Essential education reporting across America

Racial Justice

A screen at the entrance of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church displays the celebration of life for Tyre Nichols.
From Chalkbeat New York First Person
When I think about the violence that killed Tyre Nichols, I feel betrayed
We must use our power to uplift our community, not tear it down.
By Enoch Naklen
 
Students sit in two rows facing each other as a teacher stands in the middle.
From Chalkbeat Newark Curriculum and instruction
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy announces statewide expansion of AP African American course
Gov. Phil Murphy and Newark leaders announced 26 schools in New Jersey will teach AP African American Studies next year.
By Jessie Gomez
 
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From Chalkbeat Tennessee Tackling racism
Q&A: For anti-bigotry group Facing History & Ourselves, Tyre Nichols’ death is another tragic teaching moment
Michele Phillips, a Memphis-based leader of the group, says ‘we’re sticking to our script’ on emphasizing lessons of history, but Tennessee law has had a ‘chilling effect’
By Tonyaa Weathersbee
 
An exhibit National Museum of African American History & Culture. It says “The Journey to Freedom.”
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia First Person
What we lose when we whitewash Black history
Florida has banned AP African American History. Here’s why that matters and what teachers can do about it.
By Abigail Henry
 
An elementary class poses for a portrait in a classroom.
From Chalkbeat Colorado School segregation / integration
50 years after the Keyes case and busing in Denver, once-segregated Stedman Elementary fights to stay integrated
“The way I lead today has a lot to do with my experiences from the outcomes of the Keyes case,” Principal Michael Atkins said.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Two Black elementary students sit in a classroom with a white teacher.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Diversity & Equity
Bill would curb ‘implicit bias’ training in Tennessee schools, universities
Democrats call the proposal ‘a step in the wrong direction’
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A teacher with young students in the classroom.
How I Teach How I Teach
Let go of your favorites: This educator urges critical thought about how books depict Native peoples
Dr. Debbie Reese is the founder of American Indians in Children’s Literature.
By Julian Shen-Berro
 
Photograph of a U.S. Census form and a ballpoint pen.
From Chalkbeat New York First Person
The U.S. government says I’m white. That’s not how I see myself.
As an Arab-American teen who wears a hijab, the privileges that come with being white do not align with my experiences.
By Douae Maarouf
 
A man and a child look at computer screens at a History Colorado museum exhibit in Denver on the Sand Creek massacre.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Teaching & Classroom
Here’s how these Colorado students learn about the state’s deadliest day
Students at a southeastern Colorado high school spend several days learning about the Sand Creek Massacre because of a unique agreement with an Oklahoma tribe.
By Ann Schimke
 
Three young women stand in front of microphones at a press conference.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Racial Justice
Denver district relinquishes ‘Know Justice, Know Peace’ podcast trademark, asks lawsuit be dismissed
If the lawsuit is dismissed, it will end a high-profile dispute that earned Denver Public Schools significant criticism.
By Melanie Asmar
 
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From Chalkbeat New York Charters & Choice
Where do Hochul and Zeldin stand on education?
There are still many open questions about how both would approach policy for schools.
By Reema Amin
 
Young people are in a circle with their arms outstretched.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Racial Justice
Youth-led Chicago initiative gets $10 million grant to expand its reach
Healing Through Justice, a partnership between Communities United and Lurie Children’s Hospital, uses activism to heal trauma and will now be able to help 3,000 more young people.
By Mauricio Peña
 
A group of protesters march downtown with a sign that reads, “We demand accountability. #YearWithoutTamir.”
From Chalkbeat New York First Person
A teacher made me watch the video of Tamir Rice’s killing. What happened next still haunts me.
Black trauma doesn’t have to be channeled into some inspiring lesson.
By Kayla Ruano-Lumpris
 
A female student sits behind a desk with recording equipment.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Racial Justice
Video sheds new light on ‘Know Justice, Know Peace’ podcast dispute
Video from a meeting between students and district staff reveals tensions in the dispute over the podcast trademark, which is now the subject of a lawsuit.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A female student sits behind a desk with recording equipment.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Racial Justice
Denver students sue after district files to trademark their racial justice podcast
Four Black students allege that Denver Public Schools unlawfully tried to trademark the name of their Know Justice, Know Peace podcast.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Gisele Bartley (center) is one of LEAD’s “advocate-counselors,” who enmesh themselves in students’ lives.
From Chalkbeat Newark Racial Justice
New Jersey’s Black, Latinx students face shrinking access to school mental health staff, report says
The report’s author suggests a long-term funding solution is needed as federal COVID relief funds offer only a short-term remedy.
By Catherine Carrera
 
Parent Rhonda Moore at the University City Townhomes.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Racial Justice
West Philadelphia parents facing eviction worry about children changing schools
Students used to a relatively easy trip from the University City Townhomes to school may find their routines disrupted.
By Johann Calhoun
 
A woman with shoulder-length dark hair poses for a portrait outside a building. She’s in a park-like setting with lots of purple flowering plants around her.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Racial Justice
Boulder schools punish Black and Latino students at disproportionately higher rates. Parents want more accountability.
Latino students at BVSD are about 3.5 times more likely to be suspended than white students. The district and parents disagree on how to address the longstanding problem.
By John Herrick
 
A woman with shoulder-length dark hair poses for a portrait outside a building. She’s in a park-like setting with lots of purple flowering plants around her.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Chalkbeat En Español
Las escuelas de Boulder castigan a los estudiantes negros y latinos en tasas más altas. Los padres piden que el distrito acepte la responsabilidad.
5 veces más probable que a los estudiantes latinos en BVSD los suspendan, en comparación con los estudiantes blancos, según muestra un análisis del Boulder Reporting Lab de datos del distrito.
By John Herrick
 
Three students sit on a stage in a movie theater auditorium during a screening of their student film at a May 4 screening at Gene Siskel Film Center in Chicago.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Racial Justice
Chicago student films tell stories about pandemic life, racial justice. It ‘rewrites our narrative.’
As part of a Chicago Public Schools film project, in partnership with other groups, students at four high schools seek to elevate the voices of young people.
By Mauricio Peña
 
Students raise their hands in a classroom with a bulletin board that says “American History.”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Diversity & Equity
‘Age-appropriate’ books, history, and CRT: What you need to know about the Tennessee curriculum debate
Here is everything you need to know about how critical race theory has shaped the Tennessee curriculum debate up to this point — and what may be on the horizon.
By Chalkbeat Staff
 
Portrait of Katherine Davis alongside a picture of the entrance to Central High School
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Diversity & Equity
Philly’s historic Central High gets its first female, Black president
Katharine Davis faces big challenges related to Black students’ concerns at the second-oldest public high school in the U.S.
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
Students kneel, raise their fists, and hold up signs in a protest outside of North Star Academy in Newark.
From Chalkbeat Newark Charter schools
After student walkout, Newark charter school tells some students to stay home
Decision to make students learn remotely comes after walkout over discipline, Black teacher departures
By Patrick Wall
 
View looking down on the floor of the Indiana House, with people sitting at desks, separated by empty seats
From Chalkbeat Indiana Politics & Policy
‘Divisive concepts’ bill moves forward in the Indiana Senate
House Bill 1134 restricts teaching three ideas that Indiana lawmakers describe as “divisive,” a limit that has drawn overwhelming public criticism.
By Aleksandra Appleton
 
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee speaks with students wearing blue shirts.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee lawmakers to take up governor’s school library bill
Gov. Lee wants more scrutiny of school libraries, but others say the push is unnecessary and politically motivated.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
This map shows efforts in 36 states to restrict education on racism, bias, the contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to U.S. history, or related topics. Last updated Feb. 1, 2022.
Teaching & Classroom Teaching & Classroom
MAP: Efforts to restrict teaching about racism and bias have multiplied across the U.S.
Chalkbeat is tracking efforts to restrict teaching about race and bias in schools, as well as efforts to expand it, on this map of critical race theory legislation.
By Cathryn Stout and Thomas Wilburn
 
A young man talks into a cell phone on the college campus of Howard University.
From Chalkbeat Newark Student Voices Fellowship
Why I see myself at an HBCU
While visiting historically Black campuses, I began to reimagine what my college experience could be.
By Chimdindu Okafor
 
A section of books in a bookstore are marked with a sign and yellow caution tape as “Banned Books”.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee lawmakers file bill targeting ‘obscene’ books in school libraries
Librarians are pushing back, calling the proposal unnecessary and unconstitutional.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
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First Person First Person
I teach U.S. history. We can trust our kids to hear hard things.
Our class traveled to Alabama and Georgia to learn about the struggle for civil rights. They made powerful connections to the present day.
By Katherine Sanford
 
An archival black and white photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King escorting a group of Black children to their newly integrated school, joined by Joan Baez, Andy Young, and Hosea Williams, among others.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Racial Justice
MLK asked if education was ‘fulfilling its purpose.’ We asked readers to share their thoughts.
As we reflect on the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and Day of Service, some of you shared your thoughts on King’s early perspective on education and if education in 2022 is fulfilling its purpose.
By Cathryn Stout
 
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