Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2010-09-22

Duration: 00:57:31

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Education | Charter schools | School choice | Special Education | Teacher accountability

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Godoy, Al Producer
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Shropshire, Delilah Interviewee
• Johnson, Dujan Interviewee
• Bendily, Erin Interviewee
• Monaghan, Steve Interviewee
• Daniel, Gary Interviewee
• Andrus, Pat Speaker
• Jenkins, Eddie Speaker
• Faerber, David Speaker
• Phelps, David Speaker
• Faerber, Joanna Speaker
• Dukes, Stephanie Speaker
• Simpson, Kenneth Speaker
• Smith, Mary Speaker
• Johnson, Linda Panelist
• Campbell, Kenneth Panelist
• Jones, Gary L. Panelist
• Shirley, Caroline Roemer Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from September 22, 2010, features Shauna Sanford leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on charter schools in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Delilah Shropshire, the mother of a charter school student; Dujan Johnson of the Community School for Apprenticeship Learning; Erin Bendily of the Louisiana Department of Education; Steve Monaghan, the president of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers; and Gary Daniel, the principal at Prescott Charter Middle School. The audience members then discuss whether charter schools are the answer to turning around low performing public schools. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Linda Johnson, a member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); Kenneth Campbell, president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options; Dr. Gary L. Jones, the Superintendent of the Rapides Parish Schools; and Caroline Roemer Shirley, the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools. They discuss: whether charter schools are the answer to help improve Louisiana’s public education system; the funding for charter schools; the autonomy of charter schools; the ability of charter schools to serve special needs students; and teacher accountability for student performance. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Shauna Sanford