Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2013-09-25

Duration: 00:59:08

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Education | Charter schools | School choice

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Sanford, Shauna Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Moore, Dale Interviewee
• Shirley, Caroline Roemer Interviewee
• Meaux, Debbie Interviewee
• Royal, Karran Interviewee
• White, John Interviewee
• Haynes, Diana Speaker
• Richard, Scott Speaker
• Davis, Belinda Speaker
• DeCuir, Winston, Jr. Speaker
• McKneely, Jamar Speaker
• Bertalotto, Josh Speaker
• Cook, Trey Speaker
• Morgan, Colleston Speaker
• Bowles, Hallie Speaker
• Wolff, Nat Speaker
• Savoie, Clarence Speaker
• McMurray, Patty Speaker
• Martin, Maxwell Speaker
• Ourso, Erin Speaker
• Victorian, Kathy Speaker
• Brooks, Veronica Panelist
• Deshotels, Michael Panelist
• Meyer, Chris Panelist
• Beebe, Lottie Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from September 25, 2013, features Shauna Sanford leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on public charter schools in Louisiana. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Dale Moore, parent of a charter school student; Caroline Roemer Shirley of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools; Debbie Meaux of the Louisiana Association of Educators; Karran Royal, a New Orleans education activist; and Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White. The audience members then discuss whether public charter schools provide better educational opportunities than traditional public schools. A panel of experts then joins the audience members to answer their questions. The panelists are: Veronica Brooks, the policy director for the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools; Michael Deshotels, a former executive director of the Louisiana Association of Educators; Chris Meyer, the founder of New Schools for Baton Rouge; and Dr. Lottie Beebe, a member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the superintendent of the St. Martin Parish Public Schools. They discuss: their views of public charter schools and traditional public schools; charter schools not being required to hire certified teachers; the time frame for determining if a charter school is working; the findings of a recent study on charter schools; the for-profit organizations running charter schools; the teachers retirement system; preventing charter schools from gaming the system; admissions requirements; helping parents navigate their school options; and the demand for enrollment at charter schools. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Shauna Sanford