Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

literacy

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Colorado
September 19, 2018

Aurora is rolling out new curriculum to catch up with how teachers teach writing

Aurora discovered that about 40 percent of its third-through-eighth-graders earned zero points on certain writing sections of the state test.

Lifting literacy

Tennessee
September 11, 2018

Summer camps lift reading skills for third straight year in Tennessee

Tennessee's campaign to help its children read better is seeing encouraging results from investments in school-based summer camps.

state test results

Colorado
August 16, 2018

With accelerated growth in literacy and math, Denver students close in on state averages

Still, fewer than half of Denver students in grades three through eight met state expectations in literacy, and only about a third met them in math.

exclusive

Tennessee
July 25, 2018

In his final months as Tennessee governor, Haslam reflects on his education legacy

In a wide-ranging interview, the outgoing Republican governor talks about achievement gains, TNReady disappointments, pre-K challenges, and what's next.

Silver Lining Playbook

Tennessee
July 19, 2018

Memphis’ youngest students show reading gains on 2018 state tests — and that’s a big deal

Those working to improve early literacy rates in Shelby County Schools got a small morale boost from newly released TNReady scores.

case closed

Detroit
July 2, 2018

Attorneys in literacy lawsuit plan to appeal federal judge’s ‘disappointing’ dismissal

A judge has dismissed Detroit students' federal lawsuit. Attorneys plan to appeal.

bolstering literacy

Tennessee
January 2, 2018

Four Memphis charter organizations pilot new reading curriculum

The literacy grants from Memphis Education Fund come at a time when local and state officials are doubling down on solutions to Tennessee’s reading challenges.

UPPING LITERACY

Tennessee
October 13, 2017

In their second year, Tennessee’s summer reading camps show improved skills for some

While testing data is available for only half of participating students, those who were assessed grew in their reading accuracy by an average of 4 percentage points.

collaboration station

Tennessee
October 11, 2017

KIPP launches collaborative with Memphis charters to improve literacy results

Eleven elementary and middle schools from four different charter organizations in Memphis have adopted the KIPP Wheatley curriculum.

new chapter

Tennessee
October 2, 2017

Memphis early education giant merges with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate

In an effort to bolster early literacy, the city's leading provider of early childhood education for poor children adds home book delivery to its services.

How I Teach

Colorado
August 15, 2017

This Colorado teacher doesn’t come to class with ironclad lessons. Instead, students help her plan along the way.

A teacher from Western Colorado talks about the woman who inspired her to teach, the importance of parent feedback and why she likes it when students laugh in class.

Stopping summer slide

Tennessee
July 13, 2017

On National Summer Learning Day, Memphis takes stock of programs for kids

Mayor Jim Strickland estimates that 10,000 children and teens are being reached this summer through various learning programs.

It takes a village

Tennessee
March 1, 2017

Nashville’s third-graders trail the state in reading proficiency. Here’s the city’s plan to change that.

As Tennessee grapples with its reading problem, Nashville kicks off its own literacy effort aimed at accelerating the reading skills of the city’s youngest students.

Read to be Ready

Tennessee
February 23, 2017

McQueen takes stock of Tennessee’s literacy campaign after first year

The state is making progress with its youngest readers, but still has a long way to go, says its education commissioner.

Leaving

Tennessee
February 21, 2017

Ramirez resigns as academics chief for Shelby County Schools

In a letter emailed to her colleagues, Heidi Ramirez says she is leaving her job “to be closer to loved ones and take on new challenges.”
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