On this week’s solo episode of The Education Gadfly Show, Mike Petrilli discusses President Trump’s Education Freedom Tax Credit, including how it works, why he has concerns about its design, and why he still thinks states, including blue states, should opt in. Could the program help Catholic schools and expand scholarships for low-income families, or will it mostly benefit upper-middle-class parents and well-connected schools?

Then, on the Research Minute, Amber Northern examines new research on whether full-day pre-K affects English learner identification in elementary school, especially for children from non-English-speaking households.

Recommended content:

• Trump’s education tax credit is poorly designed, but blue states should opt into it anyway — Michael J. Petrilli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute
• New York plans to accept the federal tax credit. Should we celebrate? —Michael J. Petrilli, SCHOOLED
• The bipartisan opt-in chorus grows louder —Michael J. Petrilli, SCHOOLED
• Effect of Full- Versus Half-Day Pre-K on Grade K–3 English Language Learner Designations — Katharine Parham Malhotra and Allison Atteberry, Sage Journals (2026)

Feedback Welcome: Have ideas for improving our show? We would love to hear them. Send them to thegadfly@fordhaminstitute.org