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EWA​, the professional organization dedicated to ​strengthening the community of education ​writers and improving the ​quality of education coverage ​to better inform the public, hosts ​a weekly podcast featuring lively interviews with journalists.

Jun 23, 2020

In a new investigation, The Huffington Post’s Rebecca Klein found disturbing examples of Christian schools that receive taxpayer dollars -- through tax credit scholarship and voucher programs -- that were requiring LGBTQ students to undergo “conversion therapy” in an attempt to change their sexual orientation. The controversial practice -- which some experts say can harm young peoples’ mental health -- has been banned in 20 states and D.C. Klein shares how she built a paper trail to verify students’ allegations, and how other reporters can use The Huffington Post’s database to follow up with Christian schools in their own communities that made the list. Also, Klein gives an update on Congress’ multi-billion dollar COVID-19 relief fund for K-12 schools, and why Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is seizing the moment to push for more federal funding to flow to private and parochial schools, which she argues have also been hurt by the pandemic-related recession.