EWA Grand Prize Winner Offers Advice on Investigating Student Absenteeism
The Chicago Tribune’s investigative reporting team of David Jackson, Gary Marx, Alex Richards and Scott Strazzante won the 2013 Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting on May 4 during EWA’s National Seminar at Stanford University. The team won the award for “An Empty Desk Epidemic,” a series that looked at chronic absenteeism in elementary schools and the impact it has on student’s education careers. Jackson and Marx offered a presentation on the prize-winning series during the conference. And below Jackson also offers advice on how to cover the story. Stream any session from National Seminar in your browser, or subscribe via RSS or iTunes.
How I Did the Story: "An Empty Desk Epidemic" by David Jackson & Gary Marx fromEdWriters on Vimeo.
Our investigation gained access to Chicago's internal school attendance database and revealed a devastating pattern of K-8 grade absences that disproportionately affect African-American youth and children with disabilities. Officials for years
Our investigation gained access to Chicago's internal school attendance database and revealed a devastating pattern of K-8 grade absences that disproportionately affect African-American youth and children with disabilities. Officials for years