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Healthy schools

A gloved hand applies a flesh-colored bandaid to a child’s arm. The child is wearing a pink and white tie-dyed shirt rolled up to the shoulder. A few strands of dark hair are visible on the child’s shoulder.
From Chalkbeat New York COVID safety
Here’s what to know about COVID guidance at NYC schools this year
NYC schools no longer will report COVID cases, but students and staff still need to isolate for five days.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A woman places her arm around a small child’s shoulder.
From Chalkbeat Newark Healthy schools
Newark students struggle in hot schools amid heat wave
Studies have shown Newark is one of the hottest cities in the nation. With temperatures soaring into the 90s, parents are raising concerns about inoperable water fountains and no air conditioning systems in schools.
By Jessie Gomez
 
A teacher pours milk into a young student’s cup as three children eat a meal at school.
Healthy schools Healthy schools
Most Americans support universal free school meal programs, new poll finds
Six in 10 U.S. adults are in favor of providing all students with free lunch, a new national poll found. The results come as more states adopt universal school meal programs.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
Young students hold posters showing images of thermometers to protest hot temperatures in their schools.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Back to School Reading List
Denver added air conditioning to 11 more schools this summer. That leaves 43 without.
Temperatures in Denver can reach the 90s in August and September.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A group of girls, all wearing pink, eat together in a school cafeteria.
Healthy schools Healthy schools
Districts tout benefits of universal school meals as more states let all students eat for free
At least nine states will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students this year. That number could grow, though concerns about cost remain.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
Students eat lunch with one of their teachers at a small wooden table.
Healthy schools Healthy schools
Bullying, food insecurity, test scores: What research shows about universal school meal programs
Offering free school meals for all students succeeds in increasing take-up of breakfast and lunch at school. Evidence of its impact on academic improvement is more mixed, but suggests some benefits.
By Matt Barnum
 
A person speaks at a podium while three people stand behind him.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Chronic Absenteeism
Detroit school district gains new partners to fund health hub initiative
The organizations will add an additional $1.8 million to the initial Ballmer Group donation of $2.76 million
By Ethan Bakuli
 
A tray under a student’s desk seat is filled with books and workbooks. The student, whose legs are present in the image, is wearing rainbow-colored shoes.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
From buildings to budgets, here are five key issues facing Memphis-Shelby County Schools this year
Memphis students return to classes for a new school year that could turn out to be pivotal.
By Laura Testino
 
A group of girls, all wearing pink, eat together in a school cafeteria.
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
Here’s how NYC families can find free summer meal sites
NYC families can quickly locate the nearest free summer meal sites for their children, thanks to a text service from No Kid Hungry.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
A child with blue goggles holds his nose as he swims in an outdoor pool.
From Chalkbeat New York Community & Wraparound Programs
New wave of funds to teach 6,000 kids to swim at NYC public school pools
This year’s budget includes an additional $5 million for opening public school pools for free lessons.
By Katie Honan, THE CITY
 
Sleeping teenage girl, covered with pink blanket, holding mobile phone.
From Chalkbeat New York Healthy schools
PODCAST: Wake up call on school start times
Bronx student Jose Santana explores school start times on the Miseducation podcast from The Bell, which trains New York City high school students in audio journalism.
By Jose Santana, The Bell
 
A poster of a little boy with a sign saying “Thank you nurses!” is on the side of the refrigerator in the nurse’s office of an elementary school.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Chronic Absenteeism
DPSCD superintendent announces school-based health hubs
The health centers in 12 schools are intended to curb student absenteeism and provide families with critical and convenient resources.
By Ethan Bakuli
 
Manhattan is covered in a haze from wildfire smoke from Canada.
From Chalkbeat Newark Healthy schools
Newark classes resume after closures due to unhealthy air quality alerts
Air quality conditions in New Jersey improved on Friday prompting students to return to school.
By Jessie Gomez
 
A young girl in a darkened room works in the light of a desk lamp. She is writing in a notebook. A laptop computer is open on her left. Behind her a string of Christmas lights hang over a red curtain.
From Chalkbeat New York Remote learning
NYC public schools go remote Friday due to pollution from wildfire smoke
High school students, those who attend schools that serve grades 6-12, and other alternative programs will shift to remote learning on Friday.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
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Mental Health in Schools Mental Health in Schools
School clinics bolster students’ mental health. So why aren’t there more?
Nearly half the states fund school-based health centers. Yet keeping them open is a constant challenge, and some want Congress to do more.
By Patrick Wall
 
The Midtown Manhattan skyline looks yellowish-brown because of air quality issues.
From Chalkbeat New York Healthy schools
NYC schools go remote Thursday for staff training as wildfire smoke engulfs region
Officials have said little about their plans for Friday, though, when high school students are scheduled to return to their campuses.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
Buildings in Manhattan are surrounded by smoke from Canada wildfires.
From Chalkbeat Newark Healthy schools
Newark schools cancel outdoor activities due to Canadian wildfire smoke
New Jersey school districts are canceling outdoor activities in response to the unhealthy air conditions caused by wildfire smoke from Canada entering the area.
By Jessie Gomez
 
A yellow pall of pollution hangs over NYC’s skyline.
From Chalkbeat New York Healthy schools
NYC’s air pollution from wildfire smoke closes outdoor school activities
New York City canceled recess, Public School Athletic League sports competitions, and outdoor field days on Wednesday due to the unhealthy air quality.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
A boy smells herbs as a female student looks on.
From Chalkbeat New York Healthy schools
School kitchen dashboards, more food education: Here is NYC’s vision for healthier students
Expanded education programs on nutrition and a greater offering of plant-based foods are among the plans outlined in a new report.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
A photo of a school building.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Healthy schools
Detroit officials report bacterial infection cases among student illnesses
Health officials confirmed on Friday that some students contracted Haemophilus influenzae.
By Ethan Bakuli
 
A child has his heartbeat monitored.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Detroit Public Schools Community District
Mysterious illness at Detroit elementary school sickens students, prompts school closure
Parents of children ages 4-7 are urged to monitor their children for symptoms, which include fever, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and abdominal pain.
By Lori Higgins
 
High school students dressed in red gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol. One sign emerges from the crowd reading “G(UN)SAFE Enough is Enough.” Downtown office buildings can be seen in the background.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
As Colorado reels from another school shooting, study finds 1 in 4 teens have quick access to guns
Healthy Kids Colorado survey finds that a quarter of youth say they could get access to a loaded gun within 24 hours. Most teen gun deaths are suicides.
By Markian Hawryluk
 
A group of children ski across a snowy landscape.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Gun Violence and Schools
Social emotional learning hits the slopes after hoax swatting threats put students on edge
On three Wednesdays in a row, hoax swatting threats kept these Aspen students in their classrooms. On the fourth Wednesday, teachers called a ski day.
By Eleanor Bennett
 
Members of the PASO class practice CPR and first aid during a session in July.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Healthy schools
Colorado bill would encourage, but not require, CPR training in high schools
Colorado is one of just 10 states that doesn’t require CPR training in high school.
By Helen Santoro
 
free school lunch high school
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Mira qué distritos escolares de Colorado planifican ofrecer comidas gratuitas el próximo año
Un número creciente de distritos escolares de Colorado ofrecerá almuerzo gratis a todos los estudiantes el próximo año, incluidos los de Denver, Douglas County, y Greeley-Evans.
By Ann Schimke
 
school_water5.jpg
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
 
A woman food worker wearing a white apron hands hands a high schooler with long hair a take-out carton from a lunch line, with a kitchen in the background. The worker serves from pans of lunch items, while in the foreground trays feature small containers of carrots, cookies and fruit and other items to grab.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Healthy schools
Denver, Douglas County, Academy 20 join districts offering free school meals next year
In December, 8 of 24 Colorado districts surveyed by Chalkbeat were undecided about offering free meals next year. Now, only 2 are still unsure.
By Ann Schimke
 
Dozens of children walk up the steps of a yellow, red, and green school playground and slide down blue slides.
From Chalkbeat Newark Healthy schools
National nonprofit, Newark synagogue to build new playground at Lincoln Elementary
Trust for Public Land and Congregation Ahavas Sholom will build a playground at Lincoln Elementary School at no cost to Newark Public Schools.
By Jessie Gomez
 
A bulldozer moves dirt at a school construction site.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Healthy schools
Tennessee’s K-12 schools need $9 billion in infrastructure investment
Local governments struggle to keep pace with construction costs
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A smiling girl with dark hair pops some food in her mouth as she sits with friends in a crowded lunchroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
El próximo año habrá comidas gratis en la mayoría de los distritos escolares de Colorado. ¿El tuyo será uno de ellos?
Comidas gratis para todos los estudiantes de Colorado. Esa fue la promesa de la Propuesta FF. Averigüa si tu distrito escolar tiene planes de participar en el nuevo programa de comidas.
By Ann Schimke
 
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