A report by the Bluegrass Institute showed the achievement gaps in Jefferson County Public Schools along lines of raceare actually wider in the East End of Louisville.The conservative think tank unveiled some troubling numbers last month and organizations supportive of charter schools, such as the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), argue the report underscores the student-assignment plan has failed African-American students.JCPS officials have said they are aware of the problem and are committed to changing the numbers, but impatience is growing as three seats open on the school board this year.I spoke with WFPL’s education reporter Devin Katayama and former Louisville Metro Councilman Dr. Deonte Hollowell, who is a BAEO member, about the report’s ramifications on the education debate.
For our second half, Devin stuck around to join a political round table of LEO Weekly’s Joe Sonka, Kentucky Public Radio’s Kenny Colston and Louisville blogger Curtis Morrison.We talked about the Metro Council’s contentious landmarks ordinance, which cleared a committee this week, speculation on future statewide races and Democratic Congressman Ben Chandler's recent stiff arm to President Obama now that he's skipping the party's convention.
