Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Nikolai Vitti

Long-term fix

Detroit
October 9, 2018

Detroit district settles on long-term water fix, but major facilities issues remain

Detroit schools are getting new water filtration systems in the next year, a long-term solution to one piece of the district’s staggering school…
Detroit
October 1, 2018

Rise & Shine: What could a new district school mean for the old ones?

The proposed Detroit Latin school is inspired by similar such schools in Boston and New York City. The leader of the effort helped establish the…

another new school?

Detroit
September 28, 2018

In a bid to lure students back to Detroit, Vitti wants to open a new school focused on classical culture

Just two weeks after Detroit’s main district announced the opening of one new school, its superintendent is asking…

Water fight

Detroit
August 31, 2018

Detroit superintendent accuses charter school leader of using drinking water crisis to disparage district

Vitti on Friday sent a cease and desist letter to Mark Ornstein, who heads the University Prep charter school network, demanding that Ornstein correct a “defamatory statement” he made in an automated phone call to parents this week.

Lost in Translation

Detroit
August 13, 2018

Detroit superintendent promises Spanish translators, other fixes for ‘broken’ system

Spanish-speaking parents walked away with a list of promises from Vitti who says there’s a lot the district can do to better meet the needs of these families.
Detroit
July 24, 2018

Rise & Shine: Join our conversation about special education in Detroit

No aspect of fixing Detroit schools is easy, but perhaps the most difficult challenge is the work of improving services for children…
Detroit
July 20, 2018

Rise & Shine: The school that will train teachers like doctors

As an education reporter, I don’t often spend much time interviewing people in hospitals. But I spent a day last month following a…

Training teachers

Detroit
July 18, 2018

How a doctor inspired a new way to train teachers — and how that is leading to a new kind of school

Professors at the University of Michigan are making a radical change to the way teachers are trained — making it more like doctor training.

Certified — but ready?

Detroit
July 10, 2018

Detroit schools will hire teachers without classroom experience, sparking debate

Detroit’s main district is proceeding with a plan to hire teachers who are certified but have received no training in the classroom —…
Detroit
July 10, 2018

Rise & Shine: New teachers will be certified — but how will they be trained?

Good morning! School might be out for the summer but the Detroit school board has a packed agenda…

2020 goals

Detroit
June 25, 2018

Here’s how the Detroit district plans to fix ‘glaring discrepancies’ in special education

Detroit’s main district announced plans to overhaul its special education program after an audit found that some schools aren’t meeting the needs of…

Urgent repairs

Detroit
June 22, 2018

Crumbling Detroit school buildings will cost $500 million to repair. It’s money the district doesn’t have

The review found that nearly a third of school buildings are in an “unsatisfactory” or “poor” condition.

Enrollment push

Detroit
June 21, 2018

‘The pressure is on everyone’ as Detroit’s main district advertises to attract more students

Detroit’s main school district has a new look. Officials announced a new brand for the Detroit Public Schools Community District…

Coming merger

Detroit
June 18, 2018

‘We all became family.’ Students say goodbye to Detroit school after promising three-year run

The three year-old Mumford Academy will close this week, and merge next fall with the larger Mumford High School.
Detroit
June 13, 2018

Rise & Shine: Falling off track as stakes rise

Good morning and welcome to our second day of more frequent, much-shorter and more useful newsletters at Chalkbeat Detroit. Koby…

high stakes

Detroit
June 12, 2018

Are Detroit schools making progress towards state benchmarks? Either way, the stakes are rising

Test results released on Tuesday suggest that 14 Detroit schools are not on track to meet student achievement targets set last year to…

New home

Detroit
June 11, 2018

After a heated battle, the Detroit Prep charter school now owns its ‘forever home’

The Detroit Prep charter school has been trying to buy the former Joyce Elementary School in the city’s Pingree Park neighborhood since last summer but the sale was held up for months by a restriction in the property’s title.

Seats at the table

Detroit
June 11, 2018

Meet the 11 people charged with helping Detroit’s district and charter schools work together, starting with a new bus loop

A mayoral commission designed to bring competitive district and charter schools together began to take shape on Monday. Speaking before television…
Detroit
June 8, 2018

Week in review: When ‘winging it’ isn’t in the best interest of children

PHOTO: Courtesy of VICE on HBOCorrespondent Gianna Toboni interviews parent advocate Aliya Moore and her daughter outside a shuttered Detroit school. Two of…

Rapper approved

Detroit
June 4, 2018

Determined to fill schools, Detroit district turns to a celebrity endorsement from Big Sean

Rapper Big Sean has agreed to take part in a campaign to boost enrollment in the main Detroit school district, school officials said…
Detroit
June 1, 2018

Week in review: What would ‘never, ever’ happen in a white suburban district

A year ago, when Chalkbeat first featured Detroit teacher Rynell Sturkey, it was hard for her to believe…

Speaking Out

Detroit
May 31, 2018

Detroit schools chief Nikolai Vitti says ‘racist’ policies led to crisis in Detroit schools

The leader of Michigan’s largest school district says racism is a key reason why Detroit schools are in crisis.

one year later

Detroit
May 30, 2018

A year after superintendent’s arrival, a skeptical Detroit teacher has become a believer — almost

A year ago, it was hard for teacher Rynell Sturkey to believe that life in her overcrowded, understaffed, poorly equipped classroom would ever improve. This past school year, however, Sturkey has been pleasantly surprised by improvements.
Detroit
May 25, 2018

Week in review: How will a new mayoral commission affect Detroit schools?

For the first time in decades, Detroit will soon have a single agency that aims to improve education in district and charter schools.

The mayor's role

Detroit
May 24, 2018

Duggan’s schools commission has already brought charter and district leaders to the table. Here’s what else it can do (and what it can’t)

For the first time in years, Detroit’s mayor will have a small hand in shaping education in the city. A new…

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,…

Busing together

Detroit
May 21, 2018

A partnership to make bus stops for students at district and charter schools in Detroit appears to be back on track

A city plan to boost collaboration between district and charter schools cleared a speed bump on Monday, as a district committee narrowly approved…
Detroit
May 18, 2018

Week in review: Taking a look at Superintendent Vitti’s first year

Next week will mark a full year since Superintendent Nikolai Vitti arrived in Detroit. To mark the occasion, we looked back at the…

One year in

Detroit
May 17, 2018

A year after Nikolai Vitti arrived in Detroit, a look back at his application shows what’s changed

A year after Nikolai Vitti arrived in Detroit, we return to his application — his blueprint for the district — to mark the things that have happened, the plans that have been made, and the work still left to do.

making their case

Detroit
May 15, 2018

As pink slips go out to Detroit principals and school leaders, some are pleading their case to the school board

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti issued “non-renewal notices,” to four school principals and 12 central office administrators.

tick tock

Detroit
May 14, 2018

As a school board decision looms, some Detroit charters are jumping ship. Others have their fingers crossed.

Three Detroit schools aren’t waiting around for the outcome of a debate over the future of charter schools overseen by the main Detroit…
Detroit
May 11, 2018

Week in review: Convincing teachers there’s ‘more to Detroit than poor test scores.’

Among impediments blocking improvement in Detroit schools, the one that poses the most significant hurdle is the teacher shortage — the nearly…

Sweetener

Detroit
May 10, 2018

As Detroit’s schools chief celebrates new salaries, veteran teachers may want to give the district a second look

Detroit school officials took to the podium on Thursday to trumpet new pay guidelines they hope will help fill 190 teacher vacancies.
Detroit
May 4, 2018

Week in review: Would ‘special education’ by any other name be the same?

Most educators working in urban schools know that many of their students face challenges at home. But a $3 million grant from…

Proceeding with caution

Detroit
April 30, 2018

A controversial joint bus route for Detroit district and charter schools hits a speed bump

A city effort to create a shared bus route that would transport children to both district and charter schools in Detroit is getting some extra scrutiny from the Detroit school board — even asbut the cost could be coming down for participating schools.
Detroit
April 27, 2018

Week in review: How to build a successful school if you’ve never worked in one

We took an inside look this week at a new program that aims to tackle one of the major impediments to creating great…

New tools

Detroit
April 25, 2018

Eight things to know about Detroit’s big math and reading curriculum shift

Here’s what we know about the new materials and what we’ll be watching for in the months ahead.

Summer school

Detroit
April 24, 2018

Detroit district adding grades K-2 to summer school to help youngest students boost reading scores

For the first time in years, the Detroit district summer school program will start in kindergarten. District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti recommended…

Stay tuned

Detroit
April 24, 2018

As a global robotics competition descends on Detroit, few local students are included — for now

“Robotics coming to DPSCD high schools in the fall,” Vitti wrote in a tweet Monday afternoon. “New programming. Stay tuned!”

more money fewer problems

Detroit
April 20, 2018

Detroit teachers will finally get paid for their years of experience if agreement holds up with district

Good news for Detroit district teachers stuck at a low pay level: The finance committee of the school board Friday recommended an agreement…

What's in a name?

Detroit
April 18, 2018

Detroit has schools named for a slaveholder, a convicted former politician, and a Trump cabinet member. Here’s how that might change.

Despite the passion fueling the debate over renaming schools like the Ben Carson High School of Science and Medicine, members of the Detroit…

Homework

Detroit
April 17, 2018

The Detroit district’s first homework policy is in the works. See how much homework it recommends your child do every night.

Detroit students who are drowning in homework — or unable to complete it because of challenges at home — could soon find relief in a…

First Person

Detroit
April 16, 2018

Let’s solve the right problems for Detroit’s students with disabilities — not recycle old ones

I’ve spent 25 years both studying and actively trying to improve schools for students with disabilities. Segregated settings aren't the answer.
Detroit
April 13, 2018

Week in review: Getting over that ‘F’ on the Nation’s Report Card

The reports early this week about Detroit’s last-place ranking among big city school districts on a national exam is…

a temporary home

Detroit
April 12, 2018

These students lost their school to a mold problem. Here’s how they’re doing in their new temporary digs

Five school buses line up outside the closed Palmer Park Preparatory Academy on Thursday morning. Hundreds of elementary students, in a flurry of…

a new standard

Detroit
April 11, 2018

Facing dead-last national test scores, Detroit district approves new teaching materials

The Detroit school board Tuesday adopted a new, $7.1 million curriculum that Superintendent Nikolai Vitti says is a key part of his plan…

Rock bottom

Detroit
April 10, 2018

Detroit schools ranked worst on national exam — again. But is there hope that things can improve?

Not only did students in the city’s main district rank dead last — for the fifth time — among major cities in every subject, but their scores dropped even lower than the rock-bottom numbers Detroit fourth-graders posted the last time they took the exam in 2015.
Detroit
April 6, 2018

Week in review: When state education dollars fund horseback riding and Minecraft

In a state where vouchers are illegal because the Constitution bans the use of public dollars for private schools, Michigan lawmakers have…

enrollment wars

Detroit
April 2, 2018

It’s official: Detroit’s enrollment grew for the first time in over a decade, even after adding the state-run district

What Detroit district leaders have been saying for months is true: After many years of losing students, enrollment in the Detroit district grew this year…
Detroit
March 30, 2018

Week in review: Can separate schools better serve students with dyslexia and other special needs

Since arriving in Detroit last year, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti has spoken often of the schools he wants to create for children with special…
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