What I Want to Know, with Kevin P. Chavous: Recent Episodes
Stride, Inc.
Welcome to ‘What I Want to Know’, one of the most downloaded K-12 education podcasts in the country! Listen in with our host, Kevin P. Chavous, as he connects with innovators and leaders who share practical, transformative solutions to the biggest challenges in education today.
As America rethinks the future of schooling, Kevin explores emerging needs and possibilities, for students and educators alike, through short, stimulating conversations. Subscribe to ‘What I Want to Know’ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, and leave a rating and review so we can bring you more of the topics you want to hear about!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2018, nearly 1 in 44 children in the United States have been identified as being somewhere on the autism spectrum. To ensure that neurodiverse students can succeed, schools must be committed to understanding and supporting their unique needs. What are some of the most common myths about individuals on the autism spectrum? What should schools understand about these students? And how can we best prepare students on the spectrum to thrive in life?
In this episode, Kevin discusses the needs of students on the autism spectrum with author and reporter Eric Garcia.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 34% of students are below grade level for reading by the 4th grade. And the most recent test scores showed that students have fallen back to the levels of 20 years ago. Why are so many students falling behind in reading, and what impact does this have on their future? Are we using the best methods to teach reading and literacy in our classrooms? How can we be smarter about teaching reading, and keep students from falling behind in school and in life?
In this episode, Kevin discusses evidence-aligned reading instruction with founder and CEO of The Reading League, Dr. Maria Murray.
Schools do not exist in a silo; they are tied to communities. High teacher turnover paired with brain drain of students leaving for educational opportunities can have dire consequences for communities that may already be economically or socially disadvantaged. How can we prepare students for sustainable careers and still encourage them to invest in their local economy? What are the benefits of retaining educated students for a community? And how can we support student success and foster community engagement among teachers and families?
In this episode, Kevin discusses community flourishing with real estate developer, author and entrepreneur, Majora Carter.
Five million children in the U.S live in food-insecure households, uncertain if they have enough money for meals. This not only affects their nutrition, but many believe it could impact their performance in school too. How has the pandemic affected students who rely on free school meals? How does lack of access to nutritious foods impact student learning and outcomes? What can we do to break stigmas around food insecurity and ensure that EVERY student has the nutrition they need to succeed?
In this episode, Kevin discusses nutrition in and outside of schools with the founder and CEO of FoodCorps, Curt Ellis.
When the COVID pandemic disrupted the world, education moved online, and many leaders were forced to think differently about what it means to go to school. Even as students returned to the classroom
According to a study from the American Federation for Children, 78% of parents believe that they should have influence over what is taught in K12 classrooms, while 71% wish they had a more significant
In 2022, national average test scores in reading and math both declined to the lowest levels in decades. While most of the commentary instills concern, even fear, over the current state of education,
According to a survey of public school parents conducted by Stride, Inc., nearly half of parents across the nation would prefer to send their child(ren) to a private school, and 54% express some conce
According to the Cyberbullying Research Centers 2021 study, 45% of middle and highschoolers in the U.S. had been cyberbullied in their lifetime 14% of students even admitted to cyberbullying someon
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2018 nearly half of all U.S. public schools had at least one security officer present. As schools adjust their own security policies fol
Kevin's conversation with Titania Jordan, Chief Parent Officer of Bark Technologies, was so packed full of insights that we couldn't fit it all into one episode! So we are sharing with you this specia
Technology can open up doors to more information and content than ever before. That can be good and bad for kids. How can we teach kids healthy tech habits? What are the risks of cyberbullying, ac
During the pandemic, many schools experienced heightened concern from parents and staff about indoor air quality. And with the rising cost of energy, districts everywhere are thinking about how to ope
In 2021, the American Library Association tracked over fifteen-hundred individual book challenges or removals. In addition, our public school system is seeing increasing attempts to ban books from eit
Recently, U.S. colleges reported that only 5% of their participating schools requested standardized test scores in the past school year. This is a drastic decrease from 55% in 2019. It is clear that t
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the drive for social justice, have highlighted the need for meaningful change in the U.S. education system. New technologies and social realities are also impacting the aspi
An important part of educating the next generation is empowering young people to believe in themselves and reach their full potential. Todays girls will be tomorrows leaders in society and in ever
As college enrollment rates peak, and students and parents weigh the cost-benefit of a college degree, dual enrollment offers many students a cost effective option to pursue higher education. What are
Cybercrime can cause significant issues for schools, from compromising student privacy to the extraordinary cost of ransomware attacks. In the current environment, schools and administrators must be p
According to the Department of Education, nearly 300,000 K12 students were enrolled in a fully virtual school in 2019. And with the shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, enrollment i
A recent survey finds that nearly two-thirds of parents want schools to experiment with new ways of teaching children. But where do we begin? With so many issues to address, some influential voices sa
Social and emotional learning - the process by which young people acquire the knowledge and skills to develop healthy identities,manage their emotions,show empathy for others,and achieve their pers
Welcome to season 3 of What I Want to Know! As you begin a new school year, were beginning a new season, in a new office with a great line-up of new guests. Stay current on the things that matter mos
A recent study by Miami University of Ohio found that nearly two-thirds of teachers reported increased anxiety and emotional exhaustion concerns. In fact, with teacher shortages and student learning l
Even before the pandemic, suicide was the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24. Teenage emergency room visits for suicide attempts have risen sharply since 2020, with a 50 pe
In 2019, the highest-paying entry-level jobs were in data science, at $95,000 a year. But these lucrative jobs employ a smaller percentage of women and people of color than any other field. How can we
Despite what we know about the value of infusing art and music into our childrens lives, 1.3 million students in the United States do not have access to music education classes. Why arent we investi
According to the latest research from the CDC, nearly 2 percent of all children in the United States sit on the autism spectrum. And of those millions of kids, the vast majority attend America's publi
Roughly 1 million U.S. military children live around the world. And by the time they finish high school, they will attend nine different schools on average. What can we do to provide stability in thei
Parents across the country are taking a more active role in education policy than ever before. But are their voices actually being heard? What impact is parent activism having on hot-button issues lik
There are more than 115,000 libraries in the United States today. But what purpose do they serve when information is so readily available on the internet? How must libraries evolve to remain relevant
In 2019, more than 1 in 3 high school students reported experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, a 40 percent increase since 2009. As a result of the pandemic, nearly 3 in 4 studen
One in four teachers says they are likely to quit their jobs in the near future. And they will be leaving at a time when two-thirds of public-school districts are already struggling with the impacts o
The last two years have shown us a lot about school districts capacity for transformation. Education leaders see an opportunity not just to rethink public education but to implement real changes that
School suspension is the number one predictor of whether a child will drop out of school, become reliant on social services, or spend time in prison as an adult. Still, students as young as four-years
Among the largest school districts in the United States, 14 percent have students serving on their boards of education. Some have full voting rights, some play an advisory role, but all are there to h
Despite overwhelming data to the contrary, 25 percent of Americans are still unsure that climate change is real. Could that be because only 42 percent of schools make it part of their curriculum, and
Now more than ever, it is important for our nations students to be socially conscious and civic minded. But how do we teach civics in an era of partisan politics? What can we do to infuse more fact a
As the pandemic subsides and students return to in-person learning, 45 percent of families report they would prefer to keep their children online if given the chance. Twenty-two percent say they would
According to a 2018 ACT study, 35 percent of high school graduates showed little or no readiness for college coursework. The COVID slide has made matters worse in the years since. One of the primary g
According to the American Library Association, there were 330 attempts to ban books between September 1 and December 1, 2021. In 2019, there were only 377 attempts for the entire year. Book challenges
Studies show that children who truly connect with their schools go on to live healthier, happier lives. So, what are we doing to build and nurture those connections with at-risk youth? What steps are
A reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently wrote she "used to bring a book to school board meetings to read during the long presentations on the new boiler system." Now, she feels like s
In the latest rankings from PISA, the Program for International Student Assessment, the United States ranks outside the top 20 in science, reading, and math. How are countries in the top 10 outpacing
While the U.S. has made great strides to achieve gender equality, studies still show that girls have less self-confidence than their male counterparts. What can schools do to close the confidence gap?
As in-person learning resumes and a new normal takes shape, schools across the country must decide how to best allocate $189 billion in federal COVID relief. At the same time, the $2 trillion spending
In a recent survey of educators, 69 percent said that personalized learning will be more relevant to their work in the next few years. But what are the implications for curricula not based on teachin
The U.S. needs to fill four million manufacturing jobs by 2030. According to The Manufacturing Institute research, if we continue down the current path, there wont be enough people with the right ski
The educational school choice movement began 30 years ago when hundreds of Milwaukee students received publicly-funded scholarships to attend private schools. Today, nearly 5 million American school c
A lack of financial literacy costs Americans $415 billion each year. How can we empower people with the knowledge they need to secure their financial future? What skills do they need to successfully m
Learning to manage money is a critical skill. Yet, 79 percent of teenagers today dont have a savings account and 87 percent say they dont know how to manage their money. What can we do to improve fi
When the pandemic began, low-wage workers comprised 43 percent of the U.S. labor force. Today, those same workers account for more than half of those still looking for a job. As a K-shaped recovery th
Why isnt there more diversity in young adult literature? According to the Cooperative Childrens Book Centers report on diversity in young adult childrens literature, more than 40 percent of the ma
Annual sales of young adult fiction reached a new high of $80 million in 2018 and book sales increased nearly 10 percent per year during the pandemic. Why is this genre gaining popularity? How has it
Before the pandemic, e-sports had grown into a $1 billion global industry. Now, there are more gamers than athletes in U.S. high schools. But how do students benefit from e-sports? Can video games hel
Computer science and IT jobs are expected to grow 13 percent by the year 2030. But less than half of U.S. schools teach computer science as part of the core curriculum. How can we get more kids intere
As our nation debates questions of racial and social injustice, school districts are getting serious about diversity, equity, and inclusion. But what challenges await leaders who push a diversity, equ
This year weve seen 28 states consider measures that would restrict education on racism, bias, or the historical contributions of specific ethnic groups. Much of the debate has centered on critical r
We all know that preschool is an important first step in a childs learning journey. But what are the pillars of a strong preschool curriculum? And how can we better support young children who have go
Two hundred thousand armed service members transition into civilian life each year. And more than half say that joining the private sector is much harder than they expected. What can we do to ease the
During the 20192020 school year, more than 1.6 million children were enrolled in preschool programs across the United States. But is early childhood education really a springboard for academic succes
When it comes to bullying, one of the most heartbreaking statistics is that 40 percent of victims believe they will be bullied again. What can we do to break the cycle? How should parents, teachers, c
One out of every five children in the United States has been a target of bullying. And many more choose not to report being bullied. But what do we really know about bullying today? In this episode,
Hispanic and Latino students account for one quarter of the students in our nations public schools. The 2020 census shows that they are the fastest growing population in the United States. But what d
Hispanic and Latino communities represent the second largest ethnic group in the United States, and they account for more than a quarter of our nations students. But does our education system reflect
The pandemic provided parents with a front row seat to their childrens education, and many did not like what they saw. But how can parents drive real change in systems that are resistant to reform? A
As parents, we want whats best for our children and we expect our schools to prepare them for a successful future. But are kids learning the skills they need for tomorrows jobs? How can we as parent
This year, it is estimated that 1.1 million undocumented students will enter our school system. The Plyler v. Doe Supreme Court decision requires states to educate them all. What can school districts
In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled, in Plyler v. Doe, that children have a legal right to education regardless of their immigration status. What does that mean in todays reality? In this episode, Kevin
The pandemic created an opportunity to change the way we serve a new generation of learners. But how can we drive meaningful reforms in U.S. school districts, including those that are resistant to cha
Weve always relied on our communitiesfamily members, neighbors, local workers, and professionalsto see us through challenging times, and the pandemic is no exception. How can we leverage these rela
Stedman Graham and Jeff Selingo join Kevin to discuss how career paths have evolved. They used to be linearstudents transitioned from high school to a blue-collar job or to college and a white-collar
Celebrity philanthropists like Jalen Rose and Ted Dintersmith donate their time, expertise, and money to education initiatives for a variety of reasons. Some do it give back to their communities while
Too often Americas public schools are caught in the crosshairs of partisan politics or competing federal, state, and local government requirements. Add to that the demands of vocal parents and it is
Todays students have the world at their fingertips. With cell phones and laptops, they no longer need to rely on teachers as the sole providers of educational content. How does this shift the balance
The American workforce is shifting. Were now in an era where only 27 percent of college graduates pursue a career in their field of study. And with the high cost of college, many students cant affor
Literacy has always been at the foundation of our educational system. But with todays realities of social injustice and digital transformation, how does literacy education have to evolve? More than e
Education is shifting because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Answers to long-overdue questions about how we measure student progress are now being demanded. School districts and the private sector are re-e
We need schools to help all students reach their full potential. During the pandemic, nearly 17 million students were locked out of online learning because their families lack the home internet access
As unemployment numbers climb and student debt rises above $1.7 trillion, many of us wonder what this means for the next generation. Is there still room for students to pursue their dreams? Kevin exam
The pandemic is transforming education. Is it also changing the skill requirements for our nations 3.5 million teachers? Kevin explores this conversation with noted political scientist and prolific a
The concept of a classroom is changing. With of American households turning to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, many are getting their first taste of virtual learning. For others, this i
What I Want to Know provides answers to some of the biggest questions in education. As the traditional model undergoes a dramatic shift accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, many are wondering what