David Osborne, a key figure in the charter school movement, discussed his influential books on government innovation, including “Reinventing Government” and “Reinventing America’s Schools.” He highlighted his work with Bill Clinton and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) in promoting charter schools. Osborne emphasized the importance of charter schools in providing choice, competition, and autonomy in […]
Interview of Bart Peterson
Bart Peterson, the first mayor in the U.S. to authorize charter schools, discussed his journey and impact. He highlighted his early education in Indianapolis, his career path from law to politics, and his role in advocating for charter schools. Peterson chartered 17 schools, with 60% of Indianapolis students now attending autonomous schools. He emphasized the […]
Founders Library promo
Every movement begins with a choice.Thirty years ago, educators, families, and leaders chose to be bold by choice—and the charter school movement was born. From the first charter law in Minnesota to a national ecosystem reshaping public education, this is the story of people who challenged the givens, reimagined what public schools could be, and […]
Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E5: Chartering the Frontier
About Season 2 Episode 5: Chartering the Frontier Every region has its trailblazers. In the early 1990s, California and Colorado became unlikely frontiers for the charter school movement. Their laws didn’t pass by chance. They were the product of bold leadership, creative coalition-building, and relentless persistence. California’s story is one of speed, innovation, and unlikely […]
Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E4: Charters Go National
About Season 2 Episode 4: Charters Go National Great ideas rarely succeed on vision alone. They need champions. They need strategy. They need leaders willing to ask bold questions and act when the window opens. That’s exactly what happened when the chartering idea began to move from a spark in Minnesota to a national movement. […]
Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E3: The First Law
About Season 2 Episode 3: The First Law Behind every bold law is a bolder story. In this episode of Bold by Choice, we step into the moment that changed everything—the birth of the first charter school law. It wasn’t a straight path. It wasn’t inevitable. And it certainly wasn’t easy. But it’s in the […]
Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E2: Ideas to Action
About Season 2 Episode 2: Ideas to Action “You can’t expect new results from old designs.” Those words capture the essence of Ted Kolderie’s legacy—and the heart of this episode of Bold by Choice Podcast. Kolderie isn’t just another policy thinker. He is a systems designer, a civic leader who challenged us to stop patching […]
Bold by Choice Podcast | About S2 E1: The Idea
About Season 2, Episode 1: The Idea Every movement has a beginning. For chartering, it did not start with national policy, but with a bold idea scribbled on paper, shared in speeches, debated in think tanks, and carried into law by people who believed public education could be more than what it was. In this first episode of […]
Is Public Education Obsolete?
How Chartering Can Build a Better Future for Students, Educators, and Communities A Tribute to Ted Kolderie at 95 By Jim Goenner, Ph.D. Everything Becomes Obsolete Everything that stops growing and adapting eventually becomes obsolete. Not because it fails, but because the world keeps changing. The horse did not fail; the car made it unnecessary. Candles did […]
Final Report to Connecticut: Senator Joseph I. Lieberman’s Reflections on Public Service and Civic Responsibility
Summary: The Joseph Lieberman Final Report is a reflective publication documenting his decades of public service to Connecticut and the nation. The document highlights his legislative priorities, including education reform, civil rights, environmental protection, and national security. Lieberman underscores the importance of bipartisan cooperation, ethical leadership, and the role of public service in strengthening democracy. […]
