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Marta W. Aldrich

Senior Statehouse Correspondent, Tennessee

Marta W. Aldrich is Chalkbeat Tennessee’s Senior Statehouse Correspondent. A newswoman for The Associated Press for most of her career, Marta has covered state government, politics, business, education and other Tennessee news. She has served as news editor of United Methodist News Service and features editor of American Profile magazine. Her freelance work has been published by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor and Dow Jones News Service, among others. Marta is a graduate of Memphis City Schools and the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Woman speaks at a podium in large meeting filled with desks and people.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Hillsdale-linked charter school group will try again in Tennessee
American Classical files letters of intent in five counties
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man stands at a wooden podium, where a cross hangs above him, as he listens to another man ask a question, gesturing with his right arm.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee COVID Stimulus
Tennessee private schools could get $60 million in leftover pandemic relief funds
State considers eligibility criteria that could exclude student poverty levels
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A gavel sits on a white table as shadows loom underneath.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee’s private school voucher program wins again in court
Opposing attorneys say they may appeal to a higher court
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Close-up of books on shelves in a library.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee textbook panel hones school library guidelines for ‘age appropriate’ materials
Commissioner Laurie Cardoza-Moore says some books should be pulled from shelves statewide
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee
Gov. Bill Lee wants to ‘make the most of the next four years’ on education. Here are ideas from Tennesseans.
Treating and paying teachers better, supporting student mental health, reinforcing reading would help
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man at a podium holding a microphone
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
Tennessee election results: Gov. Bill Lee wins second term, will prioritize education again
Though he offered few specifics, Lee said he plans to build on his education agenda of the last four years
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A teacher with young students in the classroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Tennessee Department of Education
To address teacher shortages, Tennessee may drop major test for many teacher candidates
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A dozen children sitting cross-legged on a multi-colored floor mat raise their hands to answer a question from one of two teachers standing before them in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee NAEP 2022
Tennessee students’ NAEP scores drop across the board
Grim results come in spite of early pandemic investments in tutoring and summer learning
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Two men face off
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
Here is what Tennessee governor, Democratic challenger say on education
Candidates hold widely divergent views on charter schools, vouchers, book bans, and third-grade retention
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee School choice
Hillsdale-linked charter group withdraws applications in Tennessee
Network leader leaves the door open for future proposals
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Students wearing gold graduation robes walk in a line for an outdoor ceremony.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee After high school
Tennessee high school grad rate rebounds to pre-pandemic level
The recovery comes after a three-year slide
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Five women seated during a meeting hold signs opposing Hillsdale College.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charters & Choice
Hillsdale-linked charter school plans draw Tennesseans’ ire
Written feedback runs counter to public comments delivered in person
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A woman speaks into a microphone on a stage in front of women at a meeting.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Curriculum and instruction
Anti-mosque activist reappointed to Tennessee textbook panel
Laurie Cardoza-Moore’s term extension comes as the commission’s work expands.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man wearing a blue suit stands at a podium facing a judicial panel of three women wearing black robes.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee asks court to dismiss private-school voucher lawsuit
Plaintiffs challenge speedy rollout, among other things
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man speaks from a podium while a woman sitting at a desk asks questions.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Hillsdale charter school group faces questions as its first appeal goes before Tennessee commission
State panel will vote on whether to overrule local school boards
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A row of gray-colored school lockers
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Student & School Performance
Tennessee’s list of lowest-performing schools is out. Is yours on it?
This year’s ‘priority’ designation won’t carry its usual high stakes
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A blue cart of books organized alphabetically.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Tennessee school library law’s expanded scope puts new burden on teachers
Some balk over state guidance suggesting that they catalog their classroom collections
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A police officer and a woman carrying a clipboard point overhead while inspecting a school doorway.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee School safety
Tennessee school safety inspections are complete, governor says
Lee gives security update as the new school year ramps up
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A teacher stands behind five children in a classroom against the backdrop of a whiteboard.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Memphis educator named Tennessee’s 2022-23 Teacher of the Year
‘I’m ready to share our stories,’ says Melissa Collins, the state’s new chief education ambassador
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A young student wearing a mask sits in a classroom with a teacher standing nearby.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Student & School Performance
Tennessee delays issuing schools A-F grades — again
Schwinn cites uneven participation rates of students taking state TCAP tests
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
An in-camera double exposure of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Hillsdale group’s charter school appeals will test independence of new Tennessee commission
College president’s mockery of teacher training won’t necessarily dash hopes to bring charters to the state
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Three robed judges and others in business suits hold a Zoom meeting.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Court declines to block Tennessee’s private school voucher program
Local governments in Nashville and Memphis failed to show that an injunction was warranted, the judges ruled
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Young students line up outside of a school building.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Private school vouchers draw interest from 2,185 Tennessee families
Speedy voucher rollout draws hopeful families, more legal challenges
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Attorneys huddle outside of the Davidson County Courthouse on Friday before the first hearing over the first legal challenge to Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account program.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee
Private school voucher opponents ask Tennessee court to block ‘rushed, haphazard’ rollout
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
People sit in chairs inside of an auditorium as eight others sit on a stage in front.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
Memphis school board candidates want stronger superintendent policies
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man stands at a wooden podium, where a cross hangs above him, as he listens to another man ask a question, gesturing with his right arm.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
After court rulings, Tennessee governor wastes no time rolling out private school voucher program
Lee meets with private school leaders, while his education chief acknowledges the timeline is ‘challenging’
By Marta W. Aldrich and Samantha West
 
A student walks toward the open doors of a school bus while an employee stands near the door.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Private school voucher opponents will seek to block Tennessee’s ‘rushed’ launch
The legal move comes as the state prepares to officially relaunch the program
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A gavel sits on a white table as shadows loom underneath.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee can begin rolling out private school voucher program, court rules, ending 2-year block
Gov. Bill Lee said the state will work “starting today” toward enrolling students.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
The blue Democratic Party donkey and the red Republican Party elephant sit over the top of students and a teacher making their way through a hallway.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Campaigns and elections
Tennessee’s shift to partisan school board elections faces its first big test
Some candidates worry that national culture wars will overshadow local education issues
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man in a suit and tie speaks into several microphones.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teacher training
Tennessee governor responds to outcry over Hillsdale charter leader’s criticism of teachers
Lee says comments were taken out of context, but teacher groups say governor should have repudiated insults
By Marta W. Aldrich