"Grade School Confidential" is the nineteenth episode of the eighth season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 6, 1997. It was written by Rachel Pulido and directed by Susie Dietter. The episode's writer Rachel Pulido took some of the inspiration for this episode from "Bart the Lover", specifically Mrs. Krabappel's line to Bart about refusing to date Principal Skinner because, "his mommy won't let him out to play". The Mathmagician is based on Bill Gates. Homer using his megaphone to talk to Marge and Lisa, who were standing next to him, was ad-libbed by Dan Castellaneta. This episode marks the only episode in Season 8 in which Marge has a minor role, and one of the four times Lisa has a minor role in a Season 8 episode, the others being "Bart After Dark", "Homer's Enemy", and "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase", although she has major or supporting roles in the season's other episodes.
Cultural references
The title is a reference to High School Confidential! Mrs. Krabappel has a candle that resembles Charlie Brown, a character from Peanuts.
The authors of the book I Can't Believe It's a Bigger and Better Updated Unofficial Simpsons Guide, Gary Russell and Gareth Roberts, called it "A delightful episode that finally brings to fruition one of the series' longest running gags: Edna and Seymour's mutual attraction. What is doubly refreshing is that it remains a constant in the subsequent episodes."