Essential education reporting across America

Charter schools

Exterior of the Philadelphia School District building.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Tony Watlington
Passing a budget, praising a plan, telling a charter school no: Philadelphia’s long board meeting
Board members approved millions in spending on technology, summer programming, and curriculum. They also denied a charter school application.
By Carly Sitrin
 
A school leader stands behind a podium, surrounded by students and staff.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Teaching & Classroom
Detroit charter school to offer $100,000 teacher salaries
Many Michigan schools are trying different methods to recruit and retain teachers, including increasing compensation and providing development opportunities.
By Lori Higgins
 
A school building has a blue sign on the top left corner that reads North Star in white lettering with a white star shape between the two words.
From Chalkbeat Newark Charter schools
Newark’s decision to appeal state-approved charter school expansion sparks concern
In March, the Newark Board of Education filed an appeal over the state’s decision to approve North Star Academy’s charter school expansion, one of the largest charter school networks in the city with six elementary, six middle, and two high schools.
By Jessie Gomez
 
Two young children in beautiful window light and art projects.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charter schools
Charter school centering Black students misses enrollment target, won’t open in Denver this fall
5280 Freedom School’s founder said the inability to open will hurt Black students who are not served well in district schools.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Students line up to receive laptops on the first day of school from a faculty member, standing next to a row of red lockers.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charter schools
Indiana charter schools get state funding boost with help from influential voucher supporters
School districts in four counties will have to share increases in property tax revenues with charters, among other changes to Indiana’s education funding laws this year.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
File photographs made of Noel Community Arts School and DCIS Montbello in 2019.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Politics & Policy
$9 billion Colorado education budget signed for 2023-24
Colorado’s budget paves the way for ending budget diversions and instead fully funding K-12 education in the 2024-25 school year.
By Jason Gonzales
 
Students raise their hands in the classroom, with the text “Plains Indians” projected on the white board at the front of the class.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
Increased school funding and more charter schools included in New York state budget
In total, New York City schools will receive about 4% more in funding than last year.
By Reema Amin
 
indy votes sign
From Chalkbeat Indiana Campaigns and elections
Joe Hogsett, Jefferson Shreve win primary elections for Indianapolis mayor
As Indianapolis’ leader, the mayor impacts education through the Office of Education Innovation, which is a charter school authorizer, as well as issues such as crime, the economy, and housing.
By MJ Slaby
 
An exterior shot of the New York State Capitol building in Albany, N.Y.
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
More than a dozen NYC charters would open after 4-year pause under state budget deal
Gov. Kathy Hochul’s push for more charter schools in New York City emerged as one of the last items holding up the overdue state budget — and her keen interest puzzled many following the issue.
By Reema Amin
 
momument circle in Indianapolis
From Chalkbeat Indiana Campaigns and elections
Where Indianapolis mayoral candidates stand on education issues: an election guide
The mayor has a significant impact on crime, the economy, and housing in Indianapolis — all of which affect the educators and students who go to school here. Here’s how the candidates plan to tackle these issues, and more.
By MJ Slaby
 
A three-story brick school building labeled Humes Middle.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
MSCS board turns away 10 charter school applications
District forced to reckon with failure of charter-focused state turnaround effort.
By Laura Testino
 
A person in a green cap and gown smiles with his arms raised at a graduation ceremony.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charter schools
Newly approved adult charter high school hopes to open in closing IPS building
The Excel Center - Twin Aire adult charter high school could open in the building now occupied by Paul Miller School 114, which is closing at the end of this school year.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A close up of a woman in front of an American flag.
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
Charter schools emerge as key issue holding up New York’s state budget, as Hochul narrows her proposal
Lawmakers could solidify a final budget as early as this week, but charter schools have been a sticking point.
By Reema Amin
 
A man in a suit stands at a podium speaking before a crowd. Beside him are two people sitting behind a table also facing the crowd.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Hillsdale-linked Valor Classical Academy drops Pike Township plans, eyes new Hamilton County site
Valor Classical Academy’s plans for a Marion County location ran into opposition from critics concerned about the charter school’s curriculum and political affiliations.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
Men dressed in suits and a woman stand by a lectern in front of banners.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Charters & Choice
Urban Prep Academies could be turned over to Chicago Public Schools after state denies appeal
Leaders with the nationally-recognized charter school network said Wednesday they filed a lawsuit to keep control of its remaining two campuses serving Black boys in Englewood and Bronzeville. Chicago Public Schools has said it plans to keep the schools open under district management.
By Becky Vevea and Samantha Smylie
 
An exterior of a school building, identified on a sign as Trezevant High School.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
MSCS seeks $10 million from county to revive stalled Frayser high school project
Proposal offers a hint of how the district will deal with the unraveling of the state-run Achievement School District.
By Laura Testino
 
A cross hangs on a wall near a student looking through papers at a desk in a classroom in a Catholic school.
Charter schools Charter schools
Religious charter school rejected in Oklahoma, but a national fight looms
Board members acknowledged the larger issue would likely be settled by the Supreme Court, with implications for the separation of church and state.
By Patrick Wall and Cara Fitzpatrick
 
A man in a suit stands at a podium speaking before a crowd. Beside him are two people sitting behind a table also facing the crowd.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charter schools
Valor Classical Academy eyes Pike Township after failing to win building in Carmel
Hillsdale-affiliated charter school wants to open in Indianapolis but faces opposition.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A girl at a student desk writing on a piece of paper. A calculator is also on the desk.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Charters & Choice
New poverty research could bring more clarity to charter school comparisons
Detailed family income data has the potential to shape how schools are evaluated, staffed, and even funded.
By Koby Levin
 
A man stands over two students sitting down at a table, reviewing their school work with them.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Politics & Policy
Push to change Indiana property taxes to benefit charter schools triggers alarm in IPS
Republicans are seeking funding parity for charter schools, which cannot raise their own property tax revenue. But some worry the move would come at the expense of traditional public schools.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A teacher holds a small white board that says “marry” in front of a class of roughly a dozen students sitting on a carpet.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Using charters to fix ailing IPS schools yields instability and inconsistent academic results
Since IPS created ‘restart’ schools in 2015, the district has replaced two charter operators and a third school has closed.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey and Kae Petrin
 
A man behind a podium with arm raised speaks into a microphone on a school stage, behind an enthusiastic crowd that includes cheerleaders.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Charter schools
Memphis’ Journey Hanley School, an ASD charter, will return as MSCS school
The move, protested by Hanley’s charter operator, marks another twist in the chaotic unwinding of the Achievement School District.
By Laura Testino
 
A collage of two men running for mayor of Chicago standing at podiums flanked by supporters.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Campaigns and elections
Education ties together candidates and their donors in Chicago’s mayoral race
Brandon Johnson’s biggest donors are teachers unions. Paul Vallas is raking in cash from wealthy individuals — some of whom have supported charter schools and other education reform efforts in Chicago.
By Mauricio Peña and Becky Vevea
 
Hundreds of high school students stand outside of a school building.
From Chalkbeat New York Diversity & Equity
A proposed staff restructuring sparks student protests, teacher concerns at a Brooklyn charter school network
Administrators said they were working to address inequities in their staffing model, though students and teachers feared the restructure would have the opposite effect.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
About half a dozen students try flutter kicks in a pool while an instructor watches nearby.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Charter schools
Inside a West Side Boys and Girls Club, Chicago students dive into life-saving skills
LEARN Excel Charter and the Boys and Girls Club partnered to offer enrichment opportunities beyond academics.
By Mauricio Peña
 
An overhead view of the NY Assembly room with red carpets and rows of yellow chairs
From Chalkbeat New York Charter schools
New York lawmakers reject Gov. Hochul’s charter school proposal
Both the state Senate and Assembly called to remove Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposal to allow New York City to open more than 100 new charter schools.
By Reema Amin and Alex Zimmerman
 
Light posts cast shadows on the brick facade of University Heights Charter School in Newark.
From Chalkbeat Newark Charter schools
Newark charter school shut down by the state to reopen as a public school
The state shut down University Heights Charter School last summer due to low test scores, declining enrollment, and an unstable leadership team.
By Jessie Gomez
 
A child in a yellow shirt stands in an aisle during a public meeting. He holds a phone to take a picture or record or a video.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Stalled tax plan to revive Indianapolis Public Schools pushes charters and district further apart
Legislation at the statehouse could deepen the divide between Indianapolis Public Schools and charters.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
A teacher mentor works with another teacher during an inservice day at Valley View K-8 in 2015.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Charter schools
A Denver charter teacher’s push to unionize could change the legal landscape for others
A teacher at KIPP Northeast Denver Leadership Academy is fighting to start what he calls the Colorado Charter Teachers Association.
By Melanie Asmar
 
People work in an ornate legislative chamber.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Vouchers
Voucher and charter-friendly bills pass Tennessee Senate, as House speaker proposes home school charters
The bills would advance Gov. Bill Lee’s school choice agenda
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
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