Essential education reporting across America

Politics & Policy

A classroom with green walls and empty desks.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Tennessee bill to loosen class size limits dies in House committee
Critics predicted class sizes would grow under the legislation
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A woman in a gray suit holds a microphone and stands on a school auditorium stage.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Interim MSCS leader outlines her vision for district as superintendent search narrows
Toni Williams addresses key constituencies in reviewing district’s progress, priorities
By Laura Testino
 
Graduating students stand and face their families that are sitting down as their families applaud in a large auditorium space.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Politics & Policy
Graduation waivers for Indiana students targeted by lawmakers who worry they’re overused
One bill would require students who take the military exam to fulfill a graduation requirement to enlist in the military in order to be counted in graduation rates.
By Amelia Pak-Harvey
 
Two men running for Chicago mayor shake hands after a recent forum.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Campaigns and elections
Chicago mayoral election 2023: Where the two candidates stand on 5 key education issues
Chalkbeat breaks down Paul Vallas’ and Brandon Johnson’s positions on education issues.
By Mauricio Peña and Becky Vevea
 
A man in a gray suit without a tie talks at a podium.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
Teachers buck Mulgrew, petition for referendum vote on Medicare Advantage
UFT president feels pressure from members who demand a union-wide vote on the retiree health care cost savings plan he’s championing.
By Claudia Irizarry Aponte, THE CITY and Amy Zimmer
 
The facade of Chicago Public Schools headquarters, with the district’s sign hanging on the wall behind windows with green silhouettes of students.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Politics & Policy
Want to help draw Chicago’s elected school board maps? Here’s your chance.
State lawmakers must draw districts for Chicago’s elected school board by July 1, 2023 ahead of the November 2024 election. They’re accepting ideas for how to divide up the city through a new online portal.
By Becky Vevea
 
A student wearing blue scrubs pricks her own finger to draw blood for a glucose reading. Another student in scrubs watches.
From Chalkbeat New York College and career readiness
David Banks wants to expose more NYC students to careers before graduation. Here’s how.
NYC is beefing up career programs in education, technology, business, and health care. Officials are also offering hundreds of paid, three-year apprenticeships.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
A landscape shot of a vacant high school building, with boarded and broken windows as well as graffiti tags along the facade.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
Detroit Public Schools Community District rejects latest offer for vacant Cooley High School
District leaders and bidder Life Remodeled call off talks amid dispute over adding new financial benchmarks to terms of their deal.
By Ethan Bakuli
 
Two men wearing business suits in a legislative chamber
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Tennessee bill would widen who can complain about teaching of banned concepts
Critics worry the change could flood districts with unfounded complaints
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
desk with pencil
From Chalkbeat Indiana Charters & Choice
Indiana parents, education advocates split over school choice budget increases
Lawmakers are considering a plan to dramatically increase spending on the state’s voucher program.
By Casey Smith, Indiana Capital Chronicle
 
Two campaign yard signs. One for Brandon Johnson and one for Paul Vallas are posted along a Chicago sidewalk.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Chicago Mayoral Election 2023
Paul Vallas supporters disrupt a Brandon Johnson event focused on Vallas’ schools leadership
Supporters of the former Chicago schools chief Paul Vallas interrupted a press conference held by Brandon Johnson backers aimed at denouncing Vallas’ schools record ahead of the heated mayoral runoff election.
By Becky Vevea
 
A student works on letter sounds, using a board with magnetic letters at a circular table.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado reading
Colorado’s dyslexia screening bill likely dead in face of opposition from education groups
Some school districts, including Boulder Valley and La Veta, already conduct universal dyslexia screenings in certain grades.
By Ann Schimke
 
Middle school students stand on the blacktop outside a brick school building. They are seen through a chain link fence.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Politics & Policy
One of Denver’s innovation zones could be revoked. Another is losing its largest school.
Some observers say the recent challenges are a sign that political winds have shifted in DPS.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A preschool teacher at a table surrounded by children uses Play-Doh to shape letters of the alphabet.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Early Childhood Education
Despite a few bumps, Promising Futures child care scholarship bill advances in Tennessee Senate
Critics say it’s not the state’s role to pay for child care
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Gov. Josh Shapiro in a blue suit and white shirt talks to a group of high school students in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Gun Violence and Schools
Philadelphia students press governor on his school safety proposal to hire more police
During a high school visit, Gov. Josh Shapiro also discussed his plans to hire more teachers and increase education spending in his proposed budget.
By Dale Mezzacappa and Carly Sitrin
 
Flags of various colleges hang from the ceiling of a high school cafeteria as students sit at their tables.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Higher Education
A FAFSA requirement for Indiana students is one step closer to becoming law
High school seniors would have until April 15 to fill out the form or get a waiver. Advocates said the bill would make completing the form go from happenstance to a conscious decision.
By MJ Slaby
 
A young man, wearing a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans, walks down a path toward campus, the Denver skyline looming in the background.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Politics & Policy
Funding debate dashes hopes of creating a first generation-serving designation for Colorado colleges
Colorado lawmakers pulled the bill before it went to a vote on the House floor.
By Jason Gonzales
 
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
 
A man wearing a suit and blue necktie speaks into a microphone in a legislative chamber with the Tennessee state flag in the background.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Bill to ease Tennessee’s third-grade reading and retention law clears first legislative hurdle
The measure would widen reading test criteria for retention but keep the state in control of those decisions.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A group of four people including a man running for mayor walk out of a school building on Chicago’s South Side.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Campaigns and elections
From teacher to elected official: How Brandon Johnson’s organizing roots set the stage for mayoral run
As the Chicago Teachers Union found its political footing, Johnson worked on the union’s front line. Now, his years of knocking on doors might be his secret weapon to win over voters.
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
 
Colorado’s governor in a blue suit stands at a podium with a yellow sign surrounded by people.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Politics & Policy
Free college, $1,500 scholarships proposed for some in-demand fields
Colorado leaders want to offer two years of free college to students entering teaching, nursing, firefighting, and other professions struggling to find enough workers.
By Jason Gonzales
 
A white building with columns stands against a bright blue sky. An American flag is visible.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Campaigns and elections
Education has become an issue in the Denver mayoral election. Here’s why.
17 candidates are on the ballot. It’s the first wide-open mayoral race in Denver in 12 years.
By Melanie Asmar
 
An election judge sets out voting stickers on a table.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Campaigns and elections
An election guide: Where Denver’s mayoral candidates stand on education
The Denver mayor plays no formal role in running the school system, but that hasn’t stopped some candidates from suggesting that person should have a louder voice and even appoint members to the school board.
By Erica Meltzer
 
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
 
A display of colorful picture books, including some about Black history.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Student & School Performance
More than 2,700 MSCS 3rd-graders face risk of being held back, district official says
Board’s academic committee considers ways to ease impact of reading law, including offering retests and eliminating time limits.
By Tonyaa Weathersbee
 
A teacher writes on a dry-erase board in a classroom. Math equations are written on the board to her left. Above the board are posters of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and the cast of the movie Hidden Figures.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
Michigan’s ‘historic’ rise in education budget is tempered by inflation
The pandemic economy brought more funding — and higher prices.
By Koby Levin
 
Colorado state Capitol building in Denver, Colorado, with the U.S. and state flags in front of a cloudy sky
From Chalkbeat Colorado Politics & Policy
Corporal punishment bill would ban the practice in Colorado
Colorado doesn’t have a law about corporal punishment, which leaves open the use of the practice.
By Jason Gonzales
 
Exterior image of Fairview Elementary shows a short stairway, mosaic tile, and colorful murals.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Denver Public Schools
Denver board votes to close three small schools just one day after recommendation made public
‘These are really tough decisions and none of us are taking them lightly,’ said board member Carrie Olson, who experienced a school closure when she was a teacher.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A man wearing a suit stands at a podium and speaks into a microphone.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee School safety
Tennessee governor’s safety bill threatens penalties for schools if they don’t lock entrances
State inspections found 527 unlocked doors so far this school year.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
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