Chalkbeat now has a new look — and a public health sister site

Three logos, one blue, red and pink on a white background.
Chalkbeat, Votebeat and Healthbeat logos (Civic News Company)

Welcome to the new Chalkbeat!

If you’re a regular reader, you might notice that things look a little different here today. Nothing about our stories or the functionality of our site is changing, but we have a new look that we hope you enjoy: simple, modern, and with the work you know and love front and center.

Why? It’s always nice to feel fresh at the start of a school year. But more importantly, the change comes as we launch a new sibling site. Meet Healthbeat, which is officially launching today to cover public health.

Healthbeat reporters will be digging into issues that shape our collective well-being, from infectious diseases to air and water quality and food safety. And they will be bringing the Chalkbeat (and Votebeat) model of national and local reporting to bear on public health at a time when it’s badly needed. Healthbeat will start with bureaus in New York City and Atlanta as well as national reporting in partnership with the great folks over at KFF Health News.

I hope you will check them out, starting with editor in chief Charlene Pacenti’s introduction to Healthbeat’s work. You can also sign up for Healthbeat’s newsletters here.

— Sarah Darville, Chalkbeat editor in chief

The Latest

In the Detroit Public Schools Community District, 65.8% of students missed 18 or more school days during the last school year. That’s a slight improvement over the previous year’s number.

Communication during emergencies is a big reason families are skeptical of school cell phone bans. But parents also acknowledge the downside of phones at school, and they’re trying compromises.

At Clemente Community Academy, students are missing critical instruction time because of absent teachers. It’s one of a number of CPS schools struggling because of a teacher shortage.

A 2012 settlement agreement required Newark Public Schools to reach 95% compliance with federal and state timelines for identifying and evaluating students with disabilities.

Once the Detroit school district stops counting students who enrolled but haven’t shown up, the enrollment numbers are expected to be lower than they are now.

Colorado students have plenty of opportunities to help offset the cost of college based on their GPA, families’ income, and other factors.