NPR's news-talk program Tell Me More is teaming up with StateImpact Florida for an extensive discussion on education in America. After launching an ongoing Twitter Education Forum (#npredchat) with leaders in education, teachers, parents and students, the program has jump-started a national dialogue on education.
On Wednesday, October 10, Tell Me More host Michel Martin will broadcast from NPR member station WLRN in Miami. The program will broadcast live from 11:00am until noon and will be live streamed on NPR.org. Martin will speak with several newsmakers and the conversation will be propelled by ongoing Twitter-based discussions.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and his predecessor Margaret Spellings join Martin in discussing education reform at a national level - including the "No Child Left Behind" policy. Former Washington, D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho follow with a discussion on school district reform. Former Assistant Secretary of Education Diane Ravitch also joins Martin to discuss why she no longer supports strict testing standards and the expansion of charter schools. Martin will also speak with Salman Khan, creator of the popular online education tool Khan Academy.
Audience members are invited to participate in this conversation on education - both now and live on October 10. Tweet your thoughts and ideas with@TellMeMoreNPR using #npredchat and #IsYourSchoolBroken. After the live broadcast, the conversation will continue on Twitter. View the full discussion, to date, at the #npredchat aggregate page.
Collaborating with StateImpact - NPR's multi-platform, local journalism initiative focused on how state policy affects people's lives - was a natural way for Tell Me Moreto explore education at a local level. With Florida's move toward more charter schools and Miami's status as one of the most dynamic multicultural regions in the country, StateImpact Florida (@StateImpactFL) continuously looks at education issues in the Sunshine State as a Petri dish for national reform.
Tell Me More with Michel Martin brings fresh voices and perspectives to public radio. The weekday, one-hour program captures the headlines and issues relevant to multicultural life in America. For local stations and broadcast times, visit www.NPR.org/stations.
