Essential education reporting across America

Federal policy and reform

Two men wearing suits walk in a crowded hallway with a chandalier in the backdrop.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee House speaker proposes task force to look into rejecting federal education funds
Schwinn would chair panel and report back by Dec. 1
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Una mujer joven con pelo largo y oscuro, lleva pantalón de mezclilla y tiene una chamarra en las manos. Ella esta parada viendo la cámara mientras otras personas caminan detrás de ella.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Después de superar obstáculos, esta universitaria está luchando por la reforma migratoria
Está planeando una manifestación el 11 de marzo en el Capitolio en Denver.
By Yesenia Robles
 
A young woman with dark hair holds a pink jacket and looks at the camera. She is standing in front of a college building and there are other blurred people walking through campus behind her.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Tackling racism
Once an unaccompanied minor, this college student now fights for immigration reform
She’s planning a rally in Denver on Sat. March 11.
By Yesenia Robles
 
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Healthy schools Healthy schools
Schools across the U.S. are struggling with lead in their drinking water. When will they get more help?
President Biden said federal funds will pay to replace lead pipes in hundreds of thousands of schools and child care centers. In the meantime, many are dealing with high lead levels now.
By Katheryn Houghton, Kaiser Health News
 
man wearing a business suit stands at a podium
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Special education
Tennessee is talking about rejecting federal education funding. What would that mean for kids?
From students with disabilities to schools serving disadvantaged students, ‘there’s just a lot of uncertainty’
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A group of girls, all wearing pink, eat together in a school cafeteria.
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Summer meals, funding for high-poverty schools: What the federal spending bill means for students
The new bipartisan legislation includes tens of billions of dollars committed to schools, student support programs, and college funding.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
Students put their hands together during an exercise.
Year in Review Year in Review
13 Chalkbeat stories that defined 2022
These stories will take you inside the world of an exhausted social worker, a student working to come out of her shell, and a mother trying to help her son catch up.
By Chalkbeat Staff
 
A woman points to a white board in the front of a classroom with students seated on both the floor and at desks.
COVID Stimulus COVID Stimulus
Schools on track to meet COVID relief deadlines as spending surges, experts say
Spending accelerated this fall as planned projects started in U.S. school districts.
By Patrick Wall and Julian Shen-Berro
 
“I hope legislators can lessen the financial burden on districts that are making every sacrifice possible to defend our students,” writes Kelly Carpenter-VanLaeken.
First Person First Person
After a gun scare, our school district is reeling from the trauma — and the financial toll
A decade after Sandy Hook, active shooter threats are forcing schools to make impossible choices.
By Kelly Carpenter-VanLaeken
 
Three students in masks sit at a cafeteria table.
COVID and Schools COVID and Schools
Schools see falling student participation in federal free meals program, new survey shows
The share of U.S. schools with more than half of students eating free and reduced-price lunch has dropped from 84% to 69% this year, according to a recent survey.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
An illustration depicts two children’s faces along with several drawings of houses.
Diversity & Equity Diversity & Equity
Hidden toll: Thousands of schools fail to count homeless students
“The national conversation on homelessness is focused on single adults who are very visible in large urban areas. It is not focused on children.”
By Amy DiPierro and Corey Mitchell, Center for Public Integrity
 
A boy wearing a blue shirt sits working at a laptop under the shade of a tree. Others behind his sit at tables in the shade.
College and career readiness College and career readiness
Tips on how borrowers can take advantage of President Biden’s forgiveness plan
Student loan borrowers across the country will have until December 2023 to apply for up to $20,000 in forgiveness from the federal government.
By Jason Gonzales
 
A classroom with blue chairs sits empty.
From Chalkbeat New York Student & School Performance
NY state officials seek to ‘shift the narrative’ around struggling schools
The changes are supposed to be reflective of a system that pushes for improvements and support for all students, officials said.
By Reema Amin
 
A female teacher wearing a red shirt sits on a carpet and helps a male student in third grade with a math assignment.
NAEP 2022 NAEP 2022
Math and reading scores plummet on national test, erasing 20 years of progress
Nine-year-olds across the country saw historic drops in math and reading scores on a key national test.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
President Joe Biden speaks from a podium while Education Secretary Miguel Cardona stands to the right.
Politics & Policy Politics & Policy
Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan promises ‘targeted relief.’ Are you eligible?
Biden’s plan offers more relief to students who started with the least but doesn’t address the much higher debt burden carried by Black and Hispanic borrowers.
By Jason Gonzales
 
A woman wearing a yellow shirt seated on a black metal folding chair receives a shot in the arm from a nurse wearing a face mask and gloves.
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Kids are at low risk for monkeypox, but schools can take precautions, CDC says
In most cases, students who’ve been exposed to a person infected with monkeypox shouldn’t be excluded from school or other activities.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
A group of children eat their school lunches at a table in the cafeteria.
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Without free school meals for all, many fear lunch debt will return ‘with a vengeance’
Some school officials are bracing for a spike in student meal debt as paperwork requirements return.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
A young woman holds a blue sign and stands in front of a crowd of people holding signs. Her sign reads: “Health and safety don’t need historical precedent.”
From Chalkbeat Indiana Federal policy and reform
Indiana’s post-Roe world is what these high school students have prepared for
The founder of Royals for Women’s Rights at Hamilton Southeastern High School says education and open discussions are crucial.
By Helen Rummel
 
A boy wearing a backpack walks down a school hallway with purple lockers, while a group of students walks ahead of him.
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Feds urge schools to reexamine discipline of students with disabilities, calling it ‘an urgent need’
Schools need to make sure students aren’t being disciplined for behavior related to their disability, especially as the effects of the pandemic drag on, new guidance says.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
A large group of people sits at tables with red chairs in a cafeteria with linoleum tile floor and high square light-filled windows
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Meals to go, fresh veggies: What the extension of meal waivers means for schools
New federal legislation will help keep school meal programs financially afloat this fall and get more food to kids this summer.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
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Politics & Policy Politics & Policy
Overturn of Roe v. Wade could add to child poverty
Experts also expect some increase in teen births and decreases to women’s educational attainment, but the magnitude is hard to predict.
By Jessica Blake
 
A group of seven young people with their backs to the camera, some wearing or holding Pride flags, attend a protest.
LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+
‘A loud message’: LGBTQ students protected from discrimination, proposed rules say
The proposal is the latest step by the Biden administration to strengthen protections for LGBTQ students at school.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
Two police officers stand in front of the entrance of a high school, the doors seen behind a metal fence.
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Congress is poised to pass a bill in response to the Uvalde shooting. Here’s what it means for schools.
It includes $1 billion for mental health and $300 million for school security.
By Matt Barnum
 
The United States Supreme Court building is reflected in a pool of water as it stands in the background of the image.
Vouchers Vouchers
Supreme Court says religious schools can’t be singled out for exclusion from public dollars
But the decision won’t turn on a money spigot for religious private schools.
By Matt Barnum
 
A masked woman in a long orange sweater guides a child carrying a pink backpack down a school hall, while a man in a black T-shirt bends down slightly behind the child.
Charters & Choice Charters & Choice
Some states and charter networks slow to spend federal charter money
The new data suggests that the charter sector was experiencing growing pains even before controversial rules proposed by the Biden administration.
By Matt Barnum
 
The education secretary gestures behind a lectern with a blurry crowd in front.
Federal policy and reform Federal policy and reform
Cardona urges support for educators as rocky year comes to a close
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called for raising teacher pay in a speech Thursday.
By Jessica Blake and Matt Barnum
 
Fourth grader Christophe Afenutsu raises his hand and waits to grab the attention of his teacher Christie Kim at Roseville Community Charter School in April 2021. Recently, the Biden administration has proposed new rules on federal program designed to help launch charter schools.
Charters & Choice Charters & Choice
Biden admin says $174 million has gone to defunct charter schools, defending new rules
“It’s important to make sure that the stewardship of the program — particularly with respect to accountability and fiscal responsibility — is there,” said Assistant Education Secretary Roberto Rodríguez.
By Matt Barnum
 
President Joe Biden clutches a podium during a speech to the nation, his wife Dr. Jill Biden stands behind his right shoulder.
School safety School safety
Biden after Uvalde school shooting: ‘Why are we willing to live with this carnage?’
President Biden urged lawmakers to act after 18 students and a teacher were shot and killed at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
Detroit_20191023_CodyHS_ElaineCromie_003.JPG
COVID Stimulus COVID Stimulus
Schools could get extra time to spend COVID relief on building fixes
It will be welcome news for school leaders worried about inflation and supply chain issues.
By Matt Barnum
 
Student holds a pencil to a notebook placed on a desk. Overlaid on top of the image are three open check boxes with the letters M, F, and X.
LGBTQ+ LGBTQ+
Nonbinary students aren’t reflected in federal civil rights data. That might change.
It remains unclear how useful the data would be in its early forms, but would be a significant step toward assembling data on nonbinary students.
By Kae Petrin
 
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