institute Podcast

You can read the full op-ed here: https://bit.ly/4iscFH7 This is a reading of an op-ed written by Susan Pendergrass titled "A Bad Deal for Missouri's Children", published in The Heartlander on April 24, 2025. In this piece, Susan critiques the tradeoff being discussed in the Missouri Legislature, where a weak open-enrollment bill is being tied to a measure that would strip the State Board of Education (BOE) of its authority to hold schools accountable for performance. She argues that this compromise is a bad deal for Missouri’s students and emphasizes the importance of holding school districts accountable. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with David Stokes, Director of Municipal Policy at the Show-Me Institute, about A Free-Market Guide for Missouri Cities, Towns, and Villages, Part Two: Taxation. They discuss Missouri's over-reliance on sales taxes and harmful local income taxes, particularly in St. Louis and Kansas City. Stokes emphasizes the need for a "three-legged stool" approach to municipal funding, where sales taxes, property taxes, and user fees work together to create a more stable and sustainable financial system for Missouri's municipalities. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Municipal Policy Expertise 02:52 Understanding Municipal Policy and Governance 06:12 Local Taxation: Sources and Implications 09:03 The Role of User Fees in Municipal Finance 12:10 Sales Tax Dynamics and Special Taxing Districts 14:47 The Impact of Tax Incentives on Local Development 17:54 Challenges of Property and Personal Property Taxes 20:58 Sales Tax Pooling: A Unique Approach 24:08 Conclusion and Future Directions in Municipal P

Dr. Cory Koedel, the Show-Me Institute’s new director of education policy, joins Susan Pendergrass to discuss the biggest challenges facing Missouri’s public education system. They cover declining student outcomes, the role of accountability and testing, and the promise of school choice. Koedel shares insights from his research on school funding models—highlighting Tennessee’s student-centered formula—and breaks down what Missouri can learn from states that are improving early literacy. They also examine controversial policies like early grade retention and open enrollment, and Koedel outlines his priorities for education research in Missouri. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Education Policy Challenges in Missouri 03:10 The Role of School Choice in Improving Outcomes 05:48 Funding Formulas and Their Implications 08:52 Early Literacy and Reading Instruction 12:05 Retention Policies and Their Effectiveness 15:04 Open Enrollment and Its Impact on Rural Schools 17:58 Future Directions for Education Policy in

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Sean McCarthy, Director of Fiscal Policy for the Arizona House of Representatives, about the state’s innovative approach to education. They discuss universal school choice, open enrollment, and the broader implications of Arizona’s funding mechanisms. McCarthy highlights Arizona’s unique position as a national leader in school choice, the role of parental decision-making, and the challenges involved in education budgeting. They also discuss the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program and examine the positive impact this approach has had on rural schools across the state. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Arizona's Fiscal Policy and Education System 00:48 Universal School Choice in Arizona 03:55 Open Enrollment Dynamics and Parental Choices 10:13 Funding Mechanisms and Their Implications 14:59 Challenges in Education Funding and Budgeting 19:59 Arizona's ESA Program and Parental Empowerment 26:55 Rural Education and School Choice Outcomes Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass and Dominic Pino, the Thomas L. Rhodes Fellow at the National Review Institute, discuss the current state of U.S. tariffs and trade policy. They explore tariffs as a hidden form of taxation, debunk common misconceptions about trade deficits, provide historical context for America’s protectionist tendencies, and more. Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding Tariffs and Economic Perspectives 02:51 The Impact of Trade Deficits 06:05 The Role of Government in Trade Policies 08:59 The Consequences of Protectionism 12:02 Future Economic Predictions 15:05 Historical Context of Tariffs 18:03 The Confusion Surrounding Current Policies Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Ben Scafidi, professor of economics and director of the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University. He is also a Friedman fellow with EdChoice and the Georgia Public Policy Foundation. They discuss the financial implications of declining enrollment in public schools, highlighting how districts with fewer students often experience increased funding per student. Scafidi explains the paradox of declining enrollment leading to financial windfalls for these districts, allowing them to pay teachers more and increase staffing levels. The conversation also touches on the need for a shift in mindset regarding school funding and the importance of adapting to demographic changes in education policy. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

In this conversation, James Shuls, senior fellow of education policy at the Show-Me Institute and head of the K-12 education reform branch of the Institute for Governance and Civics at Florida State University, and Jason Bedrick, research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, discuss the Phoenix Declaration. They explore the importance of cultural transmission, the distinction between education and indoctrination, and the necessity of grounding education in truth and goodness. The discussion emphasizes the role of schools in character formation and the importance of engagement in public education. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Tim DeRoche from Available to All about the importance of open enrollment in public schools, particularly in Missouri, where strict residential assignment policies limit access to quality education. They discuss the issue of educational redlining, the impact of district boundaries, and the need for policy changes to ensure equitable access for all families. DeRoche highlights transportation challenges, funding models, and successful open enrollment policies in other states that Missouri could learn from. Read Tim's full report here: https://bit.ly/41b2eRC Learn more about Available to All: availabletoall.org Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:11 The Case for Open Enrollment 06:02 Missouri's Unique Challenges 09:07 The Impact of District Lines 12:13 Educational Redlining and Its Consequences 15:03 Resistance to Change in Missouri 17:58 Comparative Analysis with Other States 20:51 Transportation and Accessibility Issues 24:03 Funding Models and Their Implications 27:08 The Futu

Susan Pendergrass, James Shuls, and Avery Frank debunk common myths about open enrollment policies, addressing concerns about their impact on rural schools, overcrowding, and financial stability. They break down the facts, challenge misconceptions, and explain how expanding school choice can benefit families while strengthening Missouri’s education system. Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding Open Enrollment in Missouri 09:51 Common Myths About Open Enrollment 19:59 The Impact of Open Enrollment on Academic Performance 30:07 Legislative Landscape and Future of Open Enrollment Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss: the Missouri Office of Government Efficiency (MOGE) and its impact on state governance, legislative approaches in the House and Senate, the role of outside experts in identifying inefficiencies, and the importance of accountability through timelines. They also cover educational policies like open enrollment, challenges with smartphone use in schools, COVID-era municipal water policies, source of income laws, and the ongoing debate over eliminating the state income tax. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Patrick Tuohey, senior fellow at the Show-Me Institute, about the intersection of education reform and economic development. They discuss the importance of school choice, its impact on property values and community growth, and how current education systems often trap families in underperforming districts. Tuohey advocates for open enrollment policies that empower parents to choose schools that best meet their children's needs. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Education Reform and Economic Development 03:06 The Role of School Choice in Economic Growth 06:02 Challenges in Urban Education Systems 09:02 The Impact of School Quality on Property Values 12:08 The Case for Open Enrollment and School Choice 14:49 Comparative Analysis of State Education Policies 18:02 The Future of Education in Missouri 21:01 Conclusion: Empowering Parents and Students Read more from Patrick Tuohey on this issue here: https://bit.ly/4jWeyxG Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Nat Malkus, senior fellow and deputy director of education policy at AEI, about the troubling 2024 NAEP results. They discuss declining reading scores, stagnant math performance, the rise in students performing Below Basic, criticisms of NAEP, and more. Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding NAEP: A Vital Educational Metric 1:54 Post-Pandemic Performance: A Troubling Reality 5:41 The Role of State Education Systems 7:45 Accountability and Its Impact on Education 12:19 The Influence of School Choice on Test Scores 18:40 The Honesty Gap: NAEP vs. State Accountability 24:44 Looking Ahead: Future Scores and Educational Strategies Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Chester (Checker) Finn, Distinguished Senior Fellow and President Emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, about the recent federal executive order "Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling". They discuss the balance between patriotic education and federal overreach, the limits on Washington’s role in curriculum, the latest NAEP scores, and more. 03:00 The Current State of American Education 06:11 Federal Role in Education: Weaponization vs. Minimization 08:56 Reading Proficiency Crisis Among Students 11:57 Impact of Disbanding the Department of Education 15:03 The Need for Stronger Accountability in Education 17:59 School Choice and Funding Challenges 21:03 Optimism and Pessimism in Education's Future 24:03 Addressing Chronic Absenteeism and Disconnected Youth Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

In December 2024, in Springfield, Missouri, the Show-Me Institute and Show-Me Opportunity hosted an event featuring Dr. Aaron Hedlund, Chief Economist at the Show-Me Institute, and Elijah Haahr, former Missouri Speaker of the House and host of The Elijah Haahr Show on KWTO. The discussion focused on the 2025 economic outlook for Missouri and the U.S., exploring issues such as unsustainable government spending, the growing national debt, and the Federal Reserve's role in shaping inflation, housing, and labor markets. Today's episode is a recording of that event. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with John Ketcham, legal policy fellow and director of cities at the Manhattan Institute, about his Model Legislation to Restrict Smartphone Use in K–12 Public Schools. They discuss the growing concerns over smartphone use in schools, its documented negative impacts on students’ academic performance and social development, how the proposed legislation aims to create a more focused educational environment, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the start of the 2025 Missouri legislative session. They cover budgetary reform, the need for a Missouri Taxpayer Bill of Rights, the creation of a recession preparedness fund, open enrollment policies, statewide school choice, improvements to Missouri’s school report cards, tax reform, telemedicine, healthcare regulations, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Bryan C. McCannon, Dean of the School of Business and Economics and Robert S. Eckley Endowed Professor of Economics at Illinois Wesleyan University, and data analyst with Sicuro Data Analytics, LLC. They discuss a new report written for the Show-Me Institute titled "Crime Trends and Criminal Justice Policies in Missouri’s Largest Cities". The report examines the rise in violent crime and homicides in Missouri since 2015. Bryan breaks down how the report compares Missouri’s crime trends with other similar cities, explains how certain policies may have contributed to the increase, highlights some issues with crime data, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Virginia (Ginny) Gentles, director of the Education Freedom and Parental Rights Initiative at the Defense of Freedom Institute, about the future of the Department of Education given recent remarks from the incoming administration about abolishing the department. They discuss the implications for American education policy, explore the potential impact on parental rights and education freedom, and more. Ginny, a long-time school choice advocate and host of the Freedom to Learn Podcast, brings a wealth of experience from her time at the U.S. Department of Education under President George W. Bush, the Florida Department of Education, and as a legislative analyst on Capitol Hill. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

James Shuls, David Stokes, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss what the latest test scores reveal about Missouri schools, the debate over a four-day school week as a budget solution, Town and Country’s controversial property tax increase, opposition to a comprehensive plan in Cole Camp, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Download the full 2025 Blueprint here: https://bit.ly/4iiQdBr In this episode, Susan Pendergrass, James Shuls, Elias Tsapelas, Aaron Hedlund, David Stokes, Patrick Tuohey, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss The 2025 Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward. They discuss topics like statewide school choice, income tax reform, local government transparency, Missouri's Taxpayer Bill of Rights, nuclear energy policy, and more. About The 2025 Blueprint: The Show-Me Institute’s mission is to advance liberty with individual responsibility by promoting market solutions for Missouri public policy. Our vision is for Missouri to be a place where entrepreneurs can pursue their dreams, parents are free to direct the education and upbringing of their children, and a growing economy provides opportunities for all. Critical to achieving this vision is a state government that understands the value of freedom in the lives and future of our people. The 2025 Blueprint: Moving Missouri Forward explores 17 policy areas in