Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

U.S. Department of Education

Boost for charters

Colorado
October 9, 2018

Colorado gets $55 million to support charter school expansion

The five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education will help charter schools with start-up costs and trainings.

New Arrivals

Detroit
September 20, 2018

In a letter to Betsy DeVos, Michigan officials highlight the plight of refugee students — and ask for testing waiver

To teachers who work with recently arrived refugee students, the problem is clear: Although their students will eventually learn English, their language skills…

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.

Gun Sense

Colorado
August 23, 2018

A Colorado advocate for arming teachers thinks a new federal proposal is misplaced

Should the federal government make money available for schools to arm teachers, it would be up to each district in Colorado to decide whether to take advantage.

National award

Tennessee
May 9, 2018

Memphis student among 161 high school seniors named as U.S. Presidential Scholars

A Memphis senior is headed to Vanderbilt University in the fall, but first, she will make a stop at the White House.

In talks

Tennessee
May 4, 2018

Does Tennessee’s emergency response to testing problems conflict with federal ed law? Stay tuned.

While legislation to address TNReady woes has eased concerns in school communities, it's raised a flurry of new questions about Tennessee’s plan under ESSA.

the fight continues

New York
January 22, 2018

New York officials vow to keep fighting for controversial testing rules after federal agency rejects them

New York is “not giving up” on its testing waiver requests, the state's education commissioner said Monday.

Construyendo puentes

Tennessee
October 26, 2017

Communicating with Spanish-speaking parents is a challenge in Memphis. Meet the former teacher who’s taking it on.

Talia Palacio is transforming how Shelby County Schools interacts with Hispanic families.

All-clear on ESSA

Tennessee
August 31, 2017

Tennessee and feds strike a balance in how to track historically underserved students

The change enables the state to intervene when any racial group of students fall far behind their peers.

Detroit week in review

Detroit
August 11, 2017

Week in review: A hurry-up-and-wait moment for Detroit’s landmark education lawsuit and more in this week’s school news

If the suit does move forward, it’s likely to take years to have any real effects on local schools.

Tough talk

New York
March 16, 2017

New York education experts call Trump’s proposed budget cuts ‘irresponsible’ and ‘devastating’

President Donald Trump’s budget blueprint, unveiled Thursday, drew instant ire from education experts in New York state.

leadership matters

Tennessee
December 7, 2016

Meet the leader behind one Memphis school’s Blue Ribbon success

Principal Yolanda Heidelberg turned a high-poverty school with a lot of English language learners into one of the district's fastest-improving schools.

Teaching materials

Tennessee
November 10, 2016

Tennessee joins campaign to #GoOpen with educational resources

Tennessee joins 18 other states recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for its commitment to offering free online educational resources in schools.

Rethinking school

Tennessee
October 11, 2016

How Tennessee might drastically change testing, and other potential changes to the state’s schools

State officials share their takeaways from nearly six months of discussions on how Tennessee should adapt to the sweeping new federal education law.

Big win

New York
Updated September 29, 2016

U.S. Education Secretary John King awards 10 New York City schools Blue Ribbon status

Nine New York City public schools earned a Blue Ribbon designation this year, an honor given to just 329 schools nationwide.
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