In 1997, Ohio launched its first school voucher program in Cleveland, which supporters claimed would allow students to escape the perils of attending schools in the underfunded Cleveland public school district. Since that time, the voucher system has been called unconstitutional as it cripples district schools by further limiting their finances. In today’s episode, we hear from two Ohio educators who provide a frontline look at vouchers today and life in the schools before vouchers.

On June 28, 2024, the United States Supreme Court ruled that courts may rely on their own interpretation of ambiguous environmental laws pertaining to clean water and air. Courts no longer have to defer to agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency to provide science- and evidence-based guidelines when interpreting these laws. The decision will likely have far-reaching impacts on policy and how we are able to address climate change and the need for clean water and air. In this episode, I look at the recent decision and consider what it means for us as a society.

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 provided employers and employees opportunities to reduce health insurance costs if employees participated in voluntary workplace wellness programs. However, voluntary participation came with a heavy and sometimes punitive reality for those who did not want to participate. So in 2022, AARP brought a lawsuit against Yale University alleging that Yale’s workplace wellness program actually amounted to a discriminatory involuntary requirement. In this episode, I look at ways to think about your workplace wellness program in light of the Yale settlement. I also walk through various legal provisions that may be useful in helping you structure an effective workplace wellness program that avoids alienating certain employees. As always, this is a conversation. I am not providing legal advice in this setting. For more information, please go to christelbesttraining.com.