Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are a school choice mechanism by which the state allows families to claim most or all of the funds that the state would have spent on their child’s education. The money can be used for private school tuition, tutors, online courses, or other expenses.

On this week’s episode of the Ed Next podcast, Matthew Ladner and Nelson Smith join Ed Next’s Marty West to discuss the pros and cons of ESAs.

Ladner and Smith both contributed articles to a new Education Next forum, “Should Reformers Support Education Savings Accounts?”

In his article, Matt Ladner described ESAs as “The Next Step in School Choice.”

Nelson Smith argues that we should “Expand Choice, but Keep the Public Interest in Mind“

The debate over ESAs has been heating up in Nevada, where a law passed in June 2015 gives all parents in the state access ESAs.

The EdNext Podcast is available on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher and here every Wednesday.