Shaka Mitchell on How Federal Legislation Could Transform Education
Sep 24, 2025
In this episode of What I Want to Know, host Kevin P. Chavous sits down with Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children and a national leader in education reform. From classrooms to courtrooms, Shaka has been at the center of the fight for school choice, charter schools, and equitable education policy. Together, they explore whether choice truly expands opportunity, how legislation is reshaping access, and what the future of education innovation might look like.
Chapters
[00:00] Introduction & framing the debate
[01:10] Shaka Mitchell’s personal education story
[03:50] How inequities sparked the school choice movement
[05:31] Is choice enough to ensure quality?
[06:36] Why choice can be catalytic for students
[09:34] Ensuring access for underserved families
[12:50] School choice across rural and urban America
[15:22] Regulation, charter schools, and innovation
[18:26] What true innovation in schools could look like
[24:30] Finding common ground in a divided system
[27:51] What’s next for school choice and federal programs
Useful Links
-
Learn more about Shaka Mitchell and the American Federation for Children: https://www.federationforchildren.org
-
Explore K12-powered schools: https://www.k12.com/podcast
-
Learn more about Stride, Inc. and online education: https://www.stridelearning.com
-
Follow Kevin P. Chavous on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpchavous
Join the Conversation
Got thoughts on virtual learning and special education?
📢 Use #WIWTK to share your perspective.
📱 Follow us:
🔹 Twitter/X – https://x.com/wiwtkpodcast
🔹 Facebook –https://www.facebook.com/wiwtkpodcast
🔹 Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wiwtkpodcast/
🎧 Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review—let’s reshape the conversation around education.