WASHINGTON, D.C., Aug. 3, 2017—Jonathan Butcher, a nationally recognized authority on school choice programs, has been named senior policy analyst in The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy.

Butcher, a research assistant at Heritage years ago, returns to the think tank from the Phoenix–based Goldwater Institute where he was education director. At Goldwater, he researched education policy and school choice programs around the U.S.

His work there was instrumental in paving the way for Arizona’s landmark education savings account program—the first in the nation. The Arizona Department of Education subsequently selected Butcher to sit on its Steering Committee for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, to help oversee implementation of the program.

“Jonathan has dedicated his career to fostering policies that focus on meeting the education needs of students rather than the demands of the education industry,” said Lindsey Burke, director of the Center for Education Policy. “He brings to the center a rare combination: an impressive body of work as a researcher, as well as hands-on experience as an education program designer and evaluator. We are excited to welcome him back to Heritage.”

Prior to running Goldwater’s education research program, Butcher was the director of accountability for the South Carolina Public Charter School District, the authorizing authority for charter schools throughout the state. He also worked with the School Choice Demonstration Project, the research team that evaluated voucher programs in Washington, D.C., and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Butcher holds a B.A. in English from Furman University and an M.A. in economics from the University of Arkansas. He also serves as a senior fellow with The Beacon Center of Tennessee, a nonpartisan research organization.