Essential education reporting across America

Laura Faith Kebede

Students demonstrate ancient Chinese martial arts during a showcase for parents at the end of Shelby County Schools’ 2017 summer learning academy at Alcy Elementary School.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Assessment and testing
Memphis Summer Academy makes changes after previous summer programs failed to raise student test scores
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
MEMPHIS, TN - April 15, 2021: The Believe Memphis Academy’s Badger Postal Service program delivers meals and school supplies to the students of Believe Memphis Academy.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Raising money for extra staff helped this Memphis school increase math scores during the pandemic
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Ray at the State of the District address on April 16, 2021.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Leadership & Management
‘There are better days ahead’: Superintendent wants ‘Memphis’ back in district name and to add dual language programs, fine arts to all schools
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
MEMPHIS, TN - March 16, 2021: Jalan Clemmons, a freshman at Hamilton High School, stands in his living room while at home during a virtual school day. His mother, Anna Nuby, works from home and he also lives with his 2-year-old brother Kobi.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Freshman year, at a distance
‘It’s like we’re not even there’: A Memphis student longs for a fresh start
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Students in masks pose standing next to their desks in a classroom inside of a school
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
‘Where is that money coming from?’ Memphis leaders say bill to force sale of Germantown schools would require new construction
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Superintendent Joris Ray sits with school board members separated by plastic dividers during a meeting at the district’s headquarters
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis will return to typical school calendar next year, but this year’s summer break will be shorter
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
A teacher wearing a mask works with students remotely at a computer in her classroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Statehouse policy and politics
‘It was quite overwhelming’: Tennessee bill would spare recent out-of-state teachers from taking costly license exams
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
School board members and Superintendent Joris Ray sit in an auditorium with plastic dividers.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Leadership & Management
Memphis works to bring back a normal school calendar after COVID summer ‘crunch’
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Executive Director Sarah Carpenter speaks at a press conference for parent advocacy organization Memphis Lift at district headquarters about upcoming conversation guides for parents and teachers to discuss a student’s academic progress created in collaboration with Shelby County Schools. March 22, 2021
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
More than grades: Memphis parents can use new guide to understand how children are doing in school
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Students leave school for the day following afternoon dismissal.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee COVID school shutdowns: One year later
These Memphis schools were the first to get a COVID scare last year. Their experiences warned of the challenges to come.
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Word chart in a school library. The shelf also has science resources and a stuffed koala bear
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Assessment and testing
‘Third grade is too late’: Memphis to forge ahead with second grade reading retention policy this fall
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
A masked parent in the driver’s seat of a car and her masked daughter exiting the car in front of the school, as students stand apart in line to enter the building.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Reopening
Holdout no longer: All Memphis students have access to classrooms as older students return
About a fourth of Memphis middle and high school students were expected to return to campuses Monday, after Tennessee pressured district to reopen
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
A woman with a face shield and masks swabs the nose of another masked woman outdoors.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Memphis students and staff can receive COVID testing about every two weeks tentatively starting this month
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
‘Happy reunion’: Memphis elementary classrooms open for first time in nearly a year
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Joyce Dorse-Coleman stands next to a list of ideas posted on the wall and presents to board members and district administration.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Budget & finance
Mental health centers, teacher assistants, building ventilation: Memphis leaders suggest ideas for spending COVID relief money
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Superintendent Joris Ray uses a no-contact thermometer to screen a teacher before she receives a COVID-19 vaccine.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
9 things you should know before Memphis classrooms start reopening Monday
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
A teacher has two laptops set up at her classroom desk so she can instruct and see her students on videoconference.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Look up how many students are returning to your Memphis school building
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Teacher feedback pushes Memphis superintendent to delay vote on $5.6 million literacy contract
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
‘The trust has been broken’: As some Memphis teachers prepare to return to classrooms, others are calling it quits
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee Student & School Performance
Memphis school leaders are betting big on one consultant to change how students learn to read. Will it work?
By Laura Faith Kebede and Laura Testino
 
Miska Clay Bibbs stands behind a podium with TV stations microphones
From Chalkbeat Tennessee
Memphis considers joining area school boards asking state to ease TNReady test requirements
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Superintendent Joris Ray stands at a podium with microphones during a press conference as school board chairwoman Miska Clay Bibbs, wearing a mask, looks on from behind.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
In an abrupt turnaround, Memphis superintendent orders teachers back to school, with plans to start reopening classrooms March 1
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Most Memphis charter school networks are reopening buildings, but most students aren’t returning
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Superintendent Joris Ray sits at a table in the central office auditorium looking at a screen to join the virtual school board committee meeting.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Some Memphis school board members push for a reopening date as superintendent shares updated protocols
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Students outside a school that’s part of the state-run Achievement School District.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charters & Choice
Race, politics, and power loom large in dispute between state officials and Tennessee’s two largest school districts over reopening
By Marta W. Aldrich and Laura Faith Kebede
 
A student in a coat and mask sits with her arms crossed in a metal folding chair at a table with a cardboard divider as she looks at her laptop for her online class.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Assessment and testing
Memphis gets its first look at virtual learning data. Here’s what it shows.
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Shelby County Schools Superintendent Joris Rays presents to educators in the central office auditorium. A presentation slide on a projector behind him says “I need thee every hour.”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
Even as Gov. Lee insists on reopening classrooms in two weeks, Shelby County Schools delays again
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
A student in a mask walks back to his seat at a table with cardboard dividers as students attend online classes via laptops
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
From ‘ready to go back’ to ‘easier to learn this way,’ Memphians share their virtual learning experiences 5 months in
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
A young boy in a black and orange hoodie conducts virtual learning on his computer, sitting at a black partitioned desk.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Memphis school leaders call for public support as state pressure increases to reopen classrooms
By Laura Faith Kebede
 
Superintendent Joris Ray stands in front of a school sign with a face mask in his hand with one of Shelby County Schools’ logos.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
‘Don’t hurt my children’: Memphis superintendent begs state lawmakers to reject bill threatening to cut funds if all-virtual learning continues
By Laura Faith Kebede