Great Public Schools Now
Executive Director of the nonprofit Great Public Schools Now.
PROFILE
Myrna Castrejon
Guest
FROM Myrna Castrejon
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Is Austin Beutner the right pick to lead LA's public schools? Austin Beutner is the new chief of the Los Angeles public school system. Beutner is a philanthropist, former deputy mayor, former LA Times publisher. He doesn’t have much experience in public education - though he founded a charity to give glasses to students who can’t afford them. He’s an unconventional choice to head the LAUSD, but a good one? We get perspectives from the president of a teachers union, a parent of a local high school student, and the leader of a nonprofit that’s funded LA Unified and charter schools.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
A New Charter School Plan from Great Public Schools Now Last September, a confidential draft memo from an organization called Great Public Schools Now was published by the LA Times. The memo said that several pro-charter schools groups wanted to build more than 200 charters and enroll half of LA’s public school students in them. That caused a lot of outrage, mainly from the teachers union and traditional public school supporters. Great Public Schools Now has since pulled back from that idea, but today it’s coming out with another ambitious plan. What is it?
Which Way, L.A.?
Should LA Put Half its Students in Charter Schools? A contentious debate has been ramped up again by the leak of a 44-page strategy plan for doubling the number of charter schools in LA Unified. Most details of how that would be accomplished have not been made public—but the plan calls for raising almost a half-billion dollars in private money. The elected school board is already sharply divided. President Steve Zimmer says he’s not opposed to charter schools but calls this plan a 'hostile takeover.'
Recommended
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Gov. Jerry Brown: California and China will fight climate change together President Donald Trump reportedly wants the U.S. to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, and he’s expected to announce a decision soon. California Governor Jerry Brown heads to China to strengthen climate and clean energy ties.
The Treatment
Hua Hsu: A Floating Chinaman Author Hua Hsu stops by to discuss his book A Floating Chinaman, recounting the life of 1930's actor/writer H.T. Tsiang and his struggles entering the American literary world.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Terrorism in London: Lessons for the US This weekend’s terrorist attack in London left seven people dead and almost 50 injured. London police fatally shot the attackers, and ISIS claimed responsibility.
The Business
Industry insights and lessons learned from memorable guests We have interesting guests on The Business, and sometimes our conversations are too long to fit into one show. This week we give you stories that were too good to leave on the cutting room floor, including some sharp insights on making it in the industry from David Mandel, David Simon, Shawn Levy and Matt Reeves.