|
Dear Reader,
Hechinger’s distinctive style of education journalism is needed like never before. Our stories humanize, whether they are long-form narratives, ambitious data investigations, multipart series on a single topic, or pointed, argument-driven news analyses and op-eds.
And, through our reporting, we are making a difference and forcing change.
With the disastrous impact that the coronavirus is having on education — now and for years to come — our stories are highlighting inequities in the ways schools deliver and sustain remote learning, and our reporters are digging into research about which interventions could help students catch up long term. And, importantly, we are exploring solutions and showcasing evidence-based models and innovations that might help resolve major education dilemmas as school systems grasp for ways to reach their most vulnerable students.
Stories we’ve told have affected individual lives and brought about broad systemic change. Here are just a few:
- Delaware’s governor proposed $50 million in new support for schools featured in our story about inadequate school funding and the students that are suffering.
- The Bureau of Indian Education began distributing to tribal schools some of the $154 million CARES Act funding it received after our reporters inquired into the reason for the delays.
- The son of a low-income working mom got a spot in a public preschool after she spoke with our reporter about California’s parental leave program and realized her son was eligible.
- A good Samaritan sent $200 to a woman featured in our story about the debt plaguing beauty school grads, while another benefactor sent a laptop to a student parent who had been in danger of dropping out.
- One story in our year-long investigative series on the child care crisis prompted donations to a featured child care center. When the director of the center — who was about to close her doors for good — learned of the outpouring of support, she told us she planned to use the money to make rent and stay open.
- And, in the most life-changing instance of how our stories can affect individual lives, our profile on a veteran and her family crushed by debt, hunger, and on the verge of eviction touched off an overwhelming response from readers. Encouraged by the words of support, the family started a GOFUNDME page with an initial goal of $5,000. They have now received over 750 donations totaling more than $38,000!
These stories reflect the kind of reporting that is only possible when we have support from our readers. But journalism that serves the public can't exist without public support. We need people like you to stand up for it.
Invest in the stories going untold, and the lives worth fighting for.
Join us today.
|
