Essential education reporting across America

English-language learners

A group of women stand outside an elementary school. They hold signs that say “Don’t Close Our School,” “Colfax is Our Family,” and “DPS, Please Listen” in Spanish.
From Chalkbeat Colorado English-language learners
Denver bilingual programs face a threat: not enough students
High housing costs and falling birth rates are driving down school enrollment in Denver’s historically Latino neighborhoods, making it harder to fill some bilingual classrooms.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A little girl wearing jeans, a sweatshirt, and a hair bow holds a cardboard sign. In black marker, it says “Ser Bilingüe Es Mi Superpoder,” which means “Being Bilingual is my Superpower.”
From Chalkbeat Colorado En Español
Programas bilingües de Denver enfrentan problemas por muy pocos estudiantes y amenaza de cierres
Los altos costos de vivienda y la reducción en tasas de natalidad están reduciendo la matrícula escolar en las comunidades históricamente latinas de Denver, y esto hace más difícil llenar algunos salones bilingües.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Students walk through the lobby of P.S. 89, with ornate murals on the walls and light blue doors.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
Most NYC schools are losing funding. See what’s happening at your school.
Chalkbeat created a lookup tool examining changes to Fair Student Funding, a major source of funding for schools.
By Reema Amin  and Thomas Wilburn
 
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From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
NYC budget deal cuts school funding amid declining enrollment
Schools will see less money in new budget deal, but Mayor Eric Adams says they’re not cuts. Instead, he sees the funding as reflecting the decreased student population.
By Reema Amin
 
The facade of Pan American High School in Elmhurst is seen behind a chainlink fence as the sun shines on the building.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
NYC educators wrestle with budget cuts for 2022-23 school year
As federal stimulus funding starts to wind down, school leaders are facing tough choices with declining budgets and enrollment.
By Reema Amin
 
Four teenage students look down at workbooks, along with an adult holding a pencil, all sitting at a circular table. A whiteboard behind one of the students reads “Bright MINDS” in stylized, colorful letters with a lightbulb drawn to the left.
From Chalkbeat Colorado En Español
La vida es dura para los estudiantes de intermedia y secundaria que tienen dificultad para leer. Esta escuela pública de Colorado quiere ayudar.
Un programa nuevo en el Distrito Jeffco es uno de los pocos en una escuela pública enfocado en estudiantes de intermedia y secundaria que sufren de dislexia.
By Ann Schimke
 
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From Chalkbeat New York Diversity & Equity
NYC education panel approves school funding formula after last month’s rejection
By Reema Amin
 
A teenage male student wearing a white shirt, dark pants, and a backpack stands in the doorway of Kingsbury High School in Memphis.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Shelby County Schools
A Memphis neighborhood rallies around its troubled high school
Memphis-Shelby County Schools wants a “fresh start” at Kingsbury High School. The community says it wants to be heard.
By Samantha West
 
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From Chalkbeat New York English-language learners
NYC to expand transfer high schools to help English language learners
NYC education officials plan to expand transfer high schools to serve those students, using a Bronx school as one model.
By Reema Amin
 
A classroom with blue chairs sits empty.
From Chalkbeat New York Diversity & Equity
What the education panel’s rejection of NYC’s funding formula means for schools
The vote is unlikely to have an immediate impact on school budgets, but delays in approving a formula could hamper principals’ ability to plan and hire staff.
By Reema Amin  and Alex Zimmerman
 
Men and women wearing suits sit behind desks in a large legislative chamber.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee governor’s education funding overhaul passes legislature
The goal is more funding for students with costlier needs, but will it be enough?
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A student, wearing a yellow sweater, writes on a whiteboard that hangs on a bright yellow wall.
Teaching & Classroom Teaching & Classroom
Remote learning made it challenging for English learners to practice speaking skills. This district is finding ways to help.
Schools are rearranging furniture, trying new activities, and offering teachers training on ways they can add more speaking practice into their lessons.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
Two women sit on the floor and play with young children in a preschool classroom decorated with flags of many nations. The woman near the front of the image interacts with two boys playing with a truck. The sit around a floor puzzle of the solar system.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Early Childhood
Colorado refugee women earn early childhood degrees, bring special skills to the classroom
These early childhood teachers already speak six languages. Now they’re earning credentials, helping their community, and living their dreams.
By Amanda Horvath  and Alexis Kikoen
 
An English teacher chats about “The Crucible” with her class at ELLIS Prep Academy in the Bronx, a transfer school that serves immigrant students.
From Chalkbeat New York English-language learners
Advocates seek more school programming for NYC’s newcomer immigrants
Immigration advocates say that public schools can be “largely inaccessible” for thousands of immigrant students.
By Reema Amin
 
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From Chalkbeat New York COVID Stimulus
NYC schools have spent just half of this year’s COVID relief, report says
With the end of the school year approaching, NYC schools have spent just about half of this year’s COVID relief, according to a comptroller report.
By Reema Amin
 
Three men sit at a desk in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado En Español
Clases de inglés práctico atraen a cientos de personas a universidad en Denver
El Community College de Denver ha cambiado su programa de inglés como segundo idioma para dar clases de inglés a estudiantes y ayudarles a conseguir empleo.
By Jason Gonzales
 
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From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
Summer jobs for all — except NYC’s undocumented youth
Mayor Eric Adams wants to give summer jobs to all youth who want one. But undocumented youth can’t participate in the program.
By Reema Amin
 
A woman stands in front of a white marker board and a group of students in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado College and career readiness
Words to know: Practical English classes draw hundreds to Denver college’s courses
The Community College of Denver has changed its English as a second language program to teach students English that can help them land jobs.
By Jason Gonzales
 
High school students role play a restorative justice seminar with their counselor in this Chalkbeat file photo.
From Chalkbeat Newark Mental health services
N.J. immigrant students face barriers to mental health aid. What needs to change?
An advocacy group’s report points to lack of bilingual staff and COVID as big issues.
By Catherine Carrera
 
A special education student reaches a hand out for a block, held by his teacher.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Adams 14 School District
Complaint: English learners with special needs didn’t get mandated services
Adams 14 is responding to the latest complaint from the Office for Civil Rights.
By Yesenia Robles
 
Parents and young children wearing masks and winter coats wait outside a school building on a snowy day.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Adams 14 School District
Advocates want Colorado to translate all non-English public comment
As Colorado solicits input about the fate of low-performing schools, advocates want to ensure non-English comments will be heard.
By Yesenia Robles
 
A teacher grades papers in an empty classroom.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Teacher training
Illinois hopes a $4 million grant will strengthen the bilingual teacher pipeline
The Illinois state board of education will use federal coronavirus relief funds to support bilingual teachers who want to earn a state license
By Samantha Smylie
 
A man in a suit stands at a lectern.
From Chalkbeat New York School segregation / integration
11th-hour changes may be coming to NYC’s high school admissions
David Banks noted that the process at some of the city’s coveted “screened” schools is a lottery this year, which has resulted in backlash from parents of students with high grades.
By Reema Amin  and Christina Veiga
 
First grade teacher Nancy Carbajal at Dupont Elementary School in Adams 14 listens as students practice reading in Spanish. (Photo by Yesenia Robles, Chalkbeat)
From Chalkbeat Colorado En Español
Las escuelas de Colorado recibieron más dinero para los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés. ¿En qué se está usando?
El estado no está monitoreando cómo los distritos usan los fondos, y tampoco obligándolos a usar el dinero para su propósito.
By Yesenia Robles
 
Art teacher Elizabeth Velasquez begins a Zoom class in her empty classroom. The chairs are stacked neatly on desks as she sits at a small desk in the front of the dark classroom.
From Chalkbeat New York The Comeback
NYC schools received a windfall in relief dollars. Some are struggling to spend it.
Tutoring and enrichment programs require finding staff to work extra hours in a moment when educators feel overworked.
By Reema Amin
 
Back view of a standing teacher using an overhead projector that shows her hand writing as she reviews a worksheet.
From Chalkbeat Colorado English-language learners
How Colorado districts are — and aren’t — spending extra money for English learners
Colorado schools have extra money for English learners, but not all districts are using the funds to do more for students.
By Yesenia Robles
 
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From Chalkbeat New York Student & School Performance
Bucking national trends, NYC’s 2021 graduation rates inched up as state eased requirements
By Reema Amin  and Alex Zimmerman
 
Two students wearing backpacks line up outside a brick school building.
From Chalkbeat New York English-language learners
Non-English speaking parents turn to WhatsApp, community groups when COVID translations fall short
By Reema Amin
 
A view looking down at a group of four students sitting on the floor in a circle as one of the students holds a book titled, “Quién Ganará?” with a picture of a lion and tiger showing their teeth. Another student holds a thumbs-up pose.
From Chalkbeat Newark English-language learners
Newark outlines promises to English learners who struggled during the pandemic
The Newark Board of Education approved a resolution outlining promises to English learners, including steps to find students who “lost contact” with the district during the pandemic.
By Catherine Carrera
 
A teacher stands with four graduating seniors who are wearing blue and white graduation gowns.
From Chalkbeat Colorado How I Teach
Accidental teacher: The zigzag path from PE sub to award-winning educator
Colorado teacher Christina Mendoza tells how she incorporates her grandpa’s army experience into lessons and what she learned from tribal elders.
By Ann Schimke
 
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