Public Education Unfiltered
By Educators. For Educators.
Public education is facing new challenges, and it’s time for real talk.
Public Education Unfiltered, hosted by public education expert Brian J. Stephens, goes beyond the headlines to tackle the biggest challenges facing public school districts— without the sugar coating.
Through raw, unfiltered conversations with superintendents, policymakers, and education reform leaders, this podcast breaks down the real issues affecting schools today, from chronic absenteeism and student recruitment to funding struggles and policy shifts. But this isn’t just talk— it’s about real-world solutions that help educators, administrators, and decision-makers take action.
If you care about the future of public education, this is the podcast you need to hear.
Have a topic you want to hear about next? Email caroline@caissaps.com to share your thoughts.
Episodes
38 episodes
Is Student Recruitment a Misuse of Taxpayer Dollars?
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, f...
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16:13
WEBINAR: Results of National Parent Poll
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 followin...
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54:25
How A Country Shrinks
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...
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26:11
Data Security in Light of Powerschool Ruling
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 ...
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15:03
How School Vouchers Destroy The Social Contract (PART 2)
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 societ...
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11:10
How School Vouchers Destroy the Social Contract
What happens to our society when we stop seeing public education as a shared responsibility? In this episode, we unpack what role public schools play in upholding the “social contract” and why it matters to every single one of us.Hear wh...
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21:45
The False Front of School Choice: How to Reframe the Debate
The school choice debate isn’t about opposing options. It’s about demanding fairness. Real choice requires real facts, accountability, and access for all students. This episode unpacks how misleading language and policies distort public underst...
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24:59
Real Questions from Public School Leaders, Answered
In this special “Stump the Chump” episode, Caissa K12 Director of Client Relations Rashai Holmes puts Brian Stephens in the hot seat with real questions from public school leaders across the country.From tackling enrollment decline and i...
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30:53
Are School Vouchers Constitutional? (Part 2: State Law Explained)
Federal law may open the door, but state constitutions decide who gets to walk through it. In Part 2, we look at how different states interpret voucher laws, from Florida’s “uniform system” clause to South Carolina’s “direct benefit” ban. Learn...
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24:27
Are School Vouchers Constitutional? (Part 1: Federal Law Explained)
Education choice is often framed as a political debate, but what does the law really say? In this first episode of a two-part series on the constitutionality of school vouchers, explore what federal laws say about vouchers and school choice. We...
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40:19
Inverting the Future: What Could Destroy Public Schools
Most conversations about public education focus on how to improve it. In this episode, we flip the question through a process called inverting: instead of asking what schools must do to succeed, we ask what could destroy them.Fr...
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36:16
Navigating the Competition: How Public Schools in Newark Stay Ahead
With school choice here to stay, public school districts must evolve to embrace the reality of competition. Rochanda Jackson, Executive Director of the Office of Policy, Planning, Evaluation, and Testing at the Newark Board of Education, joins ...
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42:59
Addressing Comments on Caissa K12's New York Times Feature
Following Caissa K12’s recent feature in The New York Times, Brian sits down to directly respond to some of the reactions and comments it sparked. Joined by producer Caroline Christian, he addresses common misconceptions about public s...
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30:49
A Future Without Public Education
What happens when a society turns its back on public education? In this episode, we look at education’s past and present to uncover the devastating consequences cultures face when public education systems are dismantled or neglected. The loss o...
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20:14
The History That’s Shaping Tomorrow’s Schools
What can the history of public education teach us about its future? Across centuries and civilizations, public education has always played a central role in shaping societies and developing productive citizens. Learn how this global evolution d...
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28:49
Public Schools Must Choose To Compete
The future of public education depends on our willingness to face reality: traditional public schools are in a competition, whether they want to be or not. In this episode, explore why districts must choose to compete, and how their communities...
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20:06
What School Choice Means in Florida: Lessons for District Leaders Nationwide
School choice legislation aims to create competition, but how can it be fair when public schools play by different rules? Scott Howat, the Chief Communications Officer of Orange County Public Schools, joins to discuss the financial impact of un...
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44:32
Navigating The Intersection of AI & Education
AI’s relevancy has increased drastically in recent years, but is it education’s cornerstone or its crutch? This episode explores the benefits and consequences of AI in the classroom, as well as the long term repercussions on students of a growi...
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15:37
How Public Schools Took On The Statehouse
Public education supporters across the nation have watched one community’s battle against unfair state legislation, a battle led by Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Aleesia Johnson. In this episode, featuring guest host Paige Walk...
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42:01
Why Public School Districts Are Suing Social Media Companies
Across the country, public school districts are taking tech giants like Meta and TikTok to court, blaming them for a mental health crisis unfolding in America's classrooms. This episode dives into the details behind local school district’s laws...
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28:08
Should Public School Districts Outsource?
As more public schools face budget shortfalls, many districts are considering outsourcing school services to cut costs, but is it the right move? This episode clarifies the conversation around outsourcing in public school districts, covering co...
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25:43
What Every Public School Leader Needs to Know About DEI
The Department of Education's decision to eliminate DEI initiatives will have lasting effects on public school districts. This episode dives into the legal landscape surrounding public education and DEI by breaking down what is currently permit...
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24:13
The Impact of Immigration Policies on Student Attendance
This episode examines how immigration enforcement and recent ICE raids are impacting public school attendance and dismantling safe spaces for students. It explores the decline in attendance among undocumented students, widespread walkouts, and ...
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23:51
MSCS Board Member Tamarques Porter on District Success
This episode features a candid conversation with Memphis-Shelby County Schools board member Tamarques Porter, who shares his perspective on the district’s success and potential challenges. The discussion covers the heated debate around school c...
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43:47
Can Public Schools Display The Ten Commandments?
This episode dives into the legal and legislative battle over religious displays in U.S. public school classrooms. We unpack why the Ten Commandments were originally banned, explore the efforts to reverse that decision in prominent Supreme Cour...
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7:49