Erica Meltzer
@ericameltzer.bsky.social
National Editor at Chalkbeat. I write about education and politics. Reach me at [email protected]
Tennessee lawmakers want a "Houston-style" takeover of Memphis schools, but the two cities and school systems are very different.
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
What would a Houston-style takeover mean for Memphis schools?
State Republicans want to see Memphis schools improve like Houston’s did post-state takeover. But Texas doesn’t measure school progress the Tennessee way.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 22, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Tennessee lawmakers want a "Houston-style" takeover of Memphis schools, but the two cities and school systems are very different.
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
There are a lot of stories about this horror. Appreciate how Becky helps us see Liam: "A small stuffed turtle, a water bottle, and a blanket fill 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos’ cubby. A gray winter hat hangs from his hook. A worksheet to help him trace the letter W waits for him at his desk."
This is Liam. He's 5. My story: sahanjournal.com/education/ic...
January 22, 2026 at 4:28 AM
There are a lot of stories about this horror. Appreciate how Becky helps us see Liam: "A small stuffed turtle, a water bottle, and a blanket fill 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos’ cubby. A gray winter hat hangs from his hook. A worksheet to help him trace the letter W waits for him at his desk."
I just keep thinking: All these people came to the United States because they thought they would be safer here.
January 22, 2026 at 4:05 AM
I just keep thinking: All these people came to the United States because they thought they would be safer here.
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
The Columbia Heights school district says ICE detained four of its students, including a 5-year-old boy, as "bait" to draw out family members.
ICE detains 5-year old Minnesota boy; lawyer says agents used him as ‘bait’
The Columbia Heights school district says federal agents have detained four children in their district. School officials and a lawyer for the family say agents used 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramo as “bai...
www.mprnews.org
January 22, 2026 at 1:51 AM
The Columbia Heights school district says ICE detained four of its students, including a 5-year-old boy, as "bait" to draw out family members.
Smart story on the administration's decision to abandon its anti-DEI Dear Colleague letter. The Education Department hasn't offered a reason — but they already got a lot of what they wanted through threats and preemptive compliance.
Why Trump's legal retreat from his anti-DEI campus push may be too late for many colleges:
www.latimes.com/world-nation...
www.latimes.com/world-nation...
‘The damage is done’: Why Trump's DEI retreat in court may be too late for many colleges
The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked a campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion threatening federal funding to the nation’s schools and colle...
www.latimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:16 AM
Smart story on the administration's decision to abandon its anti-DEI Dear Colleague letter. The Education Department hasn't offered a reason — but they already got a lot of what they wanted through threats and preemptive compliance.
Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant, according to an internal ICE memo obtained by The Associated Press. apnews.com/article/ice-...
Immigration officers assert sweeping power to enter homes without a judge's warrant, memo says
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press reveals that the agency allows immigration officers to forcibly enter homes to make arrests without a judicial warrant.
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Federal immigration officers are asserting sweeping power to forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant, according to an internal ICE memo obtained by The Associated Press. apnews.com/article/ice-...
After the Denver school board placed restrictions on public comment two years ago, the number of people signing up to address the board plummeted. Now the board may rethink its policies.
www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...
www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...
Your 2 minutes is up: Denver school board could reconsider limits on public comment
By Chalkbeat’s count, the number of people who sign up to speak at public comment has plummeted since the school board put time limits in place.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 16, 2026 at 9:59 PM
After the Denver school board placed restrictions on public comment two years ago, the number of people signing up to address the board plummeted. Now the board may rethink its policies.
www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...
www.chalkbeat.org/colorado/202...
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
Students took the newly designed IRI for the first time in October.
Instead of selecting from provided answers students read aloud from a computer.
Learn more here:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fal... #standardizedtests #literacy #thescienceofreading
Instead of selecting from provided answers students read aloud from a computer.
Learn more here:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fal... #standardizedtests #literacy #thescienceofreading
Fall test scores show about half of young students read at or above grade level
The results are the first from the redesigned Idaho Reading Indicator and show a drop from last year.
www.idahoednews.org
January 16, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Students took the newly designed IRI for the first time in October.
Instead of selecting from provided answers students read aloud from a computer.
Learn more here:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fal... #standardizedtests #literacy #thescienceofreading
Instead of selecting from provided answers students read aloud from a computer.
Learn more here:
www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fal... #standardizedtests #literacy #thescienceofreading
Contrast this with Polis' apparent interest in releasing Tina Peters.
Gov. Jared Polis unilaterally stalled a specialized prison program aimed at rehabilitating and releasing people who have served decades for crimes committed as juveniles and young adults, @denverpost.com's Shelly Bradbury reports. After 2023, Polis stopped signing off on the early releases.
Gov. Jared Polis stops releasing prisoners who’ve spent decades behind bars for youthful crime
Colorado’s governor has not approved any of the program’s graduates for early release since 2023 — an about-face from the prior three years.
www.denverpost.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Contrast this with Polis' apparent interest in releasing Tina Peters.
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
The *shade* Stars and Stripes is throwing with *journalism* www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Pentagon says it will ‘refocus’ Stars and Stripes content
The Pentagon suggested it would take over editorial decision making for Stars and Stripes, which has long retained independence under a congressional mandate.
www.stripes.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:46 AM
The *shade* Stars and Stripes is throwing with *journalism* www.stripes.com/theaters/us/...
Two notable things 1) Lawmakers say this plan was developed with the White House. 2) Nine months after Tennessee asked the U.S. Education Department whether it would withhold funds if they targeted immigrant students, they still don't have an answer.
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
Tennessee GOP wants to make K-12 students verify their immigration status
It’s not yet clear how they would do so, or if the data could be used by ICE or state immigration enforcement.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 16, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Two notable things 1) Lawmakers say this plan was developed with the White House. 2) Nine months after Tennessee asked the U.S. Education Department whether it would withhold funds if they targeted immigrant students, they still don't have an answer.
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
www.chalkbeat.org/tennessee/20...
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
I am once again calling on people to remember the children.
School of Renee Good’s son targeted by right-wing attacks
Threats to Southside Family Charter School in Minneapolis came after New York Post articles and a series of social media posts from right-wing commentators.
sahanjournal.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:26 AM
I am once again calling on people to remember the children.
“He has not been afraid to touch the third rail and have difficult conversations."
Great profile of NYC schools chancellor Kamar Samuels, who has a tough job in front of him. via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social and @amyzimmer.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026...
Great profile of NYC schools chancellor Kamar Samuels, who has a tough job in front of him. via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social and @amyzimmer.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026...
‘He has not been afraid to touch the third rail’: Meet Kamar Samuels, NYC’s schools chief
Zohran Mamdani said he selected Samuels because of his knowledge of the city’s school system and track record of seeking ambitious changes.
www.chalkbeat.org
January 15, 2026 at 5:58 PM
“He has not been afraid to touch the third rail and have difficult conversations."
Great profile of NYC schools chancellor Kamar Samuels, who has a tough job in front of him. via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social and @amyzimmer.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026...
Great profile of NYC schools chancellor Kamar Samuels, who has a tough job in front of him. via @alexzimmerman.bsky.social and @amyzimmer.bsky.social
www.chalkbeat.org/newyork/2026...
About a year ago, a self-appointed education journalism critic made a lot of tweets about how Chalkbeat was fear mongering about immigration enforcement and the possible effects on students and schools.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
January 15, 2026 at 1:53 AM
About a year ago, a self-appointed education journalism critic made a lot of tweets about how Chalkbeat was fear mongering about immigration enforcement and the possible effects on students and schools.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
What it actually looks like is different than we imagined — but in many ways, it's worse.
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
Saint Paul schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for optional online learning.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
January 15, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Saint Paul schools will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for optional online learning.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
I’ve seen schools close for snow, for pandemic, for natural disaster. I’ve never seen schools close because of threat from our own government.
This is a weird thing to say about a 70-year-old woman whose crime would not have been possible if she were not an elected official. But. I worry she's at risk to re-offend.
A Colorado Court of Appeals panel today appeared to seriously consider whether discredited elections clerk Tina Peters’ 9-year prison sentence was unfair, but expressed skepticism that her conviction should be overturned altogether
Colorado appeals court questions Tina Peters’ sentence, but appears skeptical her conviction should be overturned
President Donald Trump has called for Tina Peters’ release and, in December, claimed to pardon her — a power he does not have over state-level criminal charges.
www.denverpost.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:03 AM
This is a weird thing to say about a 70-year-old woman whose crime would not have been possible if she were not an elected official. But. I worry she's at risk to re-offend.
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
And if you need another reason to be outraged about this:
January 15, 2026 at 12:48 AM
And if you need another reason to be outraged about this:
Oglala Lakota president Frank Star Comes Out said when the tribe requested more information, leaders were told the tribe would need to enter into an immigration agreement with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
ictnews.org/news/north-c...
ictnews.org/news/north-c...
Four Oglala detainees located, three still in ICE custody - ICT
The four Lakota detainees were reportedly sent to a former concentration camp used during the Dakota Wars
ictnews.org
January 15, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Oglala Lakota president Frank Star Comes Out said when the tribe requested more information, leaders were told the tribe would need to enter into an immigration agreement with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.
ictnews.org/news/north-c...
ictnews.org/news/north-c...
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
Here’s what Lindsey Burke, a top Trump administration official and Project 2025 author, told us about funding cuts, students with disabilities, and more.
The Trump administration still hopes to persuade Congress to close the Ed. Department
Here’s what Lindsey Burke, a top Trump administration official and Project 2025 author, told us about funding cuts, students with disabilities, and more.
bit.ly
January 14, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Here’s what Lindsey Burke, a top Trump administration official and Project 2025 author, told us about funding cuts, students with disabilities, and more.
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
New: My colleague Ann Schimke has been chronicling the creation of a "public Christian school" in Colorado. It is intended as a legal test case and could have major national implications.
I spoke with Ann about what she's found and why it matters. nationally.
I spoke with Ann about what she's found and why it matters. nationally.
Inside a legal test case that could mean more funding for religious education
A Q&A with Chalkbeat reporter Ann Schimke who has chronicled what some have called Colorado's "first public Christian school"
cbnewsletters.chalkbeat.org
January 14, 2026 at 2:52 PM
New: My colleague Ann Schimke has been chronicling the creation of a "public Christian school" in Colorado. It is intended as a legal test case and could have major national implications.
I spoke with Ann about what she's found and why it matters. nationally.
I spoke with Ann about what she's found and why it matters. nationally.
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
Eva Moskowitz wants to transfer a Bronx charter school to her husband, raising eyebrows from state officials
Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz seeks to transfer a NYC charter school to her husband
Eva Moskowitz wants to transfer a Bronx charter school to her husband, raising eyebrows from state officials
bit.ly
January 13, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Eva Moskowitz wants to transfer a Bronx charter school to her husband, raising eyebrows from state officials
Finding myself relieved this attack apparently had nothing to do with feelings about Israel, so that we don't have to endure another round of "it wasn't *actually* antisemitic."
www.mississippifreepress.org/suspect-in-b...
www.mississippifreepress.org/suspect-in-b...
Jackson Synagogue Burning Suspect Tells Judge, 'Jesus Christ Is Lord'
A suspect in the arson fire at the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, allegedly admitted to targeting it because of its “Jewish ties.”
www.mississippifreepress.org
January 13, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Finding myself relieved this attack apparently had nothing to do with feelings about Israel, so that we don't have to endure another round of "it wasn't *actually* antisemitic."
www.mississippifreepress.org/suspect-in-b...
www.mississippifreepress.org/suspect-in-b...
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
I heard the same. One reported 35% — “and we don’t think they’re all coming back.”
Checking in with two different Twin Cities school districts over the weekend. They saw absenteeism close to 30 percent or more due to federal immigration enforcement agent activity fears last week.
January 11, 2026 at 11:57 PM
I heard the same. One reported 35% — “and we don’t think they’re all coming back.”
Reposted by Erica Meltzer
Mississippi’s largest synagogue was set on fire before dawn Saturday. Fire department ruled it arson, and a suspect has been arrested.
It is the same synagogue that the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. mississippitoday.org/2026/01/10/f...
It is the same synagogue that the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. mississippitoday.org/2026/01/10/f...
Predawn fire reduces parts of Mississippi's largest synagogue to charred ruins - Mississippi Today
A fire heavily damaged Jackson’s only synagogue before dawn Saturday – the same house of worship that was firebombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967 because the rabbi had been an advocate for civil rights...
mississippitoday.org
January 11, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Mississippi’s largest synagogue was set on fire before dawn Saturday. Fire department ruled it arson, and a suspect has been arrested.
It is the same synagogue that the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. mississippitoday.org/2026/01/10/f...
It is the same synagogue that the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 because the rabbi supported civil rights. mississippitoday.org/2026/01/10/f...