Follow the Money: Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin
Workshop for Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin Reporters on Covering COVID-19 Relief for Schools
With the federal government providing nearly $200 billion to schools for pandemic relief, states and districts have a unique opportunity to fuel the education recovery.
How is this playing out in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin so far? How are local school systems and the states spending their share? To what extent are the one-time federal dollars being used to better support students, especially those who need help the most?
The Education Writers Association is holding its third in a series of virtual workshops for journalists in the Great Lakes states – focusing on Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern/9 a.m. to noon Central – to help the news media play a stronger role in answering these and other key questions. The half-day events are designed to help busy reporters get the information and guidance they need to hit the ground running, from the rules governing stimulus spending to how to dig into the recovery strategies states and districts are implementing.
Experts, education leaders, and experienced journalists will share insights, practical advice, relevant data, and more. This event is tailored to the specific context in each state and will help participants know exactly where to turn to get what they need.
The news media has a powerful watchdog role to play in helping the public and policymakers understand whether the unprecedented federal aid flowing to Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin will live up to the promises of those in power. Join us for this free workshop.
Registration for this event has closed.
Agenda
The federal government has allocated billions of dollars to schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the rules for how and when the aid can be spent, and how are they evolving? How can you tell if districts are meeting their obligations and spending in ways that benefit students? What does the research tell us about best practices for interventions? Experts explain the ins and outs of the law and how to determine whether your district is spending on smart, evidence-based strategies.
- Julia Martin, Brustein & Manasevit, PLLC
- Nathaniel Schwartz, Annenberg Institute at Brown University
- Lori Higgins, Chalkbeat Detroit (moderator)
This agenda is tentative and subject to change. All sessions will allow ample time for questions from journalists.
To provide context specific to each state, we break out into separate sessions for Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin reporters. How are these dollars being spent in your state and local districts? State officials and local leaders explain their approach and initiatives designed to aid in education recovery, while policy experts offer their insights and observations. Learn about the opportunities and challenges associated with these one-time funds, from avoiding recurring expenses that will create a fiscal cliff in the future to adapting to shortages of workers and supplies.
Michigan
- Christina Gibson, Eastpointe Community Schools
- Katharine Strunk, EPIC at Michigan State University
- Kevin Walters, Michigan Department of Education
- Sascha Raiyn, WDET (moderator)
Minnesota
- Krista Kaput, Bellwether Education Partners
- Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed, Hopkins Public Schools
- Matt Shaver, EdAllies
- Eder Campuzano, Star Tribune (moderator)
Wisconsin
- Laura Adams, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
- Carlton Jenkins, Madison Metropolitan School District
- Sara Shaw, Wisconsin Policy Forum
- Emily Files, WUWM Radio (moderator)
This agenda is tentative and subject to change. All sessions will allow ample time for questions from journalists.
Experienced journalists share insights and key takeaways from their own reporting on federal-relief spending by states and districts, along with practical tips for digging into the data to find stories. With guidance from the Education Writers Association’s Kavitha Cardoza, the presenters help you brainstorm concrete plans for smart coverage in your community and troubleshoot reporting challenges along the way.
- Beth Hawkins, The 74 Million
- Thomas Wilburn, Chalkbeat
- Kavitha Cardoza, EWA (moderator)
This agenda is tentative and subject to change. All sessions will allow ample time for questions from journalists.
