No time to attend an in-person seminar? Get your training on-demand with EWA's free online series. All of our past events are archived here, with new live events scheduled throughout the year.
No time to attend an in-person seminar? Get your training on-demand with EWA’s free online series. All of our past events are archived here, with new live events scheduled throughout the year.
As a new academic year looms, education journalists face an age-old challenge: What are the best ways to take a fresh approach to back-to-school coverage and lay a solid foundation for a year of hard-hitting reporting?
More than 30 people have died so far this year in 14 shootings at U.S. schools, according to Education Week’s school shooting tracker. In response, many school leaders are considering additional measures to protect students, such as hiring security guards, arming teachers, beefing up surveillance, rethinking reporting requirements, and developing threat-assessment programs.
Summer break is upon us, and there’s a host of compelling stories to cover on the education beat while school is out.
In this EWA webinar, a summer learning expert explains the role summer break plays in widening achievement gaps, particularly for rural students, students with disabilities, and English-language learners. Also, the webinar highlights examples of innovative work afoot to provide students with powerful summer learning experiences.
When measuring what students know and can do on statewide tests, how high (or low) are the expectations for determining academic “proficiency”? A forthcoming report from the National Center for Education Statistics offers insights on this question, including state-by-state analysis.
Congratulations! You’re an EWA National Seminar moderator. Some of you are old pros at this job, but many are moderating an EWA panel for the very first time.
We’ve put together a webinar to offer guidance and tips on how to be on the top of your game. It will be led by moderator extraordinaire Steve Drummond, the education editor at NPR.
A fresh round of national test results for reading and math will be released in April, offering a snapshot of U.S. student achievement, plus state-by-state data, and outcomes for 27 large urban districts. The data will shine a light on achievement gaps, as well as trends over time in the performance of fourth and eighth graders. And, invariably, some education advocates and politicians will seize on the data to advance their policy preferences.
It began with a feel-good story: A struggling high school in Washington, D.C., had turned itself around and was sending all its seniors to college. When a reporter dug deeper, however, she discovered that many students should not have qualified to graduate—one in five had even missed more than half the school year.
Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants face uncertainty as the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, is slated to end in early March. What are the potential implications for students, K-12 schools, and higher education? What kinds of questions should education reporters be asking in their communities?
You file a freedom of information request with your local school district concerning financial data or a personnel investigation, but months later, there’s still no answer. What are the next steps, especially if your newsroom’s budget can’t stretch to cover the costs of suing for access? A veteran journalist and an expert on records requests offer strategies for success in making inquiries at the federal, state and local levels.
With President Trump expected to sign GOP legislation approved this week to overhaul the tax code, analysts are scrambling to unpack the complicated GOP deal, including the stakes for education. The plan could make it much harder for some communities to pay for public schools, analysts say, while it offers a new tax break for private school tuition and other K-12 expenses. Meanwhile, last-minute dealmaking has led to key shifts in how the tax package will impact colleges and universities.
Everybody says college is expensive. But exactly how costly are the colleges you cover? At 1 p.m. EST on Dec. 14, journalists participated in a free one-hour training webinar on two new and as-yet little-known data tools. They learned ways to quickly find the most reliable and relevant data on costs, prices and affordability.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from – and pose questions to – two of the most knowledgeable college cost data experts in the country.
In the last several weeks, reports of hazing, racist attacks and pledge deaths have prompted at least eight universities to suspended fraternity chapters — and in some cases all Greek-affiliated organizations — on campus.
Fraternities and sororities have become the center of some of higher education’s most troubling stories. There are deaths of pledges, parties that become scenes for sexual `assault, and historically racist standards for entry that also perpetuate inequity with prohibitive annual fees and dress codes.
The struggle is real. Education reporters, already juggling broad beat responsibilities in understaffed newsrooms, are also expected to engage with readers online, promote their work on Twitter and Facebook, and live-tweet events.
States across the nation are taking another look at their school accountability systems in response to the Every Student Succeeds Act, a rewrite of the main federal law for K-12 education. So far, 16 states and the District of Columbia have submitted their ESSA plans for review by the U.S. Department of Education. Another 33 states have until Sept. 18 to do so.
Finding fresh angles on familiar ground can be an annual challenge for education reporters. With this webinar, you’ll get smart tips from experienced journalists for great stories on the first day of school and beyond.
We’ll discuss novel ways of approaching the new academic year, from preschool through higher education. You’ll get ideas for unique profiles, for making the most of your publication’s multimedia resources, and for exploring a range of timely questions on the beat.
When it comes to school district finances, the numbers aren’t easy to add up. But tracking and analyzing this information is a powerful tool to drive smart news coverage.
Veteran education journalist Tawnell Hobbs of The Wall Street Journal shares tips and tricks for digging into district operating budgets and actual expenditures, as well as salary databases, overtime requests, check registers and credit card accounts, purchase orders, and more. Learn how to evaluate fiscal data that’s readily available and make the most of open records requests.
School’s out, but there’s no shortage of compelling summer stories to pursue on the education beat.
How might President Trump’s proposed budget cuts for education impact summer learning programs? How is your state incorporating summer learning into its revamped accountability plan under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)? What’s the latest on summer Pell Grants?
Looking to liven up your coverage of classroom technology and how it’s playing out in your local schools? Join Nichole Dobo of The Hechinger Report and EWA public editor Emily Richmond for an “express” 30-minute webinar on digital learning and classroom technology. You’ll come away with ideas for quick-hit daily stories, data-driven takeouts and enterprise reporting. Plus, get the inside scoop on how to make the most of EWA’s newest Topics Page on Digital Learning & Technology.
Looking to liven up your coverage of classroom technology and how it’s playing out in your local schools? Join Nichole Dobo of The Hechinger Report and EWA public editor Emily Richmond for an “express” 30-minute webinar on digital learning and classroom technology. You’ll come away with ideas for quick-hit daily stories, data-driven takeouts and enterprise reporting. Plus, get the inside scoop on how to make the most of EWA’s newest Topics Page on Digital Learning & Technology.
Space is limited! Sign up today to reserve your spot.
With states revamping their school accountability systems under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, recent actions by Congress and the Trump administration raise important questions about what’s ahead. First, the Senate last week narrowly approved a bill to repeal ESSA accountability rules issued by the Obama administration. (President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure.) Also, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos just issued new ESSA guidelines for states.
Back to School 2018: Tips for Producing Education Coverage That Matters
As a new academic year looms, education journalists face an age-old challenge: What are the best ways to take a fresh approach to back-to-school coverage and lay a solid foundation for a year of hard-hitting reporting?
A Reporter’s Guide to Covering School Security and School Shootings
More than 30 people have died so far this year in 14 shootings at U.S. schools, according to Education Week’s school shooting tracker. In response, many school leaders are considering additional measures to protect students, such as hiring security guards, arming teachers, beefing up surveillance, rethinking reporting requirements, and developing threat-assessment programs.
Summer Story Ideas for Education Reporters
Summer break is upon us, and there’s a host of compelling stories to cover on the education beat while school is out.
In this EWA webinar, a summer learning expert explains the role summer break plays in widening achievement gaps, particularly for rural students, students with disabilities, and English-language learners. Also, the webinar highlights examples of innovative work afoot to provide students with powerful summer learning experiences.
How High Do States Set the Academic Bar for Students?
When measuring what students know and can do on statewide tests, how high (or low) are the expectations for determining academic “proficiency”? A forthcoming report from the National Center for Education Statistics offers insights on this question, including state-by-state analysis.
How to Be the Best Moderator at EWA’s National Seminar
Congratulations! You’re an EWA National Seminar moderator. Some of you are old pros at this job, but many are moderating an EWA panel for the very first time.
We’ve put together a webinar to offer guidance and tips on how to be on the top of your game. It will be led by moderator extraordinaire Steve Drummond, the education editor at NPR.
New National Test Data Is Coming: Get Ready!
A fresh round of national test results for reading and math will be released in April, offering a snapshot of U.S. student achievement, plus state-by-state data, and outcomes for 27 large urban districts. The data will shine a light on achievement gaps, as well as trends over time in the performance of fourth and eighth graders. And, invariably, some education advocates and politicians will seize on the data to advance their policy preferences.
How Careful Data Analysis, Shoe-Leather Reporting Exposed Inflated Graduation Rates
It began with a feel-good story: A struggling high school in Washington, D.C., had turned itself around and was sending all its seniors to college. When a reporter dug deeper, however, she discovered that many students should not have qualified to graduate—one in five had even missed more than half the school year.
Deciphering DACA: Making Sense of the Deadline, the Headlines, and the Education Stakes
Hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants face uncertainty as the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, is slated to end in early March. What are the potential implications for students, K-12 schools, and higher education? What kinds of questions should education reporters be asking in their communities?
Pedal to the Metal: Speeding Up Stalled Records Requests
You file a freedom of information request with your local school district concerning financial data or a personnel investigation, but months later, there’s still no answer. What are the next steps, especially if your newsroom’s budget can’t stretch to cover the costs of suing for access? A veteran journalist and an expert on records requests offer strategies for success in making inquiries at the federal, state and local levels.
What Does the GOP Tax Overhaul Mean for Education?
With President Trump expected to sign GOP legislation approved this week to overhaul the tax code, analysts are scrambling to unpack the complicated GOP deal, including the stakes for education. The plan could make it much harder for some communities to pay for public schools, analysts say, while it offers a new tax break for private school tuition and other K-12 expenses. Meanwhile, last-minute dealmaking has led to key shifts in how the tax package will impact colleges and universities.
Lies, Damn Lies and College Affordability Statistics
Everybody says college is expensive. But exactly how costly are the colleges you cover? At 1 p.m. EST on Dec. 14, journalists participated in a free one-hour training webinar on two new and as-yet little-known data tools. They learned ways to quickly find the most reliable and relevant data on costs, prices and affordability.
Attendees had the opportunity to hear from – and pose questions to – two of the most knowledgeable college cost data experts in the country.
It’s Greek to Me: How to Report on Media-Averse Fraternities
In the last several weeks, reports of hazing, racist attacks and pledge deaths have prompted at least eight universities to suspended fraternity chapters — and in some cases all Greek-affiliated organizations — on campus.
Fraternities and sororities have become the center of some of higher education’s most troubling stories. There are deaths of pledges, parties that become scenes for sexual `assault, and historically racist standards for entry that also perpetuate inequity with prohibitive annual fees and dress codes.
Social Media 101: How Reporters Can Thrive in the Digital Age
The struggle is real. Education reporters, already juggling broad beat responsibilities in understaffed newsrooms, are also expected to engage with readers online, promote their work on Twitter and Facebook, and live-tweet events.
Covering State ESSA Plans: What Reporters Need to Know
States across the nation are taking another look at their school accountability systems in response to the Every Student Succeeds Act, a rewrite of the main federal law for K-12 education. So far, 16 states and the District of Columbia have submitted their ESSA plans for review by the U.S. Department of Education. Another 33 states have until Sept. 18 to do so.
Back-to-School: Story Ideas That Shine
Thursday, Aug. 24 — 2 p.m. Eastern
Finding fresh angles on familiar ground can be an annual challenge for education reporters. With this webinar, you’ll get smart tips from experienced journalists for great stories on the first day of school and beyond.
We’ll discuss novel ways of approaching the new academic year, from preschool through higher education. You’ll get ideas for unique profiles, for making the most of your publication’s multimedia resources, and for exploring a range of timely questions on the beat.
Follow the Money: Digging Into School District Finances
When it comes to school district finances, the numbers aren’t easy to add up. But tracking and analyzing this information is a powerful tool to drive smart news coverage.
Veteran education journalist Tawnell Hobbs of The Wall Street Journal shares tips and tricks for digging into district operating budgets and actual expenditures, as well as salary databases, overtime requests, check registers and credit card accounts, purchase orders, and more. Learn how to evaluate fiscal data that’s readily available and make the most of open records requests.
Summer Story Ideas: Local Angles on Federal Issues
Trump Budget, ESSA, Pell Grants ... and More!
School’s out, but there’s no shortage of compelling summer stories to pursue on the education beat.
How might President Trump’s proposed budget cuts for education impact summer learning programs? How is your state incorporating summer learning into its revamped accountability plan under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)? What’s the latest on summer Pell Grants?
“3 in 30” – Three Stories to Steal on Digital Learning
Looking to liven up your coverage of classroom technology and how it’s playing out in your local schools? Join Nichole Dobo of The Hechinger Report and EWA public editor Emily Richmond for an “express” 30-minute webinar on digital learning and classroom technology. You’ll come away with ideas for quick-hit daily stories, data-driven takeouts and enterprise reporting. Plus, get the inside scoop on how to make the most of EWA’s newest Topics Page on Digital Learning & Technology.
“3 in 30”- Three Stories to Steal on Digital Learning
Friday, May 12, 1:00-1:30 p.m. ET
Looking to liven up your coverage of classroom technology and how it’s playing out in your local schools? Join Nichole Dobo of The Hechinger Report and EWA public editor Emily Richmond for an “express” 30-minute webinar on digital learning and classroom technology. You’ll come away with ideas for quick-hit daily stories, data-driven takeouts and enterprise reporting. Plus, get the inside scoop on how to make the most of EWA’s newest Topics Page on Digital Learning & Technology.
Space is limited! Sign up today to reserve your spot.
Covering ESSA Accountability in the Trump Era
With states revamping their school accountability systems under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, recent actions by Congress and the Trump administration raise important questions about what’s ahead. First, the Senate last week narrowly approved a bill to repeal ESSA accountability rules issued by the Obama administration. (President Donald Trump is expected to sign the measure.) Also, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos just issued new ESSA guidelines for states.