Essential education reporting across America
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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.

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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
 
Scores of supporters of Donald Trump scale the walls of the U.S. Capitol during the January 6th Capitol Riot.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Dismissing Jan. 6 probe, Tennessee governor says students should be taught attack was about ‘lawlessness’
Meanwhile, one education leader warns against sweeping history under the rug
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Five judges in black robes sit in a paneled courtroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee’s private school voucher law survives local challenge in state Supreme Court
The court order marks another win for Gov. Bill Lee, but more legal challenges loom
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man wearing a suit and tie speaks at a podium against the backdrop of the Tennessee state flag.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Gun Violence and Schools
Governor signs executive order to fortify Tennessee schools, but won’t limit gun access
Lee rejects universal background checks and banning gun equipment used in mass shootings
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man wearing a suit looks at a display of handguns with two other men in a factory setting.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Gun Violence and Schools
After Uvalde shooting, 5 questions with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on guns and school safety
‘We have to do more,’ he says, but gun control isn’t on his list
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A stone building bearing the etched words “COURT HOUSE” beside a lamppost
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee private school voucher law is stuck at the starting gate, despite court victory
With more legal challenges pending, ‘there can’t be any steps going forward,’ Gov. Lee concedes
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A man wearing a suit signs a document inside of a large manufacturing plant and surrounded by a dozen other people wearing suits and dresses.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Gun Violence and Schools
After Texas school massacre, familiar ‘prayers vs. policy’ gun control debate follows in Tennessee
Critics of a 2021 permit-less carry law call again for limiting gun access
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A woman in a red T-shirt speaks into a microphone to people carrying protest signs outdoors in front of a state Capitol building.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Private school voucher ruling has Tennesseans talking. Here’s what they’re saying.
Cheers, frustrations, and promises to fight follow after Tennessee’s highest court overrules lower courts, clearing an obstacle to the state’s private school voucher law.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Photo of Tennessee Supreme Court building
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Tennessee Supreme Court rules school voucher law is constitutional, reversing lower courts
The ruling effectively endorses Gov. Bill Lee’s education savings account program, the signature legislation of his first year in office.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Dozens of people sit at desks or mill around a large legislative chamber.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
No education issue was too big — or small — for Tennessee lawmakers this year
From funding formulas to cell phone policies, legislation ran the gamut
By Marta W. Aldrich