When people talk about the future of education, the conversation often swings between extremes.

On one side: predictions that artificial intelligence or new technology will completely transform learning overnight. On the other: arguments that the education system is too broken to fix at all.

Our Executive Director, Jefferson Pestronk, believes the real answer is probably somewhere in between.

Pestronk recently attended the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, where educators, nonprofits, technology companies and innovators gathered to discuss the future of learning and opportunity.

“We’re probably not going to land on one 100% solution,” said Pestronk. “We’re going to land on 50 smaller solutions that each improve things a little bit, and that’s actually the good news. It takes the pressure off any single idea having to solve everything.”

That perspective closely reflects the work of Modern States Education Alliance.

The nonprofit organization was founded on a simple and powerful idea: if motivated learners are given access to high-quality courses and the opportunity to earn college credit at no cost, more people can pursue higher education.

Modern States’ free online courses and CLEP exam vouchers do not attempt to replace colleges or reinvent education entirely. Instead, they remove one major barrier: cost.

For many learners, that smaller step can have a life-changing impact.

Some use Modern States to earn college credit while still in high school. Others reduce the cost of a degree, return to college after time away or build confidence before taking the next academic step. Each learner’s path looks different, but together, those opportunities expand access in practical and measurable ways.

The Summit also reinforced another important takeaway for Pestronk: more people should know these opportunities exist.

“Too many people I spoke with had a ‘How have I not heard about this before?’ reaction,” he said.

As conversations about AI, technology and the future of education continue, Pestronk believes it is important not to lose sight of what already works: helping learners access real opportunities today.

“If we truly wanted every person willing to put in the work to have access to a free first year of college,” he said, “we could do that.”