Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Future of Teaching

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

empty room

Colorado
Updated February 10, 2019

Denver union rebuffs district’s request to keep talking, both sides prepare for strike Monday

The union said one reason it didn't come to bargain was the need for a "cooling off period" for both sides.

breaking

Colorado
February 9, 2019

Denver teachers will strike Monday after negotiations end without a deal

Denver teachers will strike on Monday after school district and union leaders failed to reach an agreement in a last-ditch bargaining session Saturday.

Strike impact

Colorado
February 8, 2019

Parents of special education students weigh whether to send kids to school during a strike

Some Denver parents will keep their special needs children home from school if there's a teacher strike Monday because of worries about safety.

Raising their profile

Chicago
Updated February 7, 2019

With campaigning aldermen in tow, striking Chicago teachers target statewide charter lobbyist

The Chicago Teachers Union stepped up its pressure campaign on administrators of a second striking Chicago charter with plans to picket the downtown offices of a key pro-charter lobbying group on Thursday.

waiting game

Colorado
February 5, 2019

Denver district, union meet separately with Gov. Polis as he weighs intervention

The meetings came at the request of the state labor chief to “discuss the path forward” and to review an informal analysis by state budget officials of each proposal.

competitive pay

Colorado
February 5, 2019

Westminster teachers will get higher starting salaries and a path to reach $100,000

First-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree will be offered $50,497 — which could be the highest starting salary in Colorado.

First Person

New York
February 4, 2019

Computer science can change how students who struggle in math see themselves. I’ve watched it happen.

Far too many high school students have walked into my classroom with a fixed idea of how much they can accomplish. That mindset is…

No go

Colorado
January 31, 2019

Denver teachers union rejects latest district offer as a ‘waste of time’

Union lead negotiator: “They didn’t bring a proposal tonight. They brought a small IOU.”

Principal Problem

Tennessee
January 31, 2019

Study: Tennessee schools with the biggest needs tend to have lower-quality principals

Researchers offer the first statewide look at the quality of school leaders — and where they work.

chalkbeat cheat sheet

Colorado
January 30, 2019

Denver teachers are on the brink of a strike. Here’s how we got here and what could be next.

The strike would be an attempt to pressure the district into giving the union what it wants — a new pay structure and more money for teacher salaries.

Together again

Colorado
January 29, 2019

Denver district, teachers union to resume negotiations Thursday

The district and the teachers union are still waiting on Gov. Jared Polis to make a decision about intervention in a potential Denver strike.

impasse

Colorado
Updated January 28, 2019

Denver teachers union asks Colorado labor officials to stay out of dispute with district

Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado labor officials now have 14 days to decide whether to intervene in a potential Denver strike.

waiting game

Colorado
January 25, 2019

With no Denver strike Monday, Colorado labor officials weigh the benefit and cost of intervention

Rather than walking off the job on Monday, many Denver teachers are planning to “walk in,” entering their school buildings together dressed in…

Hard-to-staff

Colorado
January 25, 2019

Teacher bonuses should have been negotiated, according to Aurora’s union and an arbitrator

The Aurora school board this week chose not to uphold the finding, but did ask that the district negotiate with the union any future “long-term incentive program.”

holding pattern

Colorado
January 23, 2019

The Denver district asked for state intervention in a pending teacher strike. Here’s what that means.

The request could delay a Denver strike and provide more time for negotiations.