2025 Explanatory Journalism (Large Newsroom) Winner

About the Winner:

Mandy McLaren shared what inspired “A promise unkept.”

“When I chose to leave teaching after seven years as a special educator, I was convinced of one thing: If a school would dare choose to put special education first, the rest would follow,” McLaren said. “Unfortunately, as I have found time and again – first as a teacher and then as a reporter – school districts rarely put the needs of children with disabilities first.”

“It wasn’t until I was in graduate school that I learned one major factor in this dynamic – the fact that Congress 50 years ago agreed to pay a substantial proportion of the cost to educate students with disabilities, but over decades, it has only covered a sliver of the cost,” she explained. “This shortchanging, I could now see from my teaching experiences, had a drastic impact on all students’ abilities to learn.” 

Comments From the Judges:

“Well-told story of the unmet promise of 50-year-old legislation, through the eyes of the families who are living the story every day. Compelling lede and insightful explanation of the legislative promise and the actual current day situation. Strong photos tell the story visually.”

“This is an outstanding, humanizing piece of explanatory journalism. I found myself rooting for Dante and his family throughout. Not only does this thoroughly explain a complicated federal policy failure, it confronts us with the harsh realities of that failure’s consequences. The reporter does a nice job illustrating how far-reaching those consequences are — from Boston to New Mexico. The visuals and presentation are great complements to stellar writing and reporting that carefully and concisely explains a rather complicated issue. The kicker moved me to tears.”

Photo credits: Craig F. Walker/The Boston Globe