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Student & School Performance

Students sit at white desks taking exams with paper and pencil
From Chalkbeat New York Assessment and testing
Your guide to state testing season for NYC students in grades 3-8
There might be more attention on this year’s state tests, following the spotlight on last year’s dip in national test scores.
By Reema Amin
 
People stand outside with protest signs
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
After a lengthy debate, NYC education panel approves preliminary $30.7B budget for schools
The vote by the city’s 23-member board — largely comprised by mayoral appointees — is not the final step for the agency’s budget.
By Reema Amin
 
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 person holds a pen in her right hand while seated at a desk and puts her head in her left hand.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Student & School Performance
Colorado will switch to use computerized SAT, PSAT
The state previously used the paper-version of the PSAT and SAT to test student math and English skills.
By Jason Gonzales
 
School bus shown in the rear-view mirror of a vehicle.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Student & School Performance
Michigan’s A-to-F grading system for school quality could be eliminated
Critics say it duplicates ratings that are already required under federal law.
By Koby Levin and Isabel Lohman
 
Students sit at a table with laptops.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
More devices in classrooms leads more NYC teachers to use tech with instruction
The seismic shift that made devices more accessible to students than ever before has now pushed some teachers to fold technology more often into their lesson plans.
By Reema Amin
 
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 girl works on her laptop amongst other students in the classroom.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Student & School Performance
Illinois K-12 funding formula is working as intended, according to a new report
A new report has found that Illinois’ K-12 evidence-based funding formula is working to increase funding for districts that serve students from low-income families, students of color, and students around the state since being implemented in 2017.
By Samantha Smylie
 
A teacher works with students at a table, while one student in the foreground holds a book over the side of their face.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
Repeal of Michigan’s 3rd grade retention rule ready for Whitmer’s signature
Some Democratic backers of the repeal say the provision in the 2016 literacy law has been a threat hanging over the heads of struggling students.
By Jonathan Oosting, Bridge Michigan
 
A sign for a CUNY campus with NYC silver subway trains running above ground over it.
From Chalkbeat New York College and career readiness
To boost enrollment, CUNY temporarily waives application fee for NYC high school seniors
The move could boost enrollment at CUNY’s undergraduate schools and programs as college enrollment remains below pre-pandemic levels.
By Reema Amin
 
A teacher points to a piece of pink construction paper that has a stick figure drawing and the word “uncomfortable” on it. The teacher is sitting on the rug. Only her feet and hands are visible.
From Chalkbeat New York Meeting the Moment
Telehealth, suicide prevention, social media guardrails: NYC shares sweeping youth mental health plan
The needs are high as data shows worsening mental health among young people, including more students reporting thoughts of suicide.
By Reema Amin and Amy Zimmer
 
Photo shows half the pale blue glass dome and the upper level of the Colorado Supreme Court chambers at the Ralph Carr Judicial Center in Denver, Colorado.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Adams 14 School District
Colorado Supreme Court will review the dismissal of the Adams 14 lawsuit against the state
The case will examine local control, and districts’ authority to appeal State Board of Education orders.
By Yesenia Robles
 
A teacher helps a student wearing a red top with a math problem.
From Chalkbeat Newark Student & School Performance
New Jersey designates 25 Newark schools needing comprehensive or targeted support
In New Jersey, a school can be identified as needing comprehensive, targeted, or additional targeted support and improvement. Additional federal funds are provided to these schools to help raise student achievement.
By Jessie Gomez
 
Students walk down the side walk with a tree and cars on the right side.
From Chalkbeat New York Mental Health in Schools
NY’s budget has $100M for academic and mental health programs. Schools still don’t have the money.
With the majority of the school year now over, school districts haven’t been able to apply for the grant money due to a lengthy bureaucratic process.
By Reema Amin
 
Joseph Thomas does a dance while walking across the stage during the graduation ceremony for Cody High School in May.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Student & School Performance
Michigan’s 4-year graduation rate up, but so is the dropout rate
Detroit sees a substantial gain, with 71% of students graduating.
By Koby Levin and Ethan Bakuli
 
Ian Randolph, board treasurer for Circles of Success charter school, said he believes its unfair for third-graders traumatized by the pandemic to be traumatized by the stress of being retained.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Assessment and testing
Third-grade retention law will intensify Memphis students’ pandemic woes, local critics say
More than three-quarters of third-graders could be held back, they warn.
By Tonyaa Weathersbee
 
A young student wearing headphones and working on a laptop. The foreground is a close up of the child’s head with the laptop in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Remote learning
NYC bought hundreds of thousands of devices for remote learning. Now they’re trying to track those devices — and all other school technology.
Although schools keep a record of devices, city watchdogs have criticized the education department for having no centralized system.
By Reema Amin
 
Students work on laptops in a darkened room. They’re sitting at long tables. One boy’s face is lit up by the glow of his screen.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Colorado General Assembly
Bill would let Colorado schools sue State Board of Ed over accountability decisions
Colorado Board of Education decisions on how to intervene in school districts with low test scores are final. A bill would change that by allowing districts to appeal to the courts.
By Erica Meltzer
 
Indiana State Board of Education members meet to discuss A-F grades for schools and other education issues at the monthly board meeting on Oct. 7, 2020.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Student & School Performance
How Indiana parents can use the state’s new school quality ‘GPS’ dashboard
The new dashboard underscores questions about the role of the state’s A-F grading system for schools.
By Aleksandra Appleton
 
Students raise their hands in the classroom, with the text “Plains Indians” projected on the white board at the front of the class.
From Chalkbeat New York Teaching & Classroom
Anticipating challenges to new class size law, Banks will launch ‘working group’
Banks revealed the plan Wednesday while outlining the financial costs of lowering newly required class sizes over the next five years.
By Reema Amin
 
A teacher sits at a horseshoe desk working with six elementary-age children. They have papers on the desk, and the students are following along.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Student & School Performance
Four-day week in 27J schools had negative impact on housing market, academics, study finds
Homeowners may have been better off paying the higher property taxes the district first asked for, the study suggests.
By Yesenia Robles
 
Two men wearing business suits speak with each other in a committee room.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Concern over Tennessee’s third grade reading and retention law prompts flurry of bills
Summer camps and tutoring are popular, but holding students back because of a test score is not
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Three high school graduates in blue caps and gowns are in the background, while a close up of a graduation cap with photos taped to it is in the foreground.
From Chalkbeat New York Politics & Policy
NYC’s 2022 graduation rate rises as state officials relax graduation requirements
Students from nearly every demographic group saw higher rates, though some gaps among groups widened.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
A student in a gray hoodie looks down at a paper exam. His hands are put together and resting against his chin and mouth.
From Chalkbeat New York Assessment and testing
NYC schools are once again cleared to grade their own students’ Regents exams. Will score manipulation surge?
But some experts worry that teachers will unfairly bump up familiar students’ scores.
By Alex Zimmerman
 
A historic building with a tall spire against a blue sky with clouds.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Michigan Legislature
Michigan lawmakers consider ending retention rule in third-grade reading law
Tutoring and preschool, not holding kids back, will help address Michigan’s literacy struggles, state superintendent tells lawmakers.
By Tracie Mauriello
 
A student in a backpack walks up concrete steps toward green double doors at a school.
From Chalkbeat New York School segregation / integration
Brooklyn principal leaves middle school after teacher complaints mount
M.S. 51 principal Neal Singh will leave to work for District 15’s superintendent. Pui-Lam (Jack) Chan, from New Utrecht High School, will take over on Feb. 1 as interim principal.
By Amy Zimmer
 
A person wearing an orange backpack walks past a brick school with a few other people in the background.
From Chalkbeat New York Student & School Performance
Tensions high at a sought-after Brooklyn middle school as teachers lose confidence in their principal
After a vote of no confidence in M.S. 51 principal Neal Singh, more than 40 teachers signed a grievance alleging a pattern of harassment of union members, the largest such grievance in union history, officials said.
By Tracy Tullis
 
Students, including Muhammad Khan at center, chat in the hallway on the first week back to classrooms on April 23, 2021.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Student & School Performance
A new survey asks Chicago students how they feel about school
Chicago and other districts are adopting a University of Chicago questionnaire that asks students about learning conditions in their classrooms.
By Mila Koumpilova
 
A boy wearing a gray Champion hoodie sits at a desk working on schoolwork.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Politics & Policy
Governor wants tutoring program in place before spring break
During Wednesday’s State of the State address, Whitmer is expected to ask for supplemental funding for individualized instruction.
By Tracie Mauriello
 
A woman wearing a plaid top teaches a class to a group of high school students.
From Chalkbeat Newark Chronic Absenteeism
Newark high school students can earn hockey tickets, gift cards in campaign to fight chronic absenteeism
A new partnership between Newark and the Devils Youth Foundation aims to raise attendance in four high schools.
By Jessie Gomez
 
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