S4E10 - A Table Talk on School Choice with Educator LaMonte Rothrock

<p>Starting In 2027 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed in 2025) enables scholarships for private school tuition, tutoring, and transportation for families with incomes up to 300% of the area median income. <strong>Is this really a good idea?</strong></p><p>In today’s podcast, Lamar and Tom talk with LaMonte Rothrock who has been an educator throughout his career. LaMonte began his teaching career as a music educator. His career’s journey led him down several paths. From music education he became a counselor and eventually an administrator. He worked in public schools and in a private prep school. In the later stages of his career he moved into college administration. At every step and turn, LaMonte learned what he needed to know to help students be successful. </p><p>In this Table Talk, we discuss whether the education provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill will actually help all students or whether it will mostly help those from families whose wealth and education level already give their students an advantage. States must opt in. What is your state doing? What would you like it to do? </p><p><strong>Learn More</strong></p><p><strong>School Choice is Booming in Iowa: Are Students Better Off? </strong><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/04/19/nx-s1-5683199/education-school-choice-iowa-students-charter-school-cedar-rapids" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.npr.org/2026/04/19/nx-s1-5683199/education-school-choice-iowa-students-charter-school-cedar-rapids</a> </p><p><strong>Federal Program Will Bring Private School Choice to At Least 4 New States </strong><a href="https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/federal-program-will-bring-private-school-choice-to-at-least-4-new-states/2026/01" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/federal-program-will-bring-private-school-choice-to-at-least-4-new-states/2026/01</a></p><p><strong>School Vouchers Explained: What the New Federal Program Means </strong><a href="https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/25/10/school-vouchers-explained-what-new-federal-program-means" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/edcast/25/10/school-vouchers-explained-what-new-federal-program-means</a> </p><p><strong>U.S. school choice tax credit scholarship program </strong><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._school_choice_tax_credit_scholarship_program" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://ballotpedia.org/U.S._school_choice_tax_credit_scholarship_program</a> </p><p><strong>A 3rd Space Survey: Acts of Kindness</strong></p><p>Do you have an act of kindness that you’d be willing to share? You can participate through a Google Forms Survey at this link:<a href="https://forms.gle/5NQakn6bgeXpm2us5" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> https://forms.gle/5NQakn6bgeXpm2us5</a></p><p>There you will find two kindness questions we’d like you to consider and then respond to:</p><ul><li><p><strong>What is an act of kindness you’ve received that made a difference to you?</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>What is an act of kindness you have done which you hope changed another person’s life?</strong></p></li></ul><p>What do we do with the acts we learn about in this survey? We save them and feature them in our Thanksgiving show each year…anonymously unless you prefer we use your name.</p><p>Finally, please share this survey because an act of kindness shared begets others.</p><p><strong>How We Check Ourselves</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.snopes.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Snopes</em></a> - <a href="https://www.snopes.com/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.snopes.com/</a> </li><li><a href="http://factcheck.org" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FactCheck</em>.<em>org</em></a> - <a href="https://www.factcheck.org/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.factcheck.org/</a> </li><li><a href="https://ww