Education Podcast with John Merrow | PBS

Thanks to the federal stimulus package, new Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has a $160 billion budget -- and of that, he can spend $5 billion any way he pleases. With over 200 special interest groups and countless superintendents clamoring for his attention, Duncan has a lot of options. Duncan shares his thoughts on best strategies, and how he hopes to impact an education system where 3 out 10 ninth graders fail to graduate. AUDIO Duration: 7:53

Former Assistant Secretary of Education Christopher T. Cross has seen a lot of education secretaries come and go, but none with as large a budget as Arne Duncan. Mr. Cross details the challenges Duncan will face as he aims to spend his department's $160 billion budget. With over 200 special interest groups and countless superintendents clamoring for his attention, Cross says Duncan has a tough job ahead. AUDIO Duration: 7:53

Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, believes that reform begins with teachers. But the question now is how to support them. Weingarten offers her opinion on how the new secretary should use his budget and explains why she thinks national standards should be his priority. AUDIO Duration: 8:03

Arne Duncan has $5 billion dollars of discretionary money to disburse as he sees fit. Superintendents across the country are debating where they think the money should go. Four of the nation’s best Superintendents discuss their feelings on one issue that is certain to be on Arne’s agenda, national standards. AUDIO Duration: 6:16

Peekskill, New York is one of the many small cities across the country where the recession is making a huge impact on education. In this podcast, David Wald, Managing Producer at Learning Matters, sits down with correspondent John Tulenko to talk about the stimulus package and the effects of the recession on the Peekskill School District and other districts across the country. AUDIO Duration: 9:25

Paul Vallas has adopted a dozen strategies to fix New Orleans' ailing Recovery School District. In this podcast, he talks about his district's attendance problem, hiring truancy officers to combat the problem and how his strategies are working. AUDIO Duration: 11:50

Darrin Slade is a veteran middle school principal who talks about what it takes to lead an urban school and what it's like working for Michelle Rhee. AUDIO Duration: 8:41

Michelle Rhee and DC Teachers’ Union President, George Parker talk about negotiating a contract with much of the education world watching. AUDIO Duration: 9:53

Alyson Karakouzian, a 32-year-old freshman at UMass-Boston, is juggling home life (a husband and three kids) during her first year of college. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIO Duration: 8:51

George Miller talks about the Higher Education funding problem and why it is bad for those who are currently getting their education. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIO Duration: 11:13

Greg Johnson runs Bottom Line, an organization that helps at-risk youth get into college and graduate. He answers some practical questions about the process of financing a college education. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIO Duration: 12:24

Pat Callan, President of the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, talks about how fewer families will be able to afford to send their children to college. This podcast is part of our series on the cost of higher education. AUDIO Duration: 9:18

The campaign both for and against California's Proposition 8 was heated and costly (only the Presidential campaign cost more). Among other charges, opponents of gay marriage claimed that homosexuality would be taught in schools. What about the schools? What are the rights and responsibilities of gay teachers? Of gay students? What do they think about homosexuality in the classroom? In 1976, John Merrow asked similar questions on his NPR program--and it's surprisingly relevant today. AUDIO Duration: 6:45

Paul Vallas wants to hire as many bright, young teachers as he can--and he's bringing in hundreds of teachers through Teach for America and Teach Nola. Vallas talks about the energy and change young teachers are bringing to his district. AUDIO Duration: 6:45

Colleston Morgan is a 22 year-old Harvard Graduate in his second year of Teach for America. Morgan talks about his hopes for the upcoming school year, some of his challenges and successes and if he thinks Paul Vallas’ new initiatives are working. AUDIO Duration: 6:45