It's pride month, and today we're looking at how that's showing up in the classroom. Educators and students, who identify as LGBTQ+, are navigating a difficult landscape. This school year has been marked by protests, book restrictions, and bans on the pride flag on some K through 12 campuses — not to mention legislation that’s been passed, or is pending, in some states that have been labeled “anti-gay” or “anti -trans.”
From our fellow LAist Studios podcast How To LA, host Brian De Los Santos speaks with LAist reporters Caitlin Hernandez and Mariana Dale and we hear from LGBTQ+ teachers in SoCal about what this school year was like for them.

You can find their digital story on LAist's website here: https://laist.com/news/education/lausd-lgbtq-los-angeles-county-chino-antelope-valley-teacher-student-support

Guests: LAist reporters Caitlin Hernandez and Mariana Dale

It's pride month, and today we're looking at how that's showing up in the classroom. Educators and students, who identify as LGBTQ+, are navigating a difficult landscape. This school year has been marked by protests, book restrictions, and bans on the pride flag on some K through 12 campuses — not to mention legislation that’s been passed, or is pending, in some states that have been labeled “anti-gay” or “anti -trans.” From our fellow LAist Studios podcast How To LA, host Brian De Los Santos speaks with LAist reporters Caitlin Hernandez and Mariana Dale and we hear from LGBTQ+ teachers in SoCal about what this school year was like for them.
You can find their digital story on LAist's website here: <a href="https://laist.com/news/education/lausd-lgbtq-los-angeles-county-chino-antelope-valley-teacher-student-support" data-stringify-link="https://laist.com/news/education/lausd-lgbtq-los-angeles-county-chino-antelope-valley-teacher-student-support" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://laist.com/news/education/lausd-lgbtq-los-angeles-county-chino-antelope-valley-teacher-student-support</a>
Guests: LAist reporters Caitlin Hernandez and Mariana Dale

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Imperfect Paradise

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A Challenging Year for LGBTQ+ Teachers in SoCal

California has spent billions of dollars on a free universal preschool program available to all eligible 4-year-olds in the state. However, there are no official plans in place from the state to evaluate the success of the program, also known as transitional kindergarten, or TK. LAist Early Childhood Senior Reporter Elly Yu joins Imperfect Paradise to discuss why experts say researchis needed, who is accountable for TK’s success, and what California can learn from other states with similar programs.

Read more of Elly’s reporting on California's TK program at LAist.com.

Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

California has spent billions of dollars on a free universal preschool program available to all eligible 4-year-olds in the state. However, there are no official plans in place from the state to evaluate the success of the program, also known as transitional kindergarten, or TK. LAist Early Childhood Senior Reporter Elly Yu joins Imperfect Paradise to discuss why experts say research is needed, who is accountable for TK&rsquo;s success, and what California can learn from other states with similar programs.
Read more of <a href="https://laist.com/news/education/early-childhood-education-pre-k/california-legislature-newsom-transitional-kindergarten-budget-research">Elly&rsquo;s reporting on California's TK program</a> at<a href="http://laist.com"> LAist.com</a>.
Grow your business&ndash;no matter what stage you&rsquo;re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at <a href="http://shopify.com/paradise">SHOPIFY.COM/paradise</a>
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Imperfect Paradise: California is not tracking whether its multi-billion dollar public preschool program is working. So how do we know if it’s helping or hurting students?

California has spent billions of dollars on a free universal preschool program available to all eligible 4-year-olds in the state. However, there are no official plans in place from the state to evaluate the success of the program, also known as transitional kindergarten, or TK. LAist Early Childhood Senior Reporter Elly Yu joins Imperfect Paradise to discuss why experts say researchis needed, who is accountable for TK’s success, and what California can learn from other states with similar programs.

Read more of Elly’s reporting on California's TK program at LAist.com. 

Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

California has spent billions of dollars on a free universal preschool program available to all eligible 4-year-olds in the state. However, there are no official plans in place from the state to evaluate the success of the program, also known as transitional kindergarten, or TK. LAist Early Childhood Senior Reporter Elly Yu joins Imperfect Paradise to discuss why experts say research is needed, who is accountable for TK&rsquo;s success, and what California can learn from other states with similar programs.
Read more of&nbsp;<a href="https://laist.com/news/education/early-childhood-education-pre-k/california-legislature-newsom-transitional-kindergarten-budget-research">Elly&rsquo;s reporting on California's TK program </a>at <a href="http://laist.com">LAist.com</a>.&nbsp;
Grow your business&ndash;no matter what stage you&rsquo;re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at <a href="http://shopify.com/paradise">SHOPIFY.COM/paradise</a>
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

California is not tracking whether its multi-billion dollar public preschool program is working. So how do we know if it’s helping or hurting students?

LA 2028 Olympics head Casey Wasserman is facing growing pressure to resign from his post after recently released Epstein files revealed emails Wasserman exchanged with Ghislaine Maxwell. The board behind LA28 — the private planning committee in charge of organizing the 2028 Games— has voted to keep Wasserman at the group’s helm, despite many city officials calling for his resignation, including L.A.Mayor Karen Bass.

LAist reporter Libby Rainey has been tracking the Olympics and joins Imperfect Paradise to discuss what power the mayor has to remove Wasserman, the relationship between the city andLA28and what it means if Wasserman does step down.

Disclosure: Los Angeles civil rights attorney Connie Rice, who LAist interviewed for this story, is a Life Trustee of LAist.

Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

LA 2028 Olympics head Casey Wasserman is facing growing pressure to resign from his post after recently released Epstein files revealed emails Wasserman exchanged with Ghislaine Maxwell. The board behind LA28 &mdash; the private planning committee in charge of organizing the 2028 Games &mdash; has voted to keep Wasserman at the group&rsquo;s helm, despite many city officials calling for his resignation, including L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
LAist reporter Libby Rainey has been tracking the Olympics and joins Imperfect Paradise to discuss what power the mayor has to remove Wasserman, the relationship between the city and LA28 and what it means if Wasserman does step down.
Disclosure: Los Angeles civil rights attorney Connie Rice, who LAist interviewed for this story, is a <a href="https://laist.com/about-us/board">Life Trustee</a> of LAist.
Grow your business&ndash;no matter what stage you&rsquo;re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at <a href="http://shopify.com/paradise">SHOPIFY.COM/paradise</a>
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Imperfect Paradise: Money, politics and power: Casey Wasserman remains head of LA28 Olympics despite connections to Jeffrey Epstein. What does this mean for Olympics planning?

A Challenging Year for LGBTQ+ Teachers in SoCal

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