Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Matt Barnum

portfolio pushback

National
January 8, 2019

As L.A. teachers threaten to strike, union leaders are fighting a controversial school reform strategy

If LA teachers go on strike, it won’t just be about pay—it will be part of a broader fight over the role of charter schools and an obscure school reform idea.

digging into discipline

National
January 4, 2019

Major new study finds restorative justice led to safer schools, but hurt black students’ test scores

The move accomplished a key goal of school discipline reformers by reducing the number of days students were suspended. It had other consequences, too.
National
January 2, 2019

Lessons we’re taking into 2019

Welcome to Chalkbeat’s national newsletter — and to 2019! Matt Barnum, Sarah Darville, and Francisco Vara-Orta here, working to help you make sense…

year in review

National
December 21, 2018

What worked (and didn’t) this year: 10 lessons from education research to take into 2019

What worked: Addressing the effects of child poverty. What didn't? Cutting school spending and tougher teacher evaluations.
National
December 19, 2018

Is personalized learning the new Common Core?

Welcome to Chalkbeat’s national newsletter! Sarah Darville, Matt Barnum, and Francisco Vara-Orta here, working to help you make sense of efforts to improve education across…

boom and backlash

National
December 19, 2018

Could the forces that fought the Common Core bring down personalized learning?

Major funders and the federal education department are promoting the idea. Teachers are wary. Parents are perplexed. Criticism is coming from both the political left…

more money more learning

National
December 17, 2018

Does money matter for schools? Why one researcher says the question is ‘essentially settled’

Twelve recent studies have found that spending more money in schools means significant benefits for students, including rising test scores and graduation rates.

high-stress testing

National
December 13, 2018

How the stress of state testing might make it harder for some students to show what they know

In one New Orleans charter network saw modest spikes in cortisol, a hormone caused by stress, leading up to state exams.
National
December 12, 2018

This Chicago teen can’t read. Why?

explainer

National
December 10, 2018

What it will mean if Betsy DeVos rolls back the Obama school discipline rules

It would be a victory for the conservative campaign to link school discipline reforms with unsafe schools.

portfolio push

National
December 9, 2018

The City Fund’s next steps: These 7 cities are the focus of the biggest new education player

A new group that’s raised millions has begun spending that money in seven cities — and its staff may be planning to try to influence elections, too.
National
December 5, 2018

Behind a once-promising school’s demise

portfolio push

National
December 4, 2018

New group will try to connect school board members pushing for ‘dramatic change’ in these 10 cities

The group is targeting board members in Atlanta, Baton Rouge, Denver, Detroit, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Memphis, New Orleans, Oakland, and Stockton.

change at the top

National
December 3, 2018

D.C., meet your next chancellor: 8 things to know about Lewis Ferebee and what he might bring to the district

With a modest demeanor and careful speaking style, Ferebee has kept a low public profile. But he has made a name for himself in education reform circles.

big moves

Indiana
Updated

Indianapolis’ Lewis Ferebee tapped as next chancellor of D.C. Public Schools

Under Ferebee's leadership, Indianapolis Public Schools pursued a slew of dramatic, and controversial, changes, including expanding "innovation" schools.