Episode Details

On this episode, Dr. Bob Sanborn and Owala Maima explore public education, support for immigrant children, and how communities can create safer, more welcoming spaces for children and families.

• Texas Education Updates: Megan Menchaca, K-12 Education Reporter at The Texas Tribune, discusses proposed changes to Texas school takeovers, including greater community involvement and limits on state-appointed leadership. She also examines the rise in STAAR reading test rescoring requests, the role of automated scoring, and how revised scores can affect school accountability ratings.
• Wraparound Services for Immigrant Children: Krystal Gomez, Managing Attorney at the Texas Immigration Law Council, explains why immigrant children and families may need coordinated legal, educational, health, and social services. She discusses how schools and communities can help families access support and ensure children feel welcomed and included.
• Parks & Urban Planning for Children: Jay Blazek Crossley, Executive Director of Farm&City, explores how parks, sidewalks, safer streets, and accessible recreational spaces can improve children’s everyday lives. He discusses how Houston can plan and invest in neighborhoods with the needs of children and families in mind.

Plus, hear Hip Speak with Natalie Gonzalez (Children At Risk) and Data of the Day with Dr. Jeff Temple (UT Health Houston).

Tune in every Wednesday from 9–10 a.m. on 90.1 KPFT Houston and kpft.org, and listen to new podcast episodes each Thursday morning!