Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

ESSA

Achievement School District

Tennessee
December 5, 2018

McQueen: More school takeovers ‘most likely’ coming to Memphis and Nashville

Tennessee's outgoing education chief says she'll recommend more takeovers to the next governor, unless there's significant improvement.

Live online

Tennessee
December 4, 2018

How is your school rated on academics and attendance? Use Tennessee’s new report card to find out

Tennessee releases its redesigned state report card, ushering in a new era of transparency under a new federal law.

Follow the ratings

Chicago
November 16, 2018

Illinois education officials laud their school ratings — but critics say they don’t go far enough

A new nationwide report criticized Illinois' rating system, even as officials lauded it.

Soft touch

Colorado
November 15, 2018

Report: Colorado takes a hands-off approach when schools don’t serve students well

The Collaborative for Student Success evaluated the implementation of Every Student Succeeds Act plans in 17 states, including Colorado.

litmus tests

National
November 13, 2018

In a shift, more education reformers say they’re worried about schools’ focus on testing

The pervasiveness of the complaints about testing was striking.

the school improvement industry

National
October 29, 2018

Private groups have long tried to help turn around struggling schools. But it’s not clear if they’re doing any good.

There's little evidence on whether that school improvement industry, paid for by taxpayers, is actually boosting student learning, according to a new study.

what's next?

Tennessee
September 26, 2018

These Memphis schools now risk a state takeover

A look at the state’s new criteria for when to step in to improve schools provides some clues about which ones are under consideration.

Priority schools

Tennessee
September 19, 2018

Struggling Tennessee schools find out Friday if they could face state intervention

The "priority school" list will be the first since 2014 and will chart state improvement strategies, investments, and interventions.

talking testing

New York
September 14, 2018

New York officials soften potential penalties for schools where many students opt out of tests

Under the initial rules, districts that had high opt-out rates for five years could have to set aside Title I funding, which is earmarked for high-poverty schools.

Just say no

New York
September 13, 2018

New York bans the use of federal, state money to buy guns for schools

New York will not allow schools to use federal or state money to buy guns, according to a memo sent Wednesday by state…

Testing ESSA

Tennessee
September 5, 2018

One state, three lists of troubled schools — another consequence of Tennessee’s testing mess

After months of talks, federal and state officials come to terms on how to address Tennessee's lowest-performing schools in light of TNReady problems.

testing accountability

National
August 13, 2018

Pressuring schools to raise test scores got diminishing returns, new study of No Child Left Behind finds

Does tightening the screws on schools and teachers lead to benefits for students? For the past couple of decades, school reform…

change of plans

Tennessee
June 11, 2018

With A-F grades off the table, Tennessee gets creative about rating its schools under federal law

Days of online testing problems this spring forced officials to toss out a new A-F grading system to rate the state's 1,700-plus public schools.

Q&A

New York
May 29, 2018

Behind the scenes, New York City schools that serve students who have fallen behind are undergoing a ‘systemic’ transformation

At the center is a question New York City has been grappling with for decades: How should the school system help students at greatest risk of dropping out?

Growing 'family'

Tennessee
May 16, 2018

As Memphis expands its efforts to improve schools, one model is about to double in size

The Empowerment Zone, which will enter its third year in August, is a neighborhood-centric approach to improve schools.
‹