From teaching about race to COVID and Rebuilding Stronger, here are our 5 most-read stories of 2022

From Indiana Statehouse bills grabbing the national spotlight and a sweeping overhaul of Indianapolis Public Schools, to a high-stakes midterm election, 2022 was a full year for education news.

So as we look ahead to 2023, we’re also looking back at our top stories from 2022 to find the five topics that Chalkbeat Indiana readers were most interested in this year. 

Below is a list of our most-read articles this year, plus a few related stories that you should check out too. 

Statehouse debate on teaching about race

Several of our most popular stories were articles about bills in the 2022 legislative session, especially those that addressed how teachers approach race and racial issues in the classroom. 

Most-read stories: 

• Here are the education bills moving forward in the Indiana legislature
• Indiana seeks to limit teaching about race in classrooms
• Indiana House bill would ban teaching ‘divisive concepts’
• Indiana education bills that passed the 2022 legislature

If you liked those, read: 

• ‘Parental control’ bills take aim at teachers like me
• How Indiana ‘divisive concepts’ bill failed despite support

What happens to my school under Rebuilding Stronger?

Rebuilding Stronger is an overhaul of IPS that aims to address pressing issues of enrollment, finances, and inequities for students of color. The school board approved the plan in November, and now district leaders are turning to a pair of referendums to help fund the overhaul’s changes.

Most-read stories: 

• IPS might close schools. See how your school building is scored.
• IPS unveils plan to close 7 schools, reconfigure 39 others

If you liked those, read: 

• Indianapolis embarks on another middle school overhaul. Will this one work?
• IPS wants Rebuilding Stronger to address inequities, but some worry its approach is unfair 
• Indianapolis charter schools want bigger share of proposed $824 million in new taxes

Election 2022: Voters chose school board members

For this year’s school board elections, Chalkbeat Indiana collaborated with WFYI to create voter guides for districts across Marion County, and also co-hosted a candidate forum for IPS candidates. Victorious candidates will start their terms in January.

Most-read stories: 

• Midterm Elections 2022: Voting results for school boards in Marion County
• 3 hopefuls seek 2 Washington Township school board seats

If you liked those, read: 

• Interest in running for Indianapolis school board drops to new low
• Candidates for IPS school board would vote no on Rebuilding Stronger

COVID learning recovery and virtual attendance changes

Nearly three years after COVID shuttered school buildings, data is showing the impact the pandemic has had on students and their learning. Plus, a state law changed how often students can learn virtually and guidance on COVID exposures continued to change. 

Most- read stories: 

• Indiana state test scores tick up after pandemic declines
• Indiana announces $111 million toward teaching reading
• Indiana limits virtual school days

If you liked those, read:

• Here are the tutoring programs available to Indianapolis students and how to access them
• As COVID protocols end, young students and new teachers adjust

Accountability for state lawmakers

Aside from the legislation they proposed, lawmakers themselves made news too as they discussed race and education.

Most-read stories:

• Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston resigns from College Board
• Bob Behning’s comments on Black student scores draw fire

If you liked those, read:

• How Indiana’s curriculum bill about racism motivated a new wave of statehouse candidates

Bonus: Charter troubles, special education staffing, and more

While the above topics were the most popular this year, there were a few more prominent stories that didn’t fit into a category. Read those and a few more below.

Most-read stories: 

• Troubled charter school removed from IPS reopens with new name
• How Indiana will tackle a shortage of special education staff

If you liked those, read:

• Some Indiana schools may be failing to meet staffing rules for English learner students
• A charter school offering cash to families wants to open in Indiana
• Indiana legislature overrules governor; bans transgender girls from girls sports

MJ Slaby is the bureau chief for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact MJ at mslaby@chalkbeat.org.