Chalkbeat

Education news. In context.

Chalkbeat

Chicago

Charters & Choice

High school admissions

Chicago
May 23, 2019

Some feared GoCPS would drive high schoolers to charters, but enrollment is up at neighborhood schools

About 100 more Chicago Public Schools freshmen enrolled at neighborhood high schools during the 2018-19 school year, an increase of 1 percent from the previous year.

help wanted

Newark
Updated May 22, 2019

Newark Public Schools looks to build new enrollment system

The district recently put out a call to vendors asking for proposals to build a new citywide enrollment system.

measuring progress

Indiana
May 22, 2019

As innovation schools mature, IPS leaders grapple with how to measure their success

The first group of innovation schools are nearing the end of their contracts.

School closing

Detroit
May 21, 2019

Andre Agassi fund ‘evicts’ Detroit school after it fails to meet its lease agreement

The school was struggling. A tough lease agreement with Andre Agassi's investment fund appears to have pushed it over the edge.

timing

Tennessee
Updated May 22, 2019

Tennessee texting scandal broke too late to derail education voucher legislation

The scandal involving House Speaker Glen Casada emerged after the Republican leader already had helped to pass the controversial voucher bill.

path forward

Tennessee
May 16, 2019

Aspire wants to leave Memphis but keep its four schools open. What will that look like?

Four months after a California charter operator decided to hand off its Memphis schools, a transition plan sheds light on what exactly the spin-off could look like.

public schools

Detroit
May 16, 2019

Open and accessible? Here’s what happened when we tried to attend 10 Detroit charter school board meetings in a month.

Detroit charter school boards oversee the educations of 36,000 kids. But the meetings aren't always easy to access.

Building Schools

Colorado
May 15, 2019

The Aurora school district has a funding plan for the new $39 million DSST campus

Aurora Superintendent Rico Munn assured the school board that the district will still not pay more than 50 percent of the building’s cost.

charter funding

Detroit
May 15, 2019

Citing a history of failed schools, Michigan board questions federal charter school grants

A new round of federal grants for Michigan charter schools drew the ire of Democrats on the state board of education.

voucher verdict

National
May 15, 2019

D.C. voucher students don’t see test score gains, but are less likely to be frequently absent, latest research shows

The results are a mixed bag, but offer good news compared to earlier studies of D.C.’s program.

second chance

Colorado
May 14, 2019

In about-face, Aurora board votes to keep Vega charter school open — but launches an investigation

The State Board of Education, in an appeal, asked Aurora reconsider the vote to close Vega, saying that closing the school was not in the best interest of students.

No go

Indiana
May 14, 2019

Amid enrollment concerns, state charter board rejects two Indianapolis schools

Since charter schools launched in Indiana nearly two decades ago, dozens have opened in Indianapolis.

survey says

National
Updated May 14, 2019

New Democratic divide on charter schools emerges, as support plummets among white Democrats

Among black and Hispanic Democrats, support for charter schools held steady from 2016 to 2018. But among white Democrats, approval tanked, dropping from 43 to 27 percent.

that was fast

Tennessee
May 14, 2019

Tennessee’s new governor named charter school champion by national group

Gov. Bill Lee was the only Tennessean and sole governor singled out by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

charter challenges

National
May 13, 2019

At ed reform conference, charter leaders feel the political heat — and strategize about how to fend off unions

The event offered a look at how charter leaders from across the country are coming to grips with new limits on their growth and political clout.