Essential education reporting across America

Tackling racism

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
 
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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
 
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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
 
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
 
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From Chalkbeat Chicago Student Voices Fellowship
Think my South Side high school is a ‘bad school’? Think again.
Here’s what I want you to know about Chicago’s Wendell Phillips Academy High School.
By Ajibola Elizabeth Junaid
 
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From Chalkbeat Chicago First Person
Madeline Morgan fought to teach Black history in schools. 80 years on, her vision is not yet realized.
The Chicago educator urged students to think critically about African American history, but her pioneering curriculum was short-lived.
By Michael Hines
 
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
 
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From Chalkbeat New York First Person
The Asian history I never learned in school
Stuck at home during the pandemic, my family shared stories and taught me to embrace my Chinese heritage.
By Vienna Du
 
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
 
A middle-aged man dressed in black, with long gray hair pulled back into a knot, speaks into a microphone. He’s seen in profile, facing left, and he’s gesturing with his hand as he speaks.
From Chalkbeat Colorado Denver Public Schools
Ricardo Martinez remembered as ‘a warrior’ for justice in Denver schools
As co-founder of Padres & Jóvenes Unidos, Martinez helped parents and students fight racism in Denver Public Schools.
By Melanie Asmar
 
A young woman wearing a cream colored jacket, blue shirt and cloth mask holds a drawing of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Students hold a purple banner behind her.
From Chalkbeat Chicago First Person
I lead classroom conversations about race. But I need more help.
Chicago teachers deserve real training — not just an occasional lesson plan.
By Winnie Williams-Hall
 
Close-up of the arms of a teacher and student facing each other opposite a desk with workbooks on it.
From Chalkbeat Indiana Curriculum and instruction
Indiana educators: How would proposed restrictions on teaching about race and identity affect your classroom?
Chalkbeat Indiana would like to know what teachers think about a state bill to limit lessons on race and racism, and restrict mandates in diversity training.
By Aleksandra Appleton
 
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First Person First Person
I am a school board member. Anti-CRT bills are stoking fear in our district.
Concerns about critical race theory are often divorced from the reality of what goes on in classrooms.
By Erika Cohen
 
A algebraic equation example, “x+y=z”, is written on a white board. There is a teacher at a podium in the background.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee Teacher evaluations
Tennessee study: Blacks, males score lower in teacher observations
The findings, released Monday and mirroring national research, raise important questions about the reliability and fairness of the state’s teacher evaluation system.
By Marta W. Aldrich
 
A group of students walk out of school in protest against alleged racism at Sarah E. Goode STEM Academy.
From Chalkbeat Chicago Racial Justice
Chicago students walk out of South Side school over racial slurs: ‘We will not be silenced’
Some students said they have endured racial slurs from other students, while others alleged being targeted by some teachers who have kicked them out of class or called security on them.
By Mauricio Peña
 
A police officer stands at the edge of a classroom, where several students sit at their desks as a teacher conducts a lesson for the students.
From Chalkbeat Tennessee School safety
Sheriff’s deputies to remain in Shelby County Schools after board approves controversial contract
Counselors not Cops activist calls the board’s action a ‘huge disappointment.’
By Samantha West
 
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From Chalkbeat New York First Person
NYC is making a big investment in culturally responsive education. It benefits all of us.
I work to create lessons that allow students to be seen and understood in a way that I never was.
By Amy Parker
 
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