Chalkbeat now has a new look — and a public health sister site

Three logos, one blue, red and pink on a white background.
Chalkbeat, Votebeat and Healthbeat logos (Civic News Company)

Welcome to the new Chalkbeat!

If you’re a regular reader, you might notice that things look a little different here today. Nothing about our stories or the functionality of our site is changing, but we have a new look that we hope you enjoy: simple, modern, and with the work you know and love front and center.

Why? It’s always nice to feel fresh at the start of a school year. But more importantly, the change comes as we launch a new sibling site. Meet Healthbeat, which is officially launching today to cover public health.

Healthbeat reporters will be digging into issues that shape our collective well-being, from infectious diseases to air and water quality and food safety. And they will be bringing the Chalkbeat (and Votebeat) model of national and local reporting to bear on public health at a time when it’s badly needed. Healthbeat will start with bureaus in New York City and Atlanta as well as national reporting in partnership with the great folks over at KFF Health News.

I hope you will check them out, starting with editor in chief Charlene Pacenti’s introduction to Healthbeat’s work. You can also sign up for Healthbeat’s newsletters here.

— Sarah Darville, Chalkbeat editor in chief

The Latest

The Innovation Network school had long been among the lowest performing schools within Indianapolis Public Schools.

School board Vice President Monica Hunter denies allegations that she used derogatory language when referring to a Jewish board member.

The drop continues a decade-long enrollment decline in Memphis, according to Chalkbeat analysis.

Students can’t browse YouTube on school-issued devices, though teachers can still share videos for lessons through Google Classroom.

School funding has risen substantially, but teacher salaries have not. One reason: Districts have instead used more resources to hire additional staff.

A Chalkbeat analysis found the percentages of DPSCD students at or above proficiency in math surpassed the combined average scores of suburban and city charter schools in nearly every grade on the M-STEP.