Essential education reporting across America

Eleanore Catolico

King Bethel, wearing a white shirt and gold necklaces, leans against a railing outside of Detroit’s Motown Museum.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Freshman year, at a distance
‘I wasn’t trying to entertain. I was trying to teach’: How a lesson about the past helped a Detroit teenager find his voice in the classroom
He started off as a singer. But after a lesson about redlining, this student performer found another way to use his voice — to effect change.
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Halfway through a school year disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, Michigan kindergarten teachers find they have to get creative to engage students  and teach them the crucial social and emotional skills they need.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Teaching & Classroom
Michigan teachers get creative to help kindergartners adapt to virtual learning challenges
By Eleanore Catolico
 
A teacher instructs students in an English class at Southeastern High School in Detroit in June 2019.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Teaching & Classroom
The Detroit district’s new way to recruit teachers: Train its own support staff
By Eleanore Catolico
 
A close-up photo of a person getting a shot in the arm.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
Superintendent Vitti wants some Detroit schools to be COVID-19 vaccination sites, speeding up access for teachers
By Eleanore Catolico
 
To combat the problem in Michigan, school leaders are reconsidering their approaches to grades and assignments this school year. At least one district has eliminated failing grades; others might switch to pass/fail grading.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Teaching & Classroom
More F’s, more worries: Michigan school leaders rethink grading during pandemic
By Eleanore Catolico
 
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From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
Michigan teachers tackle Wednesday’s insurrection: ‘I don’t want my students to be alone’
By Lori Higgins and Eleanore Catolico
 
A close-up photo of a person getting a shot in the arm.
From Chalkbeat Detroit COVID and Schools
Michigan teachers can get COVID vaccine beginning Monday
By Koby Levin and Eleanore Catolico
 
Nearly 50,000 students in the Detroit Public Schools Community District have had the option of learning online since November, when officials suspended in-person learning due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases across the city.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
The Detroit district targets February to restart in-person learning
By Eleanore Catolico
 
King Bethel smiling at his desk at home.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Freshman year, at a distance
Ahead of winter break, a student-organized talent show gives a Detroit freshman a moment to shine
By Eleanore Catolico
 
The agreements cap off months of negotiations between the district and its non-teachers unions, which represent about 2,729 workers across 133 job classifications. They include paraprofessionals, clerical staff, aides, bus attendants, cafeteria workers, and campus police officers.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
After months of negotiations, the Detroit district reaches agreements with support staff unions
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Detroit district teacher Tawana Jordan seeks to create a classroom atmosphere that is engaging, respectful, and where all students “feel like they’re the teacher’s pet.”
From Chalkbeat Detroit How I Teach
This award-winning Detroit English teacher helps her students build confidence and fight shame
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Female student in classroom, working at desk in Hillcrest High School in Memphis, Tennessee
From Chalkbeat Detroit Diversity & Equity
Tens of thousands of Michigan students are missing this fall. The state doesn’t have a plan to find them.
By Koby Levin and Eleanore Catolico
 
Detroit schools superintendent Nikolai Vitti.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
Detroit school board approves pay raise and 3-year contract extension for Superintendent Vitti
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Empty tables and chairs in a teacher’s lounge.
From Chalkbeat Detroit COVID and Schools
Michigan enrollment fell by 53,200 students this fall as the pandemic raged. Where did they go?
By Koby Levin and Eleanore Catolico
 
Photo illustration of a student looking at a laptop with a thought bubble above his head. In the bubble is a collage of images: students gathered at a lunch table, a sign encouraging the use face masks, a protest sign that reads Black Lives Matter, and a group of students playing basketball in gym class.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Student Voices
‘It’s a battle with yourself’: Michigan students struggle to manage mental health in troubling times
By Eleanore Catolico
 
A student sits at a desk waiting for his online class via videoconference to start with a notebook and other school supplies nearby.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Remote learning
The Detroit district wants to use COVID funds to extend internet access until June for all its students
By Eleanore Catolico
 
The Detroit Public Schools Community District is partnering with Wayne State University and Henry Ford Health System to offer the testing. Illustration of a patient and medical supervisor preparing for a COVID-19 nasal swab test.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Coronavirus Detroit
As the number of COVID-19 cases grows, the Detroit district is offering free testing to staff and families
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Addressing device issues will be crucial so students can participate in online learning, especially for those transitioning to remote instruction after weeks of taking classes inside school buildings.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Remote learning
New hubs in the Detroit school district will help families with technology and community resources
By Eleanore Catolico
 
First and second graders at Harms Elementary School learn about COVID safety on the first day of classes, Sept. 8. The Detroit district announced Thursday it is suspending in-person classes until January.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
Detroit district halts in-person learning due to growing number of COVID-19 cases in the city
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Muslim students organized a community event in 2019 to spread awareness on the Eid holiday’s significance.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Student Voices
Lessons learned from Detroit district Muslim students’ fight to recognize the Eid al-Fitr holiday
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Sonya Mays (left), Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (center), and Misha Stallworth (right), each won a seat on the Detroit district school board. Mays and Stallworth are incumbents, and Gay-Dagnogo is the challenger.
From Chalkbeat Detroit 2020 elections
Two incumbents and a Michigan legislator win tight Detroit school board race
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Final results likely won’t be available until Wednesday.
From Chalkbeat Detroit 2020 elections
Incumbents and Michigan lawmaker in battle for top spots in Detroit school board race
By Eleanore Catolico
 
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From Chalkbeat Detroit Campaigns and elections
Donations boost incumbents in high stakes Detroit school board race
By Koby Levin and Eleanore Catolico
 
A laptop computer is tethered to a projector in a math class at Southeastern High School in Detroit, MI.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
Meet the candidates vying for 3 spots on the Detroit school board
By Eleanore Catolico, Koby Levin, and 1 more
 
An empty classroom at Goldrick Elementary School, Dec. 7, 2017.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
After years of state oversight, commission gives financial control back to Detroit district
By Eleanore Catolico
 
A red sign reads Vote Here.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Campaigns and elections
Finances and reform are at stake in the Detroit district school board race
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Classroom of empty desks and chairs.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
Detroit Superintendent Vitti wants more face-to-face learning to encourage 3,000 missing students to attend class
By Eleanore Catolico
 
Students at Denver’s Noel Community Arts School work on laptops.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Remote learning
Count day goes virtual for many Michigan schools. The shift isn’t easy.
By Eleanore Catolico
 
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From Chalkbeat Detroit Teaching & Classroom
Majority of Detroit teachers vote yes to ratify a one-year contract
By Eleanore Catolico
 
A calculator sits on a desk as students work in a math class at Southeastern High School in Detroit, MI. Photo by Anthony Lanzilote/Chalkbeat �June, 2019 photo�
From Chalkbeat Detroit COVID safety
UPDATE: Michigan has 18 new K-12 schools with COVID outbreaks
By Koby Levin and Eleanore Catolico