The global pandemic challenged every aspect of life as we knew it. For first year teachers, their years of training could not have prepared them for the daunting task of navigating virtual learning. (Courtesy of unsplash) By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO The training Titia Dunn received when she entered the teaching profession at […]
Category: Word In Black
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#WordinBlack: Observations continue for teachers during pandemic
The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 3.2 million Americans were employed as educators in a public school district last year. In many states, teachers depend on evaluations to gain access to pay increases based on performance. (Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash) By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO The spring observation season […]
Posted inCoronavirus
#WordinBlack: DCPS creates reopening plans under new CDC guidance
District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) created updated reopening plans under the CDC’s new guidance for K-12 schools. (Courtesy Photo) By Deborah Bailey Special to the AFRO This week, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) Chancellor Lewis Ferebee responded to scores of angry parents who left a recent Town hall event with their questions unanswered. […]
Posted inNEWS
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative funds education reporting for Word in Black
New support goes toward shared data journalist, virtual events and more (March 31, 2021) — Word in Black, a news collaborative of Black publishers managed by Local Media Association, has received a second round of funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to support ongoing reporting of K-12 education, with a specific focus on the impact of COVID-19 on […]
Posted inCoronavirus
#WordinBlack: Coronavirus puts standardized assessments to the test
School districts looking to receive federal funding must administer standardized tests this year. The Biden administration has announced that officials can give shorter versions of statewide assessments, extend testing windows to accommodate social distancing and hybrid learning, or test students remotely. (Courtesy Photo) By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO The Biden Administration is not […]
Posted inCoronavirus
Sisters chronicle their close encounters with COVID
By Blake and Paige Evans “Some people believe that the size of your school makes a difference on whether or not you will be affected by COVID-19. From our experiences, it didn’t make a difference. We are sisters, we go to different schools and we were both in contact with someone who tested positive for […]
Posted in!Front Page
#WordinBlack: Baltimore teachers decry expansion of in-person learning with caravan protest
Teachers of Baltimore City Public Schools protest the expansion of in-person learning before the opportunity to be fully vaccinated, an upgrade to ventilation systems, and a “robust and proactive testing program.” There are also concerns about the data being used to make decisions about school openings and closures. By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO […]
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#WordinBlack: Parents face tough conversations after attack on Capitol building
“This is something that will be in history books and our children are living through it,” said Mike Hopkins, a licensed counselor. “They should have support and solidarity.” (Photo by Nechirwan Kavian on Unsplash) By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO Whether you call it a violent protest or an attempted coup- the facts of […]
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Students tackle virtual learning and loneliness during the pandemic
As coronavirus continues to ravage the country, students nationwide have taken on the challenges of learning and living during a pandemic. By Alexis Taylor Special to the AFRO The school closures were only supposed to have lasted two weeks. In Maryland, Spring break was already on the horizon. A 10-day recess seemed right on time […]
Posted inAfro Briefs
Word in Black receives $300,000 in funding from Google News Initiative Innovation Challenge
(December 16, 2020) — Amazing things happen when great companies join forces in new ways. That sums up the short history of the Word in Black news collaborative — freshly funded with $300,000 from the Google News Initiative and launching as a national news brand in 2021. Word in Black is made up of 10 […]
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An open letter to voters: Why Georgia is important to Black America
(By Aries1111_Shutterstock) By Publishers of The Baltimore/Washington AFRO, Dallas Weekly, Houston Defender, Michigan Chronicle, New York Amsterdam News, Sacramento Observer, Seattle Medium, St. Louis American, and The Washington Informer Black voters across the country turned out in unprecedented numbers with purpose and passion for the Nov. 3 General Election. Their overwhelming participation in one of […]