Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Future of Teaching

Examining the divisive push to rate, reward, improve, and remove teachers

Summer training

Tennessee
June 26, 2018

Teachers expecting to be paid for two summer trainings will only be paid for one. Now they’re dropping out.

The superintendent said he was willing to talk with the school board about more stipends for professional development, but he was hesitant to pay more.

fight another day

New York
June 21, 2018

In union defeat, lawmakers end session without revamping teacher evaluation law

New York lawmakers went home for the summer without overhauling a controversial teacher evaluation law that ties state test scores to educator ratings.

a high-stakes evaluation

National
June 21, 2018

The Gates Foundation bet big on teacher evaluation. The report it commissioned explains how those efforts fell short.

New research commissioned by Gates finds scant evidence that evaluation changes accomplished what they were meant to: improve teacher quality or boost student learning.

evaluating evaluation

National
Updated July 18, 2018

How bias happens: teaching struggling students can affect observation scores, study finds

The types of students teachers instruct may influence how administrators evaluate their performance.

time for kids

New York
June 20, 2018

New York City agrees to provide paid family leave to teachers

After sustained pressure from teachers and the unions, the city will provide paid family leave for teachers.
Chicago
June 20, 2018

Five award-winning teachers talk recharging over the summer

As Chicagoland students rejoice at the end of school, teachers also approach the summer with excitement – to be able to relax and…

certification showdown

New York
Updated June 19, 2018

Judge strikes down rule allowing some New York charter schools to certify their own teachers

The ruling upends the plans of the city’s largest charter school network, Success Academy.

guide to the battle

New York
June 18, 2018

With days left in this year’s session, what will happen with teacher evaluations?

As the legislative session comes to a close, here's what you need to know about the upcoming battle over teacher evaluations.

mind the gap

National
June 15, 2018

In female-dominated education field, women still lag behind in pay, according to two new studies

Two new studies illustrate how even the education field — a female-dominated one where many salaries aren’t open to negotiation — isn’t immune to the gender pay gap.

Redefining STEM

Indiana
June 15, 2018

‘It’s OK to fail:’ How Indiana teachers are rethinking STEM for the real world

In Kraig Kitts’ biology classes, it’s OK to fail. “That’s science. That’s the nature of it,” said Kitts, a science teacher…

Next Generation

Colorado
June 14, 2018

Colorado adopts new science standards that focus on inquiry, not memorization

The Next Generation Science Standards represent the most significant change in this set of revisions to Colorado's academic standards.

Gun shy

Colorado
June 13, 2018

Some Colorado officials wanted fourth-graders to learn about the benefits of guns. Here’s why it won’t happen

Colorado fourth-graders won’t be asked to demonstrate their understanding of the possible benefits of gun ownership as part of their unit on conflict resolution.

coaching the coaches

Colorado
June 11, 2018

Some of Denver’s top teachers will get training to better help their colleagues

Data shows teachers like the approach and their students benefit from it.

By the numbers

Chicago
June 7, 2018

How many layoffs at your CPS school?

Chicago Public Schools announced Wednesday that the district will lay off 156 teachers and 382 support personnel at the end of the school year.

the new deal

Colorado
June 5, 2018

Aurora teachers could get a pay bump in the fall, with a chance for more in January

The Aurora school board must still give final approval to the new teacher pay agreement.

Story booth

Detroit
June 4, 2018

This ex-Detroit cop-turned-teacher left in distress. Now, she’s ready to return to the classroom

Why this teacher quit the district, and why she's ready to return

can Uteach?

National
June 4, 2018

A teacher prep program that really works? This one is successfully minting math and science educators

New peer-reviewed research on the program, known as UTeach, shows that its teachers performed substantially better in the classroom than other teachers in Texas.
Indiana
June 1, 2018

This Center for Inquiry educator is Indianapolis Public Schools Teacher of the Year

Over the next year, she will represent teachers from across the district and share her teaching philosophy.

Spotlight on teachers

Tennessee
May 31, 2018

Here are the nine finalists to be Tennessee’s next Teacher of the Year

The state’s 2018-19 top teacher will be announced this fall and will represent Tennessee in a national competition.

Top Teachers

Indiana
May 30, 2018

These are the 10 finalists for 2019 Teacher of the Year in Indianapolis Public Schools

Indianapolis Public Schools will choose its Teacher of the Year from these 10 finalists.

pink slips

Detroit
May 23, 2018

One Detroit principal keeps his job as others get the ax. Next year’s challenge? Test scores.

Educators and staff from a Detroit middle school took the microphone on Tuesday evening to save their principal’s job. Addressing the school board,…

meet the fellows

Tennessee
May 17, 2018

Meet the 38 teachers chosen by SCORE to champion education around Tennessee

Six teachers from Memphis have been awarded fellowships that will allow them to spend the next year supporting better education in Tennessee. The year-long fellowships,…

work hard play hard

Tennessee
May 16, 2018

Memphis teachers share basketball, even if they don’t share a district

The teachers, mostly black men, have turned it into a networking opportunity as well as a way to let off steam.
Indiana
May 10, 2018

Indiana schools might struggle to hire teachers, but there’s no shortage of ways to become one

Teacher licensure was a hot topic again during this year's legislative session.

Round up

Colorado
May 10, 2018

What Colorado lawmakers did for and to schools in 2018

In a world of competing priorities, education came out ahead in the Colorado General Assembly's 2018 session.

reality check

Colorado
May 10, 2018

Colorado lawmakers’ pension compromise raises teacher retirement age, cuts benefits

The deal that emerged from 12 hours of negotiations Wednesday was not the deal that many people expected to see when the day started.

Casting their lines

Detroit
May 9, 2018

‘Come help these babies.’ Inside the Detroit district’s long-shot effort to end a crippling teacher shortage

Detroit's main district is looking for teachers who are ready, willing and able to teach.
Indiana
May 9, 2018

Teachers kept quitting this Indianapolis school. Here’s how the principal got them to stay

As districts across the country struggle to hire teachers many schools are especially interested in retaining the teachers they have.

hitting a snag

New York
May 8, 2018

New York’s State Senate Majority Leader doesn’t endorse teacher evaluation legislation – but doesn’t rule out action either

With his statement, Flanagan leaves the door open for passing a bill this session, but possibly with changes or strings attached.

on camera

Tennessee
May 8, 2018

Video: Hopson seeks to clarify how Memphis teachers should teach new curriculums

More details for teachers are expected this summer on “preparing and customizing lessons.”

teacher evals

New York
May 7, 2018

Teacher evaluation fight spills into New York’s Board of Regents meeting

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia and certain board members appeared split over whether to express enthusiasm for the bill.

first steps

Colorado
May 4, 2018

Why Colorado’s teacher shortage bills fall short

The legislative effort to address Colorado's teacher shortages will have only a modest impact because it fails to tackle the root causes.

Carrots not sticks

Colorado
May 4, 2018

Here’s how Colorado lawmakers are spending $10 million to reduce the teacher shortage

Colorado is following the path laid out by research. What will matter is how these programs are implemented and sustained over time.
Indiana
May 3, 2018

How Indianapolis teachers are connecting Holocaust survivor Eva Kor’s story to their classrooms

Kor, a native Romanian, made her way to Terre Haute after being liberated from Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Decision time

Colorado
May 2, 2018

Pueblo teachers are cleared to strike after state regulators decline to intervene

Teachers in Pueblo could be on strike as soon as Monday.

one chamber down

New York
May 2, 2018

The Assembly passed a new teacher evaluation plan. Here’s how it may — and may not — impact New York City

If the bill clears the legislature, little will likely change for New York City educators.

Statistics

Colorado
May 1, 2018

Colorado was never ranked 46th for teacher pay. Does this change the debate?

The ranking has become a key feature of the school funding debate, and it’s unlikely to disappear from the public narrative anytime soon.

Story booth

Detroit
April 30, 2018

A bad kid turned school principal motivates students with life lessons she learned

As a student, she misbehaved when she was bored. Now, a principal uses what she learned to help her students.

union power

Colorado
April 27, 2018

Sponsor of teacher strike ban won’t jail teachers, but unions are still a target

The teacher backlash to the strike ban came fast and furious.

reaction

New York
April 27, 2018

As unions rejoice over possible teacher evaluations reversal, original advocates say change will ‘mask inequity’

No one was more jarred by a bill to remove test scores from teacher evaluations than advocates who convinced the state to go that direction in the first place.

What 'underfunded' means

Colorado
April 26, 2018

What you need to know to follow the money debate behind the teacher walkouts

What do people mean when they say Colorado schools are underfunded?

I'm just a bill

New York
April 26, 2018

The debate is back: New York state leaders introduce bill to overhaul teacher evaluations

A bill introduced in the Assembly on Thursday would not require districts to use standardized test scores to judge teachers.

Getting from good to great

Detroit
April 26, 2018

Many Detroit educators have never worked in a high-performing school. This program imports coaches who have

The program brings advisors into Detroit schools to provide intensive coaching to principals, assistant principals, deans and other top administrators. The coaches work with school leaders together as a team to collectively create improvement plans, then work to implement them.

Why Colorado's different

Colorado
April 26, 2018

Colorado teachers rallying at the Capitol will need voters’ help to make a big change

This is an unprecedented show of force that takes two-thirds of the state’s K-12 students out of school for a day.

LIVE

Colorado
April 26, 2018

Colorado teachers are rallying at the Capitol for more funding and higher pay. Follow the protest here.

Thousands of Colorado teachers are expected to protest at the state Capitol on Thursday and Friday. The teachers are rallying for more school funding and higher pay.

Nail biter

Tennessee
Updated April 26, 2018

Tennessee lawmakers take another whack at shielding teachers from TNReady test flubs

The legislature orders that "no adverse action" may be taken over this year's TNReady scores out of concern that the test results will be flawed.

time off

Colorado
April 25, 2018

Language in contract for Aurora teachers changed conversations about walkouts

Aurora teachers have a cap on how many can take leave on any given day, which presented a challenge for this week's walk outs.

Steel City Strike

Colorado
April 23, 2018

Why these Colorado educators are prepared to strike: ‘Teachers are walking into classrooms that are not funded’

The extraordinary vote to strike in Pueblo took place as teachers across the country have left their classrooms over demands for better salaries and more funding.

Day without a Teacher

Colorado
April 23, 2018

These Colorado school districts are canceling classes for teacher protests

They include eight of the state’s 10 largest districts, serving more than 400,000 students.

strike that

Colorado
April 22, 2018

This Colorado bill would ban teacher strikes and hit violators with fines and jail time

The bill is unlikely to become law, but it speaks to concerns that a national wave of teacher activism could come to Colorado.