Essential education reporting across America

Tackling racism

Tonyaa’s Weathersbee’s mother, Wallace Weathersbee, in her sixth-grade classroom.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Inside Chalkbeat
My passion for education equity is informed by my past — and our future
The quest for education equity must be motivated by the reality that the workforce will rely heavily on people who aren’t white
By Tonyaa Weathersbee
 
Preschoolers’ jackets and boots or shoes are lined up in their cubbies.
First Person First Person
Preschool suspensions are harmful — and surprisingly common
As a Black woman, a parent, and an educator, curbing early childhood suspensions and expulsions is personal.
By Tara Kirton
 
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 display of colorful picture books, including some about Black history.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Politics & Policy
Tennessee textbook panel says it’s ill-equipped for possible onslaught of appeals over library materials
New censorship law was essentially an unfunded mandate
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
Brooklyn Technical High School, is one of New York City’s elite specialized high schools. This week, lawmakers filed legislation that would revoke a state law governing admissions for the schools, which enroll few Black and Latino students.
From Chalkbeat New York First Person
How I found my voice as a Black student at Brooklyn Tech
I felt isolated and powerless until I sought out Black spaces at my NYC specialized high school.
By Etana Williams
 
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 Tackling racism
‘I want Black students to feel valued’: Newark Global Studies students describe pattern of racism
Black students at the high school shared their experiences of racism at the school with board of education members last month. Their community is now rallying for change.
By Jessie Gomez
 
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
 
A person holds up a sign in the foreground, a person at a lectern in the background.
Politics & Policy Politics & Policy
‘The hardest years of my career’: Principals say political combat has engulfed schools
Principals report more hostility among parents, students
By Patrick Wall
 
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
 
Exterior of the School District of Philadelphia building.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Early Childhood Education
Philadelphia school board approves grant to teach anti-racism in elementary schools
The new grant comes as Pennsylvania introduces standards to help teachers address bias.
By Nora Macaluso
 
A group of students sit at desks in a classroom.
First Person First Person
Black students don’t need your ‘tough love.’ They need compassion.
An empathy divide threatens the lives and well-being of Black children.
By Deborah Brooks Lawrence and Barbara Ella Milton, Jr.
 
Three people stand behind voting partitions against a blue divider.
From Chalkbeat New York Campaigns and elections
Here are the big education donors in New York’s governor’s race
Both candidates have received big donations from those who influence New York’s education world — helping to paint a clearer picture of who is hoping to have sway over school policy.
By Reema Amin
 
Photo depicts black and white family photographs scattered over hand-written letters and journals.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Diversity & Equity
How one Colorado Republican shaped what students will learn about the Holocaust
State Board of Ed member Steve Durham hopes students connect the Nazis with socialism. Historians say he’s ‘completely wrong.’
By Erica Meltzer
 
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 protest against “Critical Race Theory” in front of a governmental building, with signs sitting on a row of benches in the foreground.
Politics & Policy Politics & Policy
Rising tide of censorship and scrutiny has schools scrambling to avoid backlash
As signals of inclusivity fade or vanish, it is often students of color and LGBTQ young people who feel the effects most acutely.
By Patrick Wall
 
Students wait in line on school campus.
From Chalkbeat Detroit Michigan Legislature
Michigan to infuse curriculum with Native American history
Students will learn the history of federally run Indian boarding schools that once tried to erase Indigenous culture
By Tracie Mauriello
 
A teacher leads a Black History lecture with her high school class. The students and teacher are wearing masks. There is a large flag with red, black, and green bars and a white outline of Africa behind her.
Tackling racism Tackling racism
Half of Black parents want schools to spend more time tackling racism, poll finds
Overall, most parents say schools are striking the right balance in addressing racism.
By Matt Barnum
 
A teacher wearing a black face mask and colorful flowered shirt points to a whiteboard while two students look on from their desks with their laptops open.
Teaching & Classroom Teaching & Classroom
Chilling effect: 1 in 4 teachers told to limit class talk on hot-button issues
As more states pass laws restricting lessons about racism and sexism, more teachers worry they’ll face additional scrutiny this school year.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
A student sits in a chair with one leg propped up and a carton of milk nearby, reading a hardcover copy of “The Hate U Give” with its book jacket taken off.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Tackling racism
These Indiana schools made racial equity their mission. Now they face hostile legislation.
Conservative pushback against critical race theory threatens to upend the work of Indianapolis schools to close academic gaps for students of color.
By Stephanie Wang
 
Headshot of a teenage girl wearing a white shirt. Her hair is in pigtails.
From Chalkbeat Detroit First Person
Diverse books remind readers that their stories matter. Why are schools trying to ban so many of them?
Reading lists should reflect many different people and experiences.
By Elena Recinto
 
A classroom displays posters of Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, and others on the wall, along with other instructional materials. Several desks and a small table are also visible.
From Chalkbeat Newark Curriculum and instruction
Newark schools’ new curriculum highlights African American history. What’s in it?
A guide to the curriculum that Newark teachers created
By Patrick Wall
 
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
 
Masked students sitting in chairs hold up signs opposing a proposed ban on teaching CRT, in a room of adults and students.
Politics & Policy Politics & Policy
On race and schools, here’s what Americans agree and disagree on
Chalkbeat examined over 20 polls since last year. In some cases, what we found was surprising, while others confirmed conventional wisdom.
By Matt Barnum
 
A Black male teacher smiles while sitting at a table and looking at a group of five high school students of different races.
How I Teach How I Teach
History class is under the microscope. This National Teacher of the Year is diving into lessons of race and oppression.
An Ohio educator won top teaching honors this week for his work connecting with high schoolers and crafting relevant history lessons.
By Kalyn Belsha
 
GettyImages_648922554.jpg
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Student Voices Fellowship
In America, I faced Islamophobia right from the start
On my first day of school, I wore a pink floral hijab. I didn’t realize it would make me a target.
By Umme Orthy
 
North_Star_student_rally_3.jpeg
From Chalkbeat Newark Charter schools
Students at Newark charter school protest treatment of Black teachers
Students at North Star Academy said some Black students are unhappy at the school, and some Black teachers have left.
By Patrick Wall
 
A teacher points at a screen while sitting on a desk in front of a group of students sitting at desks with laptops.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Curriculum and instruction
Philadelphia is updating its mandated African American history course
As controversy swirls in the U.S. over how schools teach about race, the district is refocusing the class on “intellectual genealogy.”
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
A wooden bookshelf full of books.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Tackling racism
Philly district will get 5,000 copies of a book celebrating Black Philadelphians
The donation comes as schools and lawmakers across the U.S. work to ban teachers from mentioning race or discrimination.
By Nora Macaluso
 
Angelique Gerald, above, with son Tafari at their Mt. Airy home.
From Chalkbeat Philadelphia Diversity & Equity
Black parents at Philly’s Carver E&S High School say new admissions process is unfair to them
Parents of students who enrolled in seventh and eighth grade say that that the district told them their children could stay through high school, but now has changed the rules
By Dale Mezzacappa
 
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