The Cardinal's Nest

By Garrett Ballengee originally published by West Virginia Executive Magazine as an Executive Exclusive.   Experts say that certificate-of-need (CON) laws are hurting the quality of health care in West Virginia, but there are efforts to eliminate the onerous regulations. CON laws require health… Read More

SEE IF YOUR CHILD QUALIFIES FOR THE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP   One of the top concerns for everyone is equity in education. On paper we have done a good job, investing near average for the nation per capita despite having a historically low GDP. But beyond budgetary reports, how equitable… Read More

“I am a speech language pathologist here in the northern panhandle of West Virginia and I specialize in dyslexia. I have a private practice where I work with both children and adults, on diagnosis and then point them in the right direction for tutoring – whether that’s with me or programs… Read More

“My husband and I moved to West Virginia about four years ago. We have three children and expecting our fourth in the next month. Our oldest just turned five and he’s getting ready to enter kindergarten.”   “As we prepare for that, my husband and I have started to explore… Read More

This op-ed was originally published in The Register~Herald on January 27th, 2021. You can read the original article here.   Traditional high schools aren’t for everyone. People like to learn different things in different ways. That’s why vocational and technical schools can be so attractive for… Read More

Education Reimagined: The Journey of West Virginia is a 9-minute short documentary by Dignity Unbound that tells the story of how West Virginia’s education system went from failing its students to helping them thrive, thanks in part to the innovative solutions championed by the Cardinal Institute of… Read More

Lots of kids would thrive in career or technical education (CTE) but are currently in schools that do not meet their needs. Many of these students are fortunate to have free public options available. That’s not true everywhere, but Education Savings Accounts (ESAs, known as Hope Scholarships) can ma… Read More

Tomorrow, the West Virginia State Legislature gavels in to begin its 85th session. On the agenda are promises of bold ideas for reform – encouraging a better future for generations of West Virginians to come.   Very few see promise within West Virginia’s hills, but for mountaineers full o… Read More

For many, January marks the anxious start to tax season and reminds us how much the government takes from our paychecks every year. But what if there was a way to keep more money in your pocket?  … Read More

Taylor Dawson and Mark Cunningham are empowering Tennesseans to reclaim control of their lives as a communications team at the Beacon Center for Tennessee based in Nashville. They join Garrett today to discuss culture and politics in Tennessee and share their perspectives as transplants from Alabama… Read More