School districts across California and the nation are caught in a financial vise.  Enrollments are falling, federal COVID relief funds have been depleted, and costs keep rising. Meanwhile, growing numbers of teacher&apos;s can&apos;t even  afford to live in the districts  where they work. That’s especially the case in high cost states like California where teachers and other staff are walking off the job in record numbers  So how do you give teachers the raises that almost everyone agrees they need without triggering deep cuts or even risking   insolvency? And is it even possible?In this episode, we explore that question with three guests who are grappling with it from very different vantage points. Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, breaks down the structural forces squeezing district budgets and makes the case that many districts have staffing levels out of alignment with their shrinking enrollments — a reckoning that&apos;s now unavoidable. Darin Brawley, superintendent of Compton Unified, has managed a district with five labor unions over 14 years without a strike, and explains how radical transparency about the budget has helped kept his district out of crisis. And Carrie Hahnel a board member at Alameda Unified and a senior associate partner at Bellwether, describes how her district recently navigated a threatened strike and reached a three-year contract — and what trade-offs came with it.The conversation is honest about how hard these choices are.  The challenge is whether districts and unions can make these trade-offs —together.  Sign up <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'>here</a> so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.

<description>&lt;p&gt;School districts across California and the nation are caught in a financial vise.  Enrollments are falling, federal COVID relief funds have been depleted, and costs keep rising. Meanwhile, growing numbers of teacher&amp;apos;s can&amp;apos;t even  afford to live in the districts  where they work. That’s especially the case in high cost states like California where teachers and other staff are walking off the job in record numbers  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;So how do you give teachers the raises that almost everyone agrees they need without triggering deep cuts or even risking   insolvency? And is it even possible?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode, we explore that question with three guests who are grappling with it from very different vantage points. Marguerite Roza, director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, breaks down the structural forces squeezing district budgets and makes the case that many districts have staffing levels out of alignment with their shrinking enrollments — a reckoning that&amp;apos;s now unavoidable. Darin Brawley, superintendent of Compton Unified, has managed a district with five labor unions over 14 years without a strike, and explains how radical transparency about the budget has helped kept his district out of crisis. And Carrie Hahnel a board member at Alameda Unified and a senior associate partner at Bellwether, describes how her district recently navigated a threatened strike and reached a three-year contract — and what trade-offs came with it.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The conversation is honest about how hard these choices are.  The challenge is whether districts and unions can make these trade-offs —together. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sign up &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;here&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.  &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

School districts across California and the nation are caught in a financial vise.  Enrollments are falling, federal COVID relief funds have been depleted, and costs keep rising. Meanwhile, growing numbers of teacher's can't even  afford to live in the districts  where they work. That’s especially the case in high cost states like California where teachers and other staff are walking off the job in record numbers   So how do you give teachers the raises that almost everyone...

As costs rise, and enrollments dip, can school districts meet teacher demands?

The Supreme Court&apos;s landmark 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision established that every child in America has the right to a public education, regardless of immigration status. For 43 years, that ruling has kept schoolhouse doors open to undocumented children. Now it&apos;s under serious attack.   In this episode of Education on the Line, Louis Freedberg talks with two guests on the front lines of protecting Plyler at a national and state level. Tom Saenz is president and general counsel of MALDEF, which argued the original Plyler case before the Supreme Court. Lisa Sherman Luna is executive director TIRRC Votes, the political arm of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.  The Tennessee General Assembly, controlled by a Republican supermajority, is attempting to pass legislation designed to keep documented children out of school. It is one of a half dozen states trying to do the same thing. The Heritage Foundation, author of the controversial Project 2025, recently launched a campaign to encourage states to challenge Plyler. Saenz believes that despite these efforts, the Plyler decision is secure. Sherman Luna says that organizing along the lines of the so-far successful Education for All Tennessee campaign will be needed.  Sign up <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'>here</a> so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The Supreme Court&amp;apos;s landmark 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision established that every child in America has the right to a public education, regardless of immigration status. For 43 years, that ruling has kept schoolhouse doors open to undocumented children. Now it&amp;apos;s under serious attack.   &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this episode of Education on the Line, &lt;b&gt;Louis Freedberg &lt;/b&gt;talks with two guests on the front lines of protecting Plyler at a national and state level. T&lt;b&gt;om Saenz&lt;/b&gt; is president and general counsel of MALDEF, which argued the original Plyler case before the Supreme Court. &lt;b&gt;Lisa Sherman Luna&lt;/b&gt; is executive director TIRRC Votes, the political arm of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.  The Tennessee General Assembly, controlled by a Republican supermajority, is attempting to pass legislation designed to keep documented children out of school. It is one of a half dozen states trying to do the same thing. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Heritage Foundation, author of the controversial Project 2025, recently launched a campaign to encourage states to challenge Plyler. Saenz believes that despite these efforts, the Plyler decision is secure. Sherman Luna says that organizing along the lines of the so-far successful Education for All Tennessee campaign will be needed. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sign up &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;here&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.  &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The Supreme Court's landmark 1982 Plyler v. Doe decision established that every child in America has the right to a public education, regardless of immigration status. For 43 years, that ruling has kept schoolhouse doors open to undocumented children. Now it's under serious attack.    In this episode of Education on the Line, Louis Freedberg talks with two guests on the front lines of protecting Plyler at a national and state level. Tom Saenz is president and general counsel of MALD...

The Push to Keep Undocumented Students Out Of School: Will It Succeed? 

The sweeping federal tax credit scholarship program which President Trump was able to shoehorn into his so-called &quot;One Big Beautiful Bill&quot; will go into effect in less than a year. It has the potential to divert billions of federal tax dollars to private and religious school tuition, with negligible oversight and accountability.  Right now the Trump Administration is drawing up a blueprint for implementing this hugely ambitious &quot;school choice&quot; program which an estimated 90 percent of families in the United States will qualify for.  When the proposed regulations are issued in in advance of the Jan. 1 implementation date, education leaders and advocates must be prepared to respond them.   One big question is whether Democratically controlled  states should participate in the tax credit program - at the moment it appears that almost all won&apos;t -- or whether they  can figure out ways public schools could benefit from it in a meaningful way.  To shed light on key unresolved issues like these, host Louis Freedberg talks with Jon Valant, director of the Brookings Brown Center on Education Policy, and Jessica Levin, litigation director of the Education Law Center.  Both are leading experts on what&apos;s at stake.  Anyone who cares about the future of public education will learn from their insights and observations.  Sign up <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'>here</a> so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.

<description>&lt;p&gt;The sweeping federal tax credit scholarship program which President Trump was able to shoehorn into his so-called &amp;quot;One Big Beautiful Bill&amp;quot; will go into effect in less than a year. It has the potential to divert billions of federal tax dollars to private and religious school tuition, with negligible oversight and accountability.  Right now the Trump Administration is drawing up a blueprint for implementing this hugely ambitious &amp;quot;school choice&amp;quot; program which an estimated 90 percent of families in the United States will qualify for.  When the proposed regulations are issued in in advance of the Jan. 1 implementation date, education leaders and advocates must be prepared to respond them.   One big question is whether Democratically controlled  states should participate in the tax credit program - at the moment it appears that almost all won&amp;apos;t -- or whether they  can figure out ways public schools could benefit from it in a meaningful way.  To shed light on key unresolved issues like these, host Louis Freedberg talks with Jon Valant, director of the Brookings Brown Center on Education Policy, and Jessica Levin, litigation director of the Education Law Center.  Both are leading experts on what&amp;apos;s at stake.  Anyone who cares about the future of public education will learn from their insights and observations. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sign up &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;here&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.  &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

The sweeping federal tax credit scholarship program which President Trump was able to shoehorn into his so-called "One Big Beautiful Bill" will go into effect in less than a year. It has the potential to divert billions of federal tax dollars to private and religious school tuition, with negligible oversight and accountability.  Right now the Trump Administration is drawing up a blueprint for implementing this hugely ambitious "school choice" program which an estimated 90 percent of fami...

Inside Trump's Stealth School Voucher Program: What's At Stake 

What happens when frenetic policymaking by the Trump Administration collides with the guardrails of courts, campuses, and public opinion? We sit down with leading conservative commentator Frederick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute, and long-time higher education expert Stephen Brint, professor of sociology and public policy at the University of California at Riverside, to unpack a year that in which the federal government asserted unprecedented power over both private and public education institutions at all levels.  From executive orders and DOJ referrals to high-stakes investigations, we discuss what changed, what stalled, and, most importantly, what to expect in 2026.   Sign up <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'>here</a> so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.

<description>&lt;p&gt;What happens when frenetic policymaking by the Trump Administration collides with the guardrails of courts, campuses, and public opinion? We sit down with leading conservative commentator Frederick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute, and long-time higher education expert Stephen Brint, professor of sociology and public policy at the University of California at Riverside, to unpack a year that in which the federal government asserted unprecedented power over both private and public education institutions at all levels.  From executive orders and DOJ referrals to high-stakes investigations, we discuss what changed, what stalled, and, most importantly, what to expect in 2026.  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sign up &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;here&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.  &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

What happens when frenetic policymaking by the Trump Administration collides with the guardrails of courts, campuses, and public opinion? We sit down with leading conservative commentator Frederick Hess, director of education policy at the American Enterprise Institute, and long-time higher education expert Stephen Brint, professor of sociology and public policy at the University of California at Riverside, to unpack a year that in which the federal government asserted unprecedented power ove...

Trump vs. Education:  What Happened, What Didn't, and What to Expect in 2026

During the first year of President Trump&apos;s latest term in the White House, much of his admiinistration&apos;s focus been national in scope, especially on its  push to dismantle or eradicate entirely the U.S. Dept. of Education. What, however, is happening at the local level?  In this episode, we look at the extent to which political pressures on local school districts have continued, and, more importantly, how school leaders can successfully traverse them.  This will be especially important during this election year when school board election battles will take center stage at a local level.  Host Louis Freedberg interviews two prominent education leaders who offer their guidance based on years of experience in the education trenches.  Carl Cohn is  the esteemed former superintendent of the Long Beach and San Diego Unified School Districts, and co-chair of the Collaborative for Political Leadership in the Superintendency.   Wesley Smith is superintendent of the Newport-Mesa School District in California&apos;s Orange County, and former head of the Association of California School Administrators.  Sign up <a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'>here</a> so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.

<description>&lt;p&gt;During the first year of President Trump&amp;apos;s latest term in the White House, much of his admiinistration&amp;apos;s focus been national in scope, especially on its  push to dismantle or eradicate entirely the U.S. Dept. of Education. What, however, is happening at the local level?  In this episode, we look at the extent to which political pressures on local school districts have continued, and, more importantly, how school leaders can successfully traverse them.  This will be especially important during this election year when school board election battles will take center stage at a local level.  Host Louis Freedberg interviews two prominent education leaders who offer their guidance based on years of experience in the education trenches.  Carl Cohn is  the esteemed former superintendent of the Long Beach and San Diego Unified School Districts, and co-chair of the Collaborative for Political Leadership in the Superintendency.   Wesley Smith is superintendent of the Newport-Mesa School District in California&amp;apos;s Orange County, and former head of the Association of California School Administrators. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;Sign up &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href='https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ'&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt;here&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;em&gt; so we can keep you posted on future podcasts on how education leaders are responding to the mounting threats against public schools In the United States.  &lt;/em&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;br/&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

During the first year of President Trump's latest term in the White House, much of his admiinistration's focus been national in scope, especially on its  push to dismantle or eradicate entirely the U.S. Dept. of Education. What, however, is happening at the local level?  In this episode, we look at the extent to which political pressures on local school districts have continued, and, more importantly, how school leaders can successfully traverse them.  This will be especially i...

How School Leaders Can Navigate The Culture Wars And Build Community Trust

Education On The Line (formerly titled Sparking Equity) is a podcast focusing on the mounting political, financial, legal and ideological threats to public education.&nbsp; It will provide strategies to help education leaders and decisionmakers traverse the current perilous education landscape.&nbsp; Join media innovator and veteran education journalist Louis Freedberg as he interviews school leaders about how they are coping with attacks on public schools emanating from Washington D.C.&nbsp; -- while staying focused on how to ensure that all students succeed.&nbsp; The advisor for the podcast (and occasional guest host) is Pedro Noguera, Dean of the USC Rossier School of Education.&nbsp; Sign up at link below so we can keep you posted on future episodes to help inform your decisionmaking.&nbsp; <a href="https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ">https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/gVZTFcZ</a>

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