Essential education reporting across America

Racial Justice

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From Chalkbeat Colorado Denver Public Schools
Denver school board upholds firing of McAuliffe Principal Kurt Dennis
The Denver school board backed the superintendent’s decision to fire Kurt Dennis. The popular McAuliffe principal spoke out about safety concerns, then was accused of mistreating students.
By Melanie Asmar
 
Gabriel Watkins clasps his hands as he watches Philonise Floyd react to the conviction of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of his brother, George Floyd, during a discussion between Northfield High School student council officers and members in Denver, Colorado, on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
From Chalkbeat Newark Racial Justice
Former Newark teachers suffered ‘emotional problems’ due to harassment, racial hostility, according to legal claims
Two former teachers at the Newark School of Global Studies felt their “worth as a teacher and human being has been diminished” after experiencing harassment and racial hostility by students and supervisors last school year, according to legal claims.
By Jessie Gomez
 
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From Chalkbeat Newark Chalkbeat En Español
El personal docente de Newark no siempre coincide con la diversidad de la población estudiantil
El distrito realiza esfuerzos de reclutamiento para atraer maestros de diversos orígenes.
By Catherine Carrera and Jessie Gomez
 
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From Chalkbeat Colorado Racial Justice
Colorado lawmaker wants to ban seclusion rooms in schools as Denver investigation continues
McAuliffe’s interim principal is on leave as an investigation into the school’s seclusion room continues.
By Erica Meltzer
 
A young girl wearing a grey hoodie raises her hand during class.
From Chalkbeat Newark School segregation / integration
‘I felt like I was lost’: NJ students say school segregation impacted their education
New Jersey students of color shared the impact of attending schools that did not reflect their cultural backgrounds and the challenges they faced.
By Jessie Gomez
 
Students raise their hands in a classroom with a bulletin board that says “American History.”
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teaching & Classroom
Teachers sue over Tennessee law restricting what they can teach about race, gender, and bias
The lawsuit is the first legal challenge to the controversial 2021 law
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A boy in a white T-shirt uses tools to build something.
From Chalkbeat New York Diversity & Equity
A new Brooklyn high school to focus on housing, tech, and art through a social justice lens
Design Works High School students will spend their freshman year studying how housing and environmental issues affect their community.
By Eliana Perozo
 
A group of students pose in a library.
From Chalkbeat Colorado LGBTQ+
‘My queer joy is all the time’: Denver LGBTQ+ students share their stories in new film for educators
The filmmakers and the students didn’t want to focus solely on how LGBTQ+ youth are marginalized or oppressed. They also wanted to focus on joy.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A man with glasses and an Afro style haircut stands with his hand in the air holding a piece of paper.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
The ‘Tennessee 3’ created a historic teachable moment. Will schools be allowed to teach it?
‘We definitely have noticed that a silencing is happening in our schools,’ said one student.
By Marta W. Aldrich and Laura Testino
 
A hunk of wood and metal bar sit in the center of a near pitch dark room in the basement of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. A sign reads, “The Paradox of Liberty.”
From Chalkbeat Newark First Person
I was hired to write a Black history curriculum. Then I was asked to walk back key concepts.
I was told that topics such as white supremacy and intersectionality would make it difficult to sell the curriculum.
By Rann Miller
 
A woman seated at a table with stacks of books featuring an image of a child on the cover. A small child is behind the woman.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Racial Justice
Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges on her life story being banned: ‘When they started targeting me, I couldn’t ignore it’
Pioneer of school desegregation says resolving racial differences requires telling the truth about history — ‘good, bad, or ugly.’
By Tonyaa Weathersbee
 
Empty school hallway and door.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Politics & Policy
Bill requiring training for expulsion hearing officers moves forward
If passed into law, it will extend some protections to students facing expulsion and require hearing officers to undergo training in trauma, adolescent brain development.
By Erica Meltzer
 
Three young people talking in front of a crosswalk
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia discipline policies
More school counselors would improve juvenile justice system for girls, Philadelphia DA says
Larry Krasner’s report also found that 95% of girls arrested in the city are children of color.
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
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 elementary students, shown from behind, 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
 
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