This episode explores how the dominant framework of school choice can reward advantage instead of fulfilling the public promise to educate every child. We examine the long-term effects of inequitable systems, the risks of short-term thinking, and the consequences for millions of children.

What if part of your child’s school budget never made it to the classroom?

A single lawsuit over a student’s IEP shines a light on a problem most families never hear about. Across the country, school leaders are spending more time in courtrooms than classrooms, navigating legal battles just to keep schools running.

In one jaw-dropping case, a federal judge ordered an Illinois school district to pay $248,000 in legal fees, the equivalent of funding 17.5 students for an entire year. That is money that could have gone to teachers, services, or student support. Instead, it went straight to attorneys.

Meanwhile, districts like Shelby County, Tennessee are facing legal pressure so intense it is pulling leadership away from kids and toward survival mode.

This episode breaks down the vicious cycle where lawsuits quietly drain school resources, why it keeps happening, and what communities can do to stand behind the educators caught in the middle.

If you care about what happens to education dollars after they leave the classroom, this is a conversation you will not want to miss.

Brian breaks down the “homogeneity effect”, our brain’s tendency to lump everyone in a group together. One teacher messes up, one school fails, and suddenly people think all public schools are bad. He explains why this mental shortcut is misleading, how local challenges shape school outcomes, and why public schools are far more diverse and resilient than headlines suggest.

This episode addresses a question that public school district leaders are asking nationwide. Should public schools spend money to recruit families? Public schools were never supposed to run enrollment campaigns. But the funding model changed, family behavior changed, and doing nothing now costs more than acting.

In this episode, we unpack why outreach is no longer optional and why it is actually responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Learn the costs of inaction, the return on outreach, and how districts can justify campaigns with data and transparency.

This episode is a recording of Caissa K12’s National Parent Poll results webinar, which is a part of our annual research to assess family attitudes across school choice. To view the video recording, visit our youtube channel or use the following link: https://youtu.be/nK1-avCzvSY?si=b5U1R-lGrmmaQdJ8

Countries rarely fall with a crash; they shrink by decisions that feel “reasonable.” We tell a real, policy-based story from Iran through the eyes of “Leila,” a student who watches her access to quality education get taken away. Then we hold up the mirror: when we say “I don’t care if vouchers hurt other kids,” are we starting down the same slippery slope? This episode connects our new national poll on vouchers to real classroom ripple effects and explains why starving “their” schools shrinks your own future.

When a college freshman breached PowerSchool’s network using stolen employee credentials, data from more than 60 million students was suddenly at risk. This isn’t just a tech story, it’s a wake-up call for district leaders and parents. In this episode, we unpack how the breach happened, why FERPA protections aren’t enough, and what every district should be demanding from vendors who hold student data. Because when it comes to privacy, protecting our students means protecting our communities.

Advocating for traditional public schools and their role in society may now get you labeled an “extremist.” In this second part of our conversation on How School Vouchers Destroy The Social Contract, we explore what happens when societies turn their backs on free public education. From declining national wealth and weakened economies to diminished quality of life, history offers clear warnings about the dangers of dismantling a universal education system. Join us as we examine those lessons and discuss why protecting public schools is essential to preserving the fabric of our communities.