Chalkbeat

• 2026 National Teacher of the Year wants to share the ‘playbook for the power that people can generate’ April 21, 2026
  Sign up for Chalkbeat’s free weekly newsletter to keep up with how education is changing across the U.S.When Leon Smith was a kid at camp, adults would tap him to keep an eye on younger children and make a point of praising how well he handled the responsibility. It sparked a thought — probably helped […]
  Erica Meltzer
• NYC’s 2026-27 school calendar is out: late September start, a Monday finish in June April 21, 2026
  Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox.New York City’s 2026-27 public school calendar is out, and families can expect a long summer, with the first day of school starting on Thursday, Sept. 10.They can also expect a late start to next […]
  Amy Zimmer
• Will Memphis schools sue over the pending state takeover legislation? April 21, 2026
  Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free newsletter to keep up with statewide education policy and Memphis-Shelby County Schools.The Memphis-Shelby County school board could vote Tuesday night to hire a lawyer to challenge the state takeover legislation Tennessee Republicans finalized yesterday.The special call meeting comes one day after state lawmakers approved bill language that would give […]
  Bri Hatch
• For children in poverty, the biggest resource gaps are outside of school April 21, 2026
  Chalkbeat Ideas is a new section featuring reported columns on the big ideas and debates shaping American schools. Sign up for the Ideas newsletter to follow our work.Children from low-income families have roughly $80,000 less invested in their development, well-being, and education relative to their peers from high-income households, according to a new study.The research […]
  Matt Barnum
• Tennessee Republicans push for significant last-minute ESA voucher expansion April 21, 2026
  Sign up for Chalkbeat Tennessee’s free newsletter to keep up with statewide education policy and Memphis-Shelby County Schools.Tennessee Republicans want to drop all enrollment caps and expand eligibility to the state’s initial voucher program, effectively merging Tennessee’s two voucher programs as Gov. Bill Lee pushes lawmakers to provide state dollars to all families who applied […]
  Melissa Brown