UC graduate fee hikes. An update from Copenhagen. Can food stamps stimulate the economy? Then the LAUSD is cutting jobs and we talk with the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
More UC fee hikes
Some University of California grad students will see their fees rise next year, including those pursuing degrees in social work, architecture and urban planning. Increasingly seen as professional schools, students in the affected fields will pay up to $8,000 more in fees, a surcharge already imposed on law, medical and business students. Are the fee increases tantamount to privatizing the public system? Or, will surcharges ensure high quality instruction?
Guest:
Janlee Wong, executive director of the National Association of Social Workers, California chapter
Copenhagen update
Larry Mantle gets an update on the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. He talks with Rob Schmitz of KQED about the energy issues relating to California.
Guest:
Rob Schmitz, KQED reporter in Copenhagen
Southern California's hungry turn to Food Stamps
Amid foreclosures and job losses, many Americans have lost more than their pensions—they no longer have enough income to feed their families. What’s the first line of defense against hunger? The federal government's food stamp program, now known as SNAP. Out with the old name, went the physical stamps too. Now, recipients can use a less-stigmatized debit-style card. The recession has accelerated SNAP enrollment in the Southland. However, according to the New York Times, only half of those eligible in LA County take advantage of the program. What are the obstacles to affordable, healthy food for needy families in California?
Guest:
H. Eric Schockman, President of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger
LAUSD cuts to the bone
The Los Angeles Unified School District will close Fremont High, dismiss its teachers and re-open from scratch next year. Known as "reconstitution," teachers would be allowed to reapply for their jobs or be placed elsewhere in the district. And the economic downturn continues to wreak havoc with school budgets. LAUSD is now projecting a $470 million deficit. Officials have approved an interim budget plan which could result in 5,000 to 8,000 layoffs by next fall. What would this mean for teachers and students in the already-beleaguered school system?
Then, listen in to our interview with U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
Guests:
Tamar Galatzan, School Board Member District 3
AJ Duffy, President, UTLA--United Teachers of Los Angeles
Bill Ring, Vice-Chair of The Parent Collaborative
Ray Cortines, Superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
Before becoming the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan served for seven years as the CEO of Chicago Public Schools. Duncan has said that education is "the most pressing issue facing America" and that the quality of the country's education system will determine the long-term health of the economy. Among Duncan's efforts, the $4 billion Race to the Top program will offer competitive grants to states that agree to a choice of school improvement initiatives. Additionally, a stimulus-funded $3.5 billion program will focus on turning around the nation's worst performing schools. Larry talks with Duncan about his vision for American education.
Guest:
Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education