EWA Announces Finalists for 2024 National Awards for Education Reporting

April 2, 2025 (WASHINGTON, DC)—The Education Writers Association is pleased to announce the category finalists for the 2024 National Awards for Education Reporting, recognizing the top education journalism in the United States.

The 2024 finalists looked at obstacles facing special education students and parents; immigrant students dealing with work and schools; affirmative action backlash; new school board elections and other challenges facing American education. 

We revamped and tweaked this year’s awards categories, adding subcategories for education-only outlets to news and features. 

“Our members continue to produce outstanding work despite the challenges they face, and this year’s finalists underscore that fact,” said Kathy Chow, EWA’s executive director. “Their dedication, resilience, and commitment to high-quality journalism serve as a testament to the vital role education reporters play in informing the public and shaping important conversations.”

Fifty-one entrants were named as finalists in 17 awards categories. The category winners will be announced on May 29 at EWA’s 78th National Seminar in St. Louis. Each category award comes with a $1,000 prize. 

Additionally, EWA will honor the top winners during the 2025 National Seminar: The Ronald Moskowitz Prize for Outstanding Beat Reporting comes with $2,500, and the Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting comes with $10,000. 

Judges selected category awards finalists from among 346 eligible entries for the 17 awards categories. The competition was independently judged by 95 current and former editors and reporters, many of whom are past recipients of prestigious journalism awards from EWA and other organizations. 

EWA would like to thank everyone who entered the competition and express our deep gratitude to the busy professionals who volunteered hours and hours of their time to evaluate this year’s many fine entries.