The Issues

Education Freedom

Virginia is Ready to Take Full Control of Education

Last night, as promised repeatedly during the campaign, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of...

Derrick A. Max
March 21, 2025

Use the Budget to Improve Math Education

Writing in the blog Bacon’s Rebellion, Arlington parent and self-described “Obama Democrat” Todd Truitt has come out swinging against a Virginia budget amendment to spend $12 million extra “to improve...

Christian Braunlich
March 13, 2025

Senator Roem’s “Free School Meals” Campaign is Bad for Students and Creates Food Deserts

After failing to pass legislation last year that would have made breakfast and lunch free for all public school students regardless of income (at a staggering cost of $201.5 million),...

Derrick A. Max
March 7, 2025

Hashmi Tries to Forget Her Role in Education Decline

State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (D-Powhatan) has written a  Richmond Times-Dispatch commentary proclaiming Governor Glenn Youngkin responsible for Virginia’s education declines, a commentary astonishing for the breadth of its amnestic qualities.  ...

Christian Braunlich
February 28, 2025

Virginia’s Low Education Standards Continue to Hide Low Student Mastery

Virginia students continued to struggle to meet national proficiency standards based on results in the recently released 2024 data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Reading scores remained...

Hannah Schmid
February 4, 2025

Nobody Pays Retail Anymore!

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has proposed an Education Opportunity Scholarship Grant — similar to what exists in 27 other states — providing $5,000 private school scholarships to each of 10,000 low-to-moderate-income public school...

Jefferson Forum
January 30, 2025

Welcome to National School Choice Week: Here are Four Common Myths (and more)

When Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed an Education Opportunity Scholarship Grant – similar to what exists in 28 other states – providing $5,000 in private school scholarships to 10,000 low-moderate income...

Christian Braunlich
January 27, 2025

Senator Hashmi Chooses Politics Over Virginia Parents and Children

Senator Ghazala Hashmi, chair of the Virginia Senate Education and Health Committee, is introducing a bill that has no chance of becoming law — apparently trying to carry water on behalf of...

Derrick A. Max
January 13, 2025

New Poll Shows Near Unanimous Support for Greater School Accountability

While Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly appear unanimous in their opposition to the Governor’s new School Performance and Support Framework, there is near unanimous support among registered voters for...

Derrick A. Max
January 7, 2025

Jefferson Forum concentrates on policies that affect everyday life in Virginia

Economic Freedom

Lower taxes and fewer regulations

Education Freedom

More choices for Virginia families

Energy Freedom

Reliable, affordable energy

Worker Freedom

Protecting Virginia’s right-to-work tradition

These are the building blocks of a more competitive and prosperous Virginia.