EWA's blog about education issues and topics from a journalist's perspective. The Educated Reporter is anchored by Emily Richmond with contributions from EWA staff and guests.
EWA’s blog about education issues and topics from a journalist’s
perspective. The Educated Reporter is anchored by Emily Richmond with contributions
from EWA staff and guests.
More than two years into the pandemic, colleges and schools are
trying to help students make up for lost instructional
time.
What’s ahead on the path to academic recovery? Experts offered
their perspectives on what reporters should look for and be
mindful of during a session at the Education Writers
Association’s 2022 National
Seminar.
The panel agreed that students have a lot of ground to make up
because of the disruption, though all students don’t have the
same distance to go.
As Emily Richmond says goodbye (temporarily!), she looks into the early history of integration and present-day landscape of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which serves nearly 67,000 students from military connected families at its campuses both in the U.S. and abroad.
As education journalists analyze new federal higher education
proposals and the continuing
public debate about student loan forgiveness, a panel
featuring a top U.S. Department of Education official offers some
lessons to keep in mind.
For decades, millions of children have been taught to read using a popular method that’s out of step with the scientific research on how our brains really learn. Amid pushback and criticism – including from researchers, parents, and education journalists – that’s starting to change.
By Maria Polletta of the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting for EWA
A new generation of parent activists has arrived, and its members
are far more concerned with “ballot boxes, legislative agendas
and school district policy priorities than bake sales,” according
to a
new report from the public policy think tank FutureEd.
With school districts across the country seeing an unprecedented
influx of federal aid to fuel the education recovery, the
question remains of what impact these extra dollars will
ultimately have on students.
School finance expert Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach of Northwestern
University sees ample scholarly evidence that spending more
improves outcomes for K-12 students.
For Texas student Andres Mendoza, the difference between fulfilling his dream of attending a four-year university away from home and opting for a lower-cost local community college was an unexpected bill for a family funeral.
Title IX prohibits gender-based discrimination in school programs that receive federal funding – but how fairly is the law being applied, especially when it comes to girls’ high school sports? A reporting team of nearly two dozen student journalists at the University of Maryland, College Park, set out to answer that question in a wide-ranging project.
Some urban school districts across the country were already
grappling with shrinking enrollment when COVID hit. But for many,
the pandemic accelerated those student losses, with major
implications for their budgets and stability.
For some, the historic influx of federal COVID relief dollars is
softening the fiscal blow in the short term. But with birthrates
continuing to decline and the effects of a “COVID baby bust”
looming, how can public schools adjust to plummeting enrollment —
even as they scramble to address the outbreak’s academic and
mental health fallout?
There are numerous LGBTQ style guides for journalists. Most
include similar advice for what is and isn’t appropriate to ask
gay and trans sources as well as how to steer clear of some
oft-repeated misinformation. Offering your pronouns — e.g.
she/her/hers, they/them/theirs — at the start of a conversation
invites your interviewee to reply with the information they want
you to have about their identity.
A consistent criticism from LGBTQ organizations of media coverage
of assault on gay and trans rights is that it features too few of
the people most affected. Here are three suggestions for
education reporters seeking to counter this.
Challenge the narrative: Francisco Vara-Orta is
a former Education Week staff writer and EWA board member who is
now director of diversity and inclusion for Investigative
Reporters and Editors. Reporters need to push back on misleading
or false assertions, he says.
EWA Tip Sheet: How to Cover Students’ Academic Recovery
Get background, tips and story ideas for covering academic recovery, and any resulting achievement gaps, at K-12 and higher education institutions.
More than two years into the pandemic, colleges and schools are trying to help students make up for lost instructional time.
What’s ahead on the path to academic recovery? Experts offered their perspectives on what reporters should look for and be mindful of during a session at the Education Writers Association’s 2022 National Seminar.
The panel agreed that students have a lot of ground to make up because of the disruption, though all students don’t have the same distance to go.
Emily Richmond Takes a Temporary Break As Public Editor. But EWA Radio Continues!
Emily is taking a leave of absence as EWA's public editor. She joins the Spencer Education Fellowship, a program run by Columbia University. Emily hands over the mic to Kavitha Cardoza, who's filling in for her this year. (EWA Radio Episode 297)
As Emily Richmond says goodbye (temporarily!), she looks into the early history of integration and present-day landscape of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), which serves nearly 67,000 students from military connected families at its campuses both in the U.S. and abroad.
Reporting on College Affordability? Keep 3 Lessons in Mind.
The Education Department’s James Kvaal speaks about the future of higher education and the Biden administration’s role.
As education journalists analyze new federal higher education proposals and the continuing public debate about student loan forgiveness, a panel featuring a top U.S. Department of Education official offers some lessons to keep in mind.
Was His Former Teacher a Sexual Predator? This Reporter Had to Find Out.
Matt Drange of Business Insider exposed two decades of questionable behavior by a Southern California teacher whose former female students say were groomed by him for sex. (EWA Radio Episode 296)
For senior correspondent Matt Drange of Business Insider, this was a reporting assignment like no other: investigating his former high school journalism teacher on allegations of sexual misconduct.
Revisiting America’s Reading Wars
As momentum builds to change reading instruction, Lucy Calkins, chief architect of popular method, retreats from prior stance
(EWA Radio Episode 295)
For decades, millions of children have been taught to read using a popular method that’s out of step with the scientific research on how our brains really learn. Amid pushback and criticism – including from researchers, parents, and education journalists – that’s starting to change.
Covering Parent Activism and Engagement? Go Beyond Critical Race Theory
‘Sexy headlines’ about the latest education controversy often grab attention. Learn why reporters shouldn’t limit their coverage. Plus, get research and the history of parent engagement in education.
A new generation of parent activists has arrived, and its members are far more concerned with “ballot boxes, legislative agendas and school district policy priorities than bake sales,” according to a new report from the public policy think tank FutureEd.
Does Money Matter? How Education Spending Affects Student Outcomes
What reporters should closely watch amid school spending initiatives and discussions
With school districts across the country seeing an unprecedented influx of federal aid to fuel the education recovery, the question remains of what impact these extra dollars will ultimately have on students.
School finance expert Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach of Northwestern University sees ample scholarly evidence that spending more improves outcomes for K-12 students.
Can the Latino College Gap Be Solved?
Texas Public Radio series sheds new light on sources of struggle for higher education students in majority Latino San Antonio, as well as innovative support systems that are making gains
(EWA Radio Episode 294)
For Texas student Andres Mendoza, the difference between fulfilling his dream of attending a four-year university away from home and opting for a lower-cost local community college was an unexpected bill for a family funeral.
‘Unlevel Playing Fields’ for Girls’ Sports
As Title IX turns 50, a new investigation finds the federal law is failing to protect girls’ access to sports, and many parents and students don’t know the rights afforded by the landmark equity law
(EWA Radio Episode 293)
Title IX prohibits gender-based discrimination in school programs that receive federal funding – but how fairly is the law being applied, especially when it comes to girls’ high school sports? A reporting team of nearly two dozen student journalists at the University of Maryland, College Park, set out to answer that question in a wide-ranging project.
How Reporters Can Better Cover Enrollment Shifts at Public Schools
School finance experts tackle key questions and provide tips for reporters.
Some urban school districts across the country were already grappling with shrinking enrollment when COVID hit. But for many, the pandemic accelerated those student losses, with major implications for their budgets and stability.
For some, the historic influx of federal COVID relief dollars is softening the fiscal blow in the short term. But with birthrates continuing to decline and the effects of a “COVID baby bust” looming, how can public schools adjust to plummeting enrollment — even as they scramble to address the outbreak’s academic and mental health fallout?
A Guide to the Guides: What to Know About LGBTQ Style Guides for Journalists
There are numerous LGBTQ style guides for journalists. Most include similar advice for what is and isn’t appropriate to ask gay and trans sources as well as how to steer clear of some oft-repeated misinformation. Offering your pronouns — e.g. she/her/hers, they/them/theirs — at the start of a conversation invites your interviewee to reply with the information they want you to have about their identity.
Getting Out of the Statehouse and Into the Schoolhouse When Covering LGBTQ Students
A consistent criticism from LGBTQ organizations of media coverage of assault on gay and trans rights is that it features too few of the people most affected. Here are three suggestions for education reporters seeking to counter this.
Challenge the narrative: Francisco Vara-Orta is a former Education Week staff writer and EWA board member who is now director of diversity and inclusion for Investigative Reporters and Editors. Reporters need to push back on misleading or false assertions, he says.