Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2012-04-25

Duration: 00:58:10

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Education | Educational change | School choice | Charter schools | Educational vouchers | Teacher tenure | Educational accountability | Louisiana Legislative Session, 2012

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Scott, Robert Travis Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Godoy, Al Associate Producer
• Lincoln, Sue Associate Producer
• Lee, Sarah Interviewee
• Pujol, Patrice Interviewee
• Middleton, Tom Interviewee
• Jackson, Phil Interviewee
• Cormier, Cathy Interviewee
• Ancelet, Durlin Interviewee
• Lewis, Eric Interviewee
• Rountree, Kristine Speaker
• Babin, Heidi Speaker
• Hampton, Marguerite Speaker
• Lee, Kim Speaker
• Langland, Virginia Speaker
• Martinez, Aaron Speaker
• Varmall, Barbara Speaker
• Borders, Sean Speaker
• Andrus, Bob Speaker
• Spruell, Winnie Speaker
• Whaley, William Speaker
• Hull, Ruby Speaker
• Hogan, Phyllis Speaker
• Lanier, Mark Speaker
• Dastugue, Penny Panelist
• Webber, Robert Panelist
• Erwin, Barry Panelist
• Vaughan, Debra Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from April 25, 2012, features Robert Travis Scott leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on the Jindal Administration’s education reform package passed by the Louisiana Legislature. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Sarah Lee, guardian of a public school student; Superintendent Patrice Pujol of the Ascension Parish Public School System; Dr. Tom Middleton, the principal at the River Oaks School in Monroe; Phil Jackson, the principal at Franklin Academy in Winnsboro; Cathy Cormier, the parent of a special needs student; Durlin Ancelet, a teacher in Calcasieu Parish; and Eric Lewis of the Black Alliance for Educational Options. The audience members then discuss their views on the education reform package. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Penny Dastugue, the president of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); Dr. Robert Webber, the superintendent of the Ouachita Parish School System; Barry Erwin, the president of the Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL); and Debra Vaughan, the assistant director for research at the Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives. They discuss: their rating for the education reform package; charter schools; the need to lower class sizes in public schools; disconnected youth; the importance of parental involvement; the school voucher program; BESE’s next steps for implementing the reforms; teacher evaluations; the school accountability standards for public schools and charter schools; and teacher tenure reform. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Robert Travis Scott