2023 Beat Reporting (Education-Only Outlets) Finalists
Beth Hawkins
The 74
Beth Hawkins – Beat Reporting, Education
- Due process, undue delays: Families trapped in NYC’s decades-long special ed bottleneck
- Exclusive data: More than 1,500 Minnesota special ed teachers are working in regular ed classrooms
- Scared of school: Even in states with protective laws, LGBTQ students are reporting attacks from other kids — and teachers
- Build your own high school: Phoenix students choose from 500 classes, internships, college courses, career programs & more
- 74 interview: Meet Minneapolis’s first autistic school board member
Comments From the Judges:
“It’s pretty rare to read an education story that is unusual or breaking new ground. Beth does that repeatedly in her reporting. Great stories. Well written. She navigates seamlessly between various types of storytelling. Well done.”
“This submission included strong reporting exposing some of the problems in providing services for students with disabilities and supporting LGBTQ students.”
Linda Jacobson
The 74
Linda Jacobson: Beat Reporting for The 74
- Exclusive data: Fueled by teacher shortages, ‘Zoom-in-a-room’ makes a comeback
- The mystery of Ryan Walters: How a beloved history teacher became Oklahoma’s culture-warrior-in-chief
- Chicken coops, trampolines and tickets to SeaWorld: What some parents are buying with education savings accounts
- Stockton, Calif., school officials could face criminal charges after audit finds ‘sufficient evidence’ of relief fund fraud
- Exclusive: Virginia’s Fairfax schools expose thousands of sensitive student records
Comments From the Judges:
“A very strong submission. The submission contained thoroughly reported watchdog and enterprise work. I loved the story about ESA spending for items, such as a chicken coop for a science lesson, trampolines and horseback riding lessons. The piece about Oklahoma’s superintendent was well-told and balanced.”
“Great reporting and writing. Really interesting stories.The Zoom return for a new reason surprised as did the Oklahoma educator turned conservative [activist].”
Charlotte West
Open Campus
Covering the Critical Role of Higher Ed in Prisons
- It took almost 30 years for Pell Grants to return to prison. But, for many, college is still out of reach.
- Illinois’ governor is letting this man out of prison after 26 years so he can earn his Ph.D.
- Her life was about to be put on hold. Her balance would continue to grow.
- Native Hawaiians are overrepresented in prisons. Here’s how cultural education could help.
- A virtual lifeline or a digital babysitter? What it’s actually like to use tablets in prison
Comments From the Judges:
“An impressive package of articles about a topic that is not covered enough by education reporters. The package of stories exposed problems in helping inmates get an education, such as the prison being ineligible for Pell grants and about how student loan debt can grow in prison.”
“Really interesting stories. A niche that is not covered well if at all by anyone else. [The] stories are strong. Interesting topic[s] and well reported.”
