This week on Behind The Lens, the Louisiana Department of Education and Orleans Parish School Board have asked a federal judge to release them from a decade-old decision forcing them to operate under a consent decree which was instituted on behalf of special-education students who weren’t receiving proper services in the early days of New Orleans’ charter school system.

Late last fall, after NOLA Public Schools found itself in a budget crisis, city council members stepped up to provide the district with a desperately needed cash infusion. That bailout was stymied by the mayor who argued that the city couldn’t afford it. Now the city council is looking to outmaneuver the mayor with a budget amendment, which the mayor could veto.  

In a sign of resistance to Governor Jeff Landry’s policy proposals, voters in Louisiana overwhelmingly rejected his four constitutional amendments in an election on Saturday, which could have broad implications for the rest of his term.    

Lens education reporter and deputy editor Marta Jewson joins host Carolyne Heldmen.

Theme music by Podington Bear. Additional music Memories of Poohsticks by Podington Bear soundofpicture.com. 

You can also listen to Behind The Lens on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other services.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS