On today’s edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we continue our weeklong series, “FAILING GRADE: Analysis of America's Public Education Crisis.” The series explores the current state of public education in Georgia and across the nation, from pre-K to higher-ed. For the final day of the series, we continue with our interview from the South Atlanta microschool Pass Pod. The school’s founder discusses details about the school's curriculum and leadership changes that would allow her to focus on the business aspect of her school. Rose then talks with guests about the state of public HBCUs across the nation, the historic underfunding of HBCUs and what needs to happen from a policy standpoint to ensure HBCUs have equitable resources and funding to continue supporting students. Lastly, a representative from a national organization that advocates for schools discusses the state of public education and what can be done to make sure all students have strong academic outcomes.

Potential leadership changes that would allow her to focus on the business aspect of her school.

Guests include:

April Jackson, the founder of Pass Pod school and the co-founder of Black MicroSchools ATL

Lodriguez Murray, the senior vice president of public policy and government affairs for the United Negro College Fund

Daarel Burnette II, a senior editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education

Eric Duncan, EdTrust’s director of P-12 policy

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On today’s edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we continue our weeklong series, “FAILING GRADE: Analysis of America's Public Education Crisis.”

The series explores the current state of public education in Georgia and across the nation, from pre-K to higher-ed.

On day four of the series, we continue with our interview from visiting Pass Pod. The founder of the South Atlanta micro-school talks about the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act and how she views her school as a modern-day freedom school, a place where Black children can learn about Black culture and contributions.

Rose then talks with guests associated with the Atlanta-based Freedom University about educating undocumented students in Georgia with a pathway to higher education, while also organizing students as activists to repeal certain immigration policies. We will also air WABE education reporter Juma Sei’s latest feature that spotlights how Marietta City Schools is working to improve literacy rates by changing how students learn to read. Lastly, two local educators discuss the national Black male teacher shortage.

Guests include:

April Jackson, the founder of Pass Pod school and the co-founder of Black MicroSchools ATL

Julius Cave, the program manager for The Literacy Lab’s Leading Men Fellowship in Atlanta

Zachary White, a senior fellow for the Leading Men Fellowship in Atlanta

Jabari Cain, an associate professor in the Bagwell College of Education and the director of the Call Me MISTER program at Kennesaw State

Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis, executive director and professor of human rights at Freedom University

Nayelly, an undocumented student, Freedom University alumna and a current student at Emory University

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On today’s edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we continue our weeklong series, “FAILING GRADE: Analysis of America's Public Education Crisis.” The series explores the current state of public education in Georgia and across the nation, from pre-K to higher-ed. For day three of the series, we continue with PART 3 of our conversation from Pass Pod school, which is part of the collective Black MicroSchools ATL. Supervising producer Tiffany Griffith speaks with a parent about the decision to withdraw her children from public school. Also, Rose talks with a student about the experience of attending Pass Pod school. A rural public schools superintendent then explains the unique challenges associated with his district. Lastly, educators at The Cottage School explain how they are providing a unique learning environment for special needs students that is not offered in public schools.

Guests include:

Amber, parent of two children who attend Pass Pod

I’Nique, 13, a student at Pass Pod

Allen Fort, superintendent of the Taliaferro County School District

Dr. Steven Palmer, Head of School at The Cottage School

Renee’ Kincaid, Elementary School teacher at The Cottage School

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On today’s edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we continue our weeklong series, “FAILING GRADE: Analysis of America's Public Education Crisis.” The series explores the current state of public education in Georgia and across the nation, from pre-K to higher-ed. For day two of the series, we continue with PART 2 our visit to Black MicroSchools ATL. Rose speaks with the co-founder April Jackson about the school which predominantly serves African American children and uses a curriculum that celebrates Black culture and contributions. Jackson explains why she values non-traditional education and gives insight into the sustainability of her school. Also, a professor breaks down a study that explores how young Black male students are disciplined as opposed to their white counterparts.

Guests include:

April M. Jackson, the co-founder of Black Microschools ATL

Calvin Zimmermann, an assistant professor of education in Notre Dame's Sociology Department

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This year marks 70 years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Brown v. Board of Education. The historic decision outlawed segregation in schools across the nation. Fast forward to now, school systems are still facing multiple challenges and equity issues. On today’s edition of "Closer Look with Rose Scott," we begin our weeklong series, “FAILING GRADE: Analysis of America's Public Education Crisis.” The series explores the current state of education in Georgia and across the nation, from pre-K to higher-ed.

Guest include:

April M. Jackson, the co-founder of Black Microschools ATL

U.S. Department of Education Secretary Dr. Miguel Cardona

Kamau Bobb, the founding senior director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing at Georgia Tech

Ed Chang, the executive director of redefinED atlanta

Tiffany Fick, the director of School Quality and Advocacy at Equity in Education

Lupita Quezada, a program coordinator for the Latino Community Fund Georgia 

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Click Here podcast host Dina Temple-Raston talks with Rose about a recent interview with the self-proclaimed leader of the LockBit ransomware group. He goes by the name LockBitSupp and is reportedly behind the recent Fulton County cyberattack.

Plus, WABE politics reporters Sam Gringlas and Rahul Bali return to “Closer Look.” First, Gringlas reports on breaking news. He discusses the latest following Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee's ruling that allows District Attorney Fani Willis to continue prosecuting the Georgia election interference case only if special prosecutor Nathan Wade resigns. Bali then discusses the latest news happening at the state capitol as the 2024 Georgia legislative comes close to an end.

Lastly, Rose sits down with Cindy Parlow Cone, the president of the United States Soccer. The former Hall-of-Famer and Olympian discusses why Atlanta could be the host city for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She also discusses plans for a new state-of-the-art training facility in Fayette County, GA.

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Timothy Fields, a senior associate dean of admissions at Emory University, and Shereem Herndon-Brown, the founder and chief education officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, discuss their new book, the second edition of “The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions: A Conversation about Education, Parenting, and Race.” They also share how they hope their book will serve as a resource tool following the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to end race-conscious admissions.

Plus, Dr. Pearl Dowe is the vice provost for faculty affairs at Emory University and a political science and African American studies professor. She talks with Rose about her new book, “The Radical Imagination of Black Women: Ambition, Politics, and Power.” The book explores the political ambition of African American women and their efforts to seek public leadership despite facing multiple barriers.

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Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee has dismissed some of the charges against former President Donald Trump and others in the 2020 Georgia election interference case. WABE politics reporter Sam Gringlas discusses the latest.

Meanwhile, Fred Hicks, an Atlanta-based political strategist, and Tammy Greer, a clinical assistant professor at Georgia State University in the Department of Public Management and Policy, provide a recap of the Georgia primary. They also explain how both major political parties might campaign moving forward now that President Joe Biden and former President Trump have secured their respective parties' presidential nominations.

Plus, the "Leave it Blank" campaign, from the Listen to Georgia Coalition, requested for Democratic primary voters to leave their ballot blank when they headed to the polls on Tuesday. The campaign was an attempt to put pressure on President Joe Biden for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas War. Azka Mahmood, an advisory board member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Action Georgia and a member of the Listen to Georgia Coalition, discusses the results of the campaign.

Lastly, Rivian has paused its plans to build a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Georgia. Larry Williams, the president and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia, discusses how Rivian’s decision could impact the state’s economy and reputation as an electric vehicle and tech hub.

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Rivian Automotive is pausing the construction of its $5 billion manufacturing plant in Georgia. Rivian’s CEO Robert Scaringe says the company decided to halt plans for the factory to move production of new models to an Illinois facility. Tom Smith, a professor in the practice of finance at Emory University, gives his analysis of the potential economic impact of Rivian’s stalled development.

Plus, in celebration of National Impact Day of Service, the Black Family Wellness Expo is being held on March 16, at Greenbriar Mall. Dr. Nicole Martin Franks, who serves as a professor of Emergency Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine and the interim chief quality officer at Emory Healthcare, discusses the importance of specific annual health assessments and screenings.

Also, GBH News political reporter Saraya Wintersmith discusses her new podcast, “What Is Owed.” The podcast explores what reparations might look like in one of the oldest cities in America that enslaved Africans, Boston Massachusetts.

Lastly, attorney Giselle Carson, who practices business immigration and compliance at Marks Gray reveals how complex the United States’ immigration compliance process is to navigate and how an increase in processing fees is supposed to solve some problems.

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Morehouse School of Medicine recently launched the Institute of Translational Genomic Medicine. Dr. Melissa Davis, who serves as the institute’s director, discusses how it will serve as a national hub for genetic information on people of African descent. Davis also discusses a new $25 million grant that she received to address cancer disparities in populations of African ancestry.

Hip-hop producer Corey Dennard and environmentalist Michael Hawthorne Jr. are the co-creators of Klean Energy Kulture. Their mission is to make the clean energy lifestyle accessible to communities of color and the world by 2035. They argue that Black and Brown communities are suffering the brunt of environmental injustice. They talk with Rose about their efforts to bring swagger to fighting climate change. 

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