Chalkbeat

Is borrowing the answer to Chicago Public Schools’ deficit? Maybe, says school board president. Chicago’s school board president said borrowing is a "viable option" for the district to avoid cuts to classrooms. But with a junk bond rating, the short-term solution could divert future revenue from classrooms to debt payments.

Chicago’s school board president said borrowing is a "viable option" for the district to avoid cuts to classrooms. But with a junk bond rating, the short-term solution could divert future revenue from classrooms to debt payments.

Three things to know about child care costs and seats in Colorado Child care costs take a big bite out of household income for many Colorado families, far more than the government recommends.

Child care costs take a big bite out of household income for many Colorado families, far more than the government recommends.

Tutors, mentors, friends: Lessons from an immigrant college student I sometimes felt out of place at my Ivy League School. Here’s how I found my way.

I sometimes felt out of place at my Ivy League School. Here’s how I found my way.

Indiana schools are getting A-F grades again. Here’s your chance to comment on the plan. After seven years without assigning A-F grades, the state has a new proposed framework to begin grading schools again.

After seven years without assigning A-F grades, the state has a new proposed framework to begin grading schools again.

Advocates for homeless kids eye block grant proposal nervously: ‘They’ll get overlooked.’ President Trump wants to combine 18 funding streams, including one for homeless students, into a single block grant. But school staff say such a move could lead those kids to get shunted aside by other priorities.

President Trump wants to combine 18 funding streams, including one for homeless students, into a single block grant. But school staff say such a move could lead those kids to get shunted aside by other priorities.

Funds for low-performing schools would be redirected under Indiana’s federal funding request Charter schools, microschools, and other kinds of schools that aren’t considered underperforming could benefit.

Charter schools, microschools, and other kinds of schools that aren’t considered underperforming could benefit.

‘Talking points and unrealistic demands’: State lawmakers listen to Chicago school leaders discuss district’s finances Illinois lawmakers want to figure out how to close Chicago’s budget gap. However, they did not make any commitments on what aid they would provide to the district and when.

Illinois lawmakers want to figure out how to close Chicago’s budget gap. However, they did not make any commitments on what aid they would provide to the district and when.

NJ schools must give parents more information about IEP meetings in advance A new law requires NJ public schools to provide parents with a written statement of items to be discussed at an annual Individualized Education Program meeting before it takes place.

A new law requires NJ public schools to provide parents with a written statement of items to be discussed at an annual Individualized Education Program meeting before it takes place.

‘Fight for the future’: Why education has become a key topic in Detroit’s mayoral race Nine people are running in the Detroit mayoral primary Aug. 5. Here’s what they have to say about the role they want to play in education issues in the city

Nine people are running in the Detroit mayoral primary Aug. 5. Here’s what they have to say about the role they want to play in education issues in the city

Judge finds Denver Public Schools not liable for shooting death of student Luis Garcia Luis’ family filed a notice that they will appeal the ruling. Luis was shot outside of East High School and later died of his injuries.

Luis’ family filed a notice that they will appeal the ruling. Luis was shot outside of East High School and later died of his injuries.

Will Memphis students lose access to in-school reading tutors this year? Over 1,500 MSCS students relied on in-school reading tutors from local nonprofit Literacy Mid-South last year. But school board members haven’t publicly responded to the CEO’s proposals to continue that work.

Over 1,500 MSCS students relied on in-school reading tutors from local nonprofit Literacy Mid-South last year. But school board members haven’t publicly responded to the CEO’s proposals to continue that work.

Is Tennessee changing its world language graduation requirement for high schoolers? Should Tennessee change its world language graduation requirement for high schoolers? One education official is considering it.

Should Tennessee change its world language graduation requirement for high schoolers? One education official is considering it.

NYC specialized high school admission offers dip for Black and Latino students Last year, 10 Black students received offers to Stuyvesent High School. This year, 8 did.

Last year, 10 Black students received offers to Stuyvesent High School. This year, 8 did.

Pennsylvania’s summer food benefit for kids is delayed — again The SUN Bucks program is meant to help families pay for food for their kids all summer. But some Pennsylvania families are struggling due to the delay in getting the money distributed. The state says the benefit should be distributed to families by mid-August.

The SUN Bucks program is meant to help families pay for food for their kids all summer. But some Pennsylvania families are struggling due to the delay in getting the money distributed. The state says the benefit should be distributed to families by mid-August.

Rocky Mountain Prep charter network CEO Tricia Noyola resigns two years after merger Rocky Mountain Prep says it will conduct a nationwide search for its next CEO.

Rocky Mountain Prep says it will conduct a nationwide search for its next CEO.

Penny Schwinn is no longer Trump’s nominee to be No. 2 at the Education Department Some hoped Schwinn, a former state schools chief, would lend expertise to Trump’s efforts to give states more power over education. But cultural conservatives in Tennessee opposed her nomination.

Some hoped Schwinn, a former state schools chief, would lend expertise to Trump’s efforts to give states more power over education. But cultural conservatives in Tennessee opposed her nomination.

Charter leaders request transfer of IPS buildings to their schools Charter leaders want ownership of the IPS buildings in which they operate. Traditional public school supporters say IPS should charge for all services it provides to charter partners.

Charter leaders want ownership of the IPS buildings in which they operate. Traditional public school supporters say IPS should charge for all services it provides to charter partners.

NYC education officials have yet to release high school admissions data “It’s right to ask the mayor, ‘Where the heck is this?’” one government transparency advocate said.

“It’s right to ask the mayor, ‘Where the heck is this?’” one government transparency advocate said.

The Philly teachers union is preparing to strike as contract negotiations continue Contract negotiations with the school district are moving “more slowly” than union leadership wants, but the district is facing a growing budget deficit and financial uncertainty from the state and federal government.

Contract negotiations with the school district are moving “more slowly” than union leadership wants, but the district is facing a growing budget deficit and financial uncertainty from the state and federal government.

Memphis residents protested xAI’s arrival. Now the company is funding upgrades for four schools. Memphis school board members approved a donation from Elon Musk’s company Tuesday that could reduce growing building maintenance costs. But it brings the district into ongoing local pushback against xAI.

Memphis school board members approved a donation from Elon Musk’s company Tuesday that could reduce growing building maintenance costs. But it brings the district into ongoing local pushback against xAI.

Administración Trump libera miles de millones en fondos educativos tras una congelación de semanas El retraso en la financiación obligó a las escuelas a buscar la manera de cubrir un déficit presupuestario inesperado, y algunos programas extraescolares cerraron repentinamente.

El retraso en la financiación obligó a las escuelas a buscar la manera de cubrir un déficit presupuestario inesperado, y algunos programas extraescolares cerraron repentinamente.

Tell us: Is your Newark public school building overcrowded? Newark’s public school buildings are among the oldest in the state, with many dating back to the 1920s and in need of repairs and upgrades to support student learning.

Newark educators and students: Are school buildings overcrowded and affecting teaching or learning?

Scott Esserman seeking reelection to the Denver school board but for different seat Esserman is running for the District 3 seat in central-east Denver. He currently holds an at-large seat representing the entire city.

Esserman is running for the District 3 seat in central-east Denver. He currently holds an at-large seat representing the entire city.

Read 5 recommendations from Jared Polis on improving education and the workforce Gov. Jared Polis worked on the recommendations as part of his time as chair of the National Governors Association. He said that states lack the means to determine whether students succeed in the long run.

Gov. Jared Polis worked on the recommendations as part of his time as chair of the National Governors Association. He said that states lack the means to determine whether students succeed in the long run.

Failed bill banning cellphones in Michigan schools will be rewritten The Michigan legislator who introduced a bill to ban cellphones in Michigan’s K-12 schools will use New York’s legislation as a template for rewriting the failed bill.

The Michigan legislator who introduced a bill to ban cellphones in Michigan’s K-12 schools will use New York’s legislation as a template for rewriting the failed bill. (via @michiganadvance.com)

DPS mom, nonprofit leader Mariana del Hierro running for SW Denver school board seat Four seats on the seven-member Denver school board are up for election on Nov. 4.

Four seats on the seven-member Denver school board are up for election on Nov. 4.

A mentorship program helping tweens tackle school and mental health challenges The Arthur Project’s social workers-in-training mentor middle schoolers to boost academic performance, social-emotional skills, and mental well-being.

The Arthur Project’s social workers-in-training mentor middle schoolers to boost academic performance, social-emotional skills, and mental well-being.

After three years, how is New Jersey’s revamped mental health program working for students? Though more students are seeking mental health help through the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Service, funding for the program will remain flat for the 2025-26 school year, the third since its inception.

Though more students are seeking mental health help through the New Jersey Statewide Student Support Service, funding for the program will remain flat for the 2025-26 school year, the third since its inception.

Trump cuts nation’s top STEM teaching award. Winners say it will hurt innovation. The Trump administration cut a prestigious national award for STEM teachers. Past winners are campaigning to save it.

The Trump administration cut a prestigious national award for STEM teachers. Past winners are campaigning to save it.

ILEARN results improve slightly for Indianapolis Public Schools, charters Independent charters continued to outperform IPS and the district’s Innovation Network charter schools on the state test.

Independent charters continued to outperform IPS and the district’s Innovation Network charter schools on the state test.