Entry Credit

• Dylan Peers McCoy, Chalkbeat

About the Entry

From an investigation of a charter school’s mismanagement that led to new oversight from the state, to a close look at the city’s growing homeschooling community, McCoy digs deep in a district that’s struggling to improve amid often chaotic reform initiatives. 

• Hidden Dropouts: How Indiana Schools Can Write Off Struggling Students as Home-Schoolers

• Over 1,000 Students Have Left This Indiana District to Home-School. Can it Solve Its Hidden Dropout Problem?

• Rocked by Scandal, a Weakened Indianapolis Public Schools Teachers Union Faces an Uncertain Future

• How Lewis Ferebee Forged Peace With Charter Competitors to Reshape Indianapolis Schools

• Aleesia Johnson Took the Helm of IPS Amid Rising Opposition. How Will She Respond?

Comments from the Judges

“The reporter’s discovery of how some Indiana schools were fudging graduation rates is crucial accountability journalism and follows a national trend of schools manipulating numbers to make themselves look better. I found the variety of stories to be fresh, and the writing crisp and easy to digest.”

“What stuck out the most to me about this submission is how original the reporting is. The reporter digs into data and uncovers important information. I also like how she didn’t accept the numbers the state was willing to release, but kept asking questions.”

SEE THE FULL LIST OF 2019 FINALISTS

EWA is grateful to the College Board for its generous support of the 2019 National Awards for Education Reporting.​