A recent Gallop poll found that only 35% of Americans are satisfied with the quality of K-12 education. That's the lowest rating in over two decades. What's worse is that public education ranks near the bottom of nearly every major issue Americans were asked about—below immigration, healthcare, and even the environment. That's not just alarming, it's tragic. The question is, how long do we have to wait for something better? That's a question A LOT of parents are asking right now. And while I don't have the answer, I know we're not there yet.
 
My next guest is Meredith Olson, a woman I've known for a long time and met years ago at Stand Together. She's the president of VELA, a nonprofit that funds and supports everyday entrepreneurs—parents, teachers, and community leaders alike—who are building nontraditional alternatives to K-12 education. We're talking about micro schools, hybrid homeschooling, and/or learning cooperatives…and a few places that look more like barns than classrooms. Today, VELA supports a network of more than 4,200 innovative education models serving more than 6 million students and families across the country. They've awarded more than $24 million in grants, helping people take education into their own hands, literally. Some may call it disruption. Others may refer to it as innovation. I think it's common sense. 

The times are evolving, and alternative methods of education are on the rise, like VELA. I can't speak for anybody but me, but I'm pretty sure millions of voters and taxpayers are hoping and praying for better education. And if you want to hear how real alternatives like VELA are already making a difference, watch this video.