Campus Crime Update
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThe IRE and NICAR Database Library has updated its Campus Crime database, allowing public access to crime statistics reported by colleges and universities from 2001-2005, including…
Education (88)
← All topicsFinding diamonds in the rough
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThe St. Paul Pioneer Press used multiple regression analysis to identify schools in low-income areas that were outperforming their predicted standardized test scores.
Excel & VB help crack school finances
Investigative MethodsEducationData & DatabasesA Kansas journalist investigated the true cost of implementing school finance reforms by analyzing state enrollment data and formulas using Excel and programming, challenging confl…
Campus crime
Crime & JusticeData & DatabasesEducationIntroduction of OpenInfo, a tool for intranet-based full-text search across newsroom databases, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for data access.
Destination: Failing schools
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsWNYC's analysis of enrollment data found that special education students in New York City are disproportionately concentrated in the city's worst-performing high schools.
Suspensions underreported
EducationDemographics & CensusData & DatabasesThe Charlotte Observer used a detailed suspension database to uncover significant racial disparities and a high frequency of repeat suspensions in local schools.
Assault data riddled with holes
Crime & JusticeEducationInvestigative MethodsAn investigation found that Colorado school districts use narrow legal definitions to exclude serious violent incidents from their public accountability report cards.
Charting test cheaters
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesAn investigation into unusually high test scores at Wilmer Elementary in Texas reveals possible cheating by educators. The analysis shows that scores improved significantly compare…
readme.txt
Data & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsEducationJournalists can use data from multiple sources like the U.S. Census and specialized databases to investigate child welfare issues and quality of life disparities in their communiti…
New-teacher data boosts narrative project
Investigative MethodsData & DatabasesEducationData analysis reveals a significant number of older individuals entering teaching in Oregon, challenging common assumptions about new teacher demographics.
Scholarship program takes from the poor
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsGeorgia's HOPE scholarship program, funded by lottery revenues, has distributed $2.1 billion to 700,000 students but faces financial sustainability challenges and criticism for dis…
Campus crime data
Crime & JusticeData & DatabasesEducationThe IRE and NICAR Database Library now offers Clery Act Campus Crime data from 2001-2002 containing 19 tables of crime information reported by campus police, which journalists can …
Lovesick teachers?
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesA Cleveland television station analyzed public school teacher sick day records and discovered an unusual pattern of absences on Valentine's Day, revealing potential abuse of sick l…
EDUCATION Analysis helps uncover college funding scheme
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA newspaper investigation uncovered a scheme where California community colleges enrolled high school athletes in fake college physical education courses taught by their high schoo…
Measuring long bus rides for rural children
Investigative MethodsData & DatabasesEducationWest Virginia journalists investigated the impact of school consolidations on student bus rides by constructing their own database of 1,569 bus runs after discovering the state had…
Uncovering "back-door vouchers"
EducationData & DatabasesGovernment & PoliticsJournalists investigating Pennsylvania's scholarship tax-credit program discovered that millions in state tax dollars were being funneled to private religious schools with minimal …
Plotting school data
EducationTechnologyInvestigative MethodsJournalists are using GIS mapping and analysis to uncover trends in education reporting, from tracking student enrollment shifts across school districts to analyzing whether charte…
Data shows cronyism in schools
Government & PoliticsData & DatabasesEducationAn investigation reveals how taxpayer dollars benefit lobbyists and contractors instead of students in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.
Databases add depth to school stories
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesJournalists are encouraged to use databases to add depth to school reporting, with the No Child Left Behind Act increasing the need for detailed education stories.
Using census data for non-census stories
Demographics & CensusEducationInvestigative MethodsPaul Overberg explains how journalists can use the Census 2000 Summary File 3 to research school enrollment trends, private school popularity, and neighborhood demographics.
Flunking tests
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesAn investigation revealed that over 180,000 Illinois students were taught by teachers who had flunked at least one competency test. The analysis exposed significant gaps in teacher…
Deciding boundaries
Demographics & CensusInvestigative MethodsEducationAn Oklahoma newspaper analyzes 2000 census data to explore racial segregation patterns, finding that school district boundaries may be a primary driver of residential segregation, …
Teaching CAR
Journalism & NewsroomInvestigative MethodsEducationThe article describes 'stealth CAR' (computer-assisted reporting), a practical approach to teaching data journalism skills by integrating them into existing courses rather than off…
Checking the grades
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA Colorado reporter obtained the state's school grading formula and used Excel and statistical software to calculate what grades schools would receive under a proposed law, reveali…
Funding schools
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsSt. Louis Post-Dispatch education reporters analyzed school funding disparities in Missouri and Illinois by adjusting for geographic costs and special student needs, using data ana…
Non-traditional licenses
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesVirginia schools are increasingly hiring teachers with alternative licenses who lack traditional qualifications like passing the PRAXIS I exam, prompting concern from officials and…
Separate and equal?
Investigative MethodsData & DatabasesEducationA Columbus newspaper uncovered racial and economic inequities in the school district by obtaining electronic records that revealed unequal opportunities across elementary schools, …
Education tipsheets
EducationInvestigative MethodsThe IRE Resource Center offers education reporting tipsheets covering investigative angles on education data and teacher quality, including resources and best practices for educati…
Teacher, student exodus
EducationInvestigative MethodsDemographics & CensusA reporter at the Akron Beacon Journal used computer-assisted reporting and data analysis to investigate why one school cluster dramatically underperformed others, challenging assu…
Law creates shortage
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsCalifornia's class-size reduction law five years ago created over 25,000 new teaching positions, but this rapid expansion has led to a persistent teacher shortage that disproportio…
A new wrinkle
EducationInvestigative MethodsA Fort Worth high school football coach resigned after sexual assault allegations in a deal involving a $100,000 payout, prompting investigation into Texas's teacher licensing syst…
Dispelling a myth
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesThe article discusses how Oregon's suburban schools are not as exceptional as often claimed. Using analysis that accounts for family backgrounds, the research identifies schools th…
Equity
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution conducted a comprehensive investigation into gender equity in Georgia high school athletics by analyzing education department civil rights cases, s…
Disciplinary records
Investigative MethodsEducationData & DatabasesStudent journalists at Miami University fought a legal battle to access college disciplinary records, ultimately losing when the U.S. Department of Education intervened to enforce …
Past projects and investigations of The Columbus Dispatch
Investigative MethodsEducationGovernment & PoliticsThe Columbus Dispatch highlights major investigations into educational inequality in Columbus schools and ineffective spending by the Appalachian Regional Commission, demonstrating…
School test scores
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA California journalist mapped school performance rankings across a county using GIS tools, discovering that highest-ranked schools clustered in wealthy areas while lowest-ranked s…
Who's teaching our kids?
EducationCrime & JusticeInvestigative MethodsReporters investigated the criminal backgrounds of public school employees by cross-referencing employment records with state prison and parole databases.
Impact of choice
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsAn investigation into Oklahoma City's choice school movement reveals that these schools disproportionately serve white, wealthy students from educated neighborhoods, while neighbor…
Recent CAR stories
Investigative MethodsData & DatabasesEducationThis collection includes two investigative journalism series: one analyzing high school performance using regression analysis of state test scores and lunch program participation, …
Lake Wobegon effect
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesThe Tennessean investigated Tennessee's claim of above-average student test scores and found significant discrepancies between norm-referenced tests and independent assessments lik…
Weighting data
Data & DatabasesEducationInvestigative MethodsThe Daily Oklahoman used geocoding and census data to assign demographic indicators like median income and educational attainment to Oklahoma City students by linking their address…
Coming soon
Demographics & CensusInvestigative MethodsEducationUplink's next issue will feature stories on analyzing Census 2000 race classifications, applying computer-assisted reporting to religion coverage, and teaching CAR techniques in ac…
Aftermath
Investigative MethodsCrime & JusticeEducationA newsroom uses computer-assisted reporting to analyze school district violence and vandalism data, discovering that electronic data access and time management are crucial for time…
School violence resources
Crime & JusticeEducationData & DatabasesThe Bureau of Justice Statistics Clearinghouse provides comprehensive reports on school safety and crime, including national data on school violence, prevention strategies, and per…
More resources on school violence
EducationCrime & JusticeData & DatabasesThis resource guide provides journalists with links to government databases and reports on school violence, including juvenile justice data, education statistics, and school crime …
Inconsistent data
Data & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsEducationJournalists across the country have discovered major inconsistencies in school violence reporting data, with schools using different definitions and methods to record incidents, re…
A few of the stories on school violence at the IRE Resource Center
EducationInvestigative MethodsThe IRE Resource Center houses several investigative journalism pieces examining school violence in the 1990s, including stories on firearm access, school arsons, and rising violen…
Columbine aftermath
Data & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsEducationAn Albuquerque newspaper obtained and combined three years of crime data from school district and city police records to reveal that district crime reports significantly underestim…
Campus crime
Investigative MethodsEducationData & DatabasesJournalists investigated school expulsion data by combining official statistics with on-the-ground reporting, uncovering significant discrepancies between state and federal gun-rel…
Behind school walls
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsAn Indianapolis journalist obtained Indiana's school discipline database and analyzed expulsion data school-by-school, discovering both valuable insights and important limitations …
Using SAT scores
Data & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsEducationJournalists discuss the challenges of comparing SAT scores across states, noting that participation rates and demographic factors significantly affect results and that simple stati…
College crime
EducationCrime & JusticeInvestigative MethodsFederal law requires colleges to report annual crime statistics including violent crimes and drug/weapons violations, though the self-reported data should be verified against polic…
Back to school
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsEducation reporters can use publicly available school enrollment, budget, and employee data as investigative tools to analyze district performance and funding disparities, though a…
"Sick" Slackers
Investigative MethodsEducationData & DatabasesA journalist uses computer-assisted reporting to investigate teacher absenteeism in Lowell schools, discovering data processing errors and systemic issues hidden within 20,000 scho…
School sports as big business
Business & EconomyEducationInvestigative MethodsExamines the significant role of high school football in Georgia communities, highlighted by financial investments and social status, with data collection revealing the economic im…
INVENTING A SCHOOL SYSTEM: Busting busing
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThe story explores the implications of Charlotte's potential shift from race-based busing to neighborhood schools, post a Supreme Court challenge.
Title IX undermined
EducationInvestigative MethodsDemographics & CensusA six-month data analysis by The Courier-Journal exposed widespread gender discrimination in Kentucky and Indiana high school sports, forcing new state compliance measures.
HANDOUT OF THE MONTH
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsJournalists should plan strategically before requesting school test score data by researching competitor coverage, consulting newsroom colleagues and community members, and maintai…
REPORT CARDS REVISAL
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThe Arkansas Democrat-Gazette created a comprehensive school statistics report ranking 100 schools across Pulaski County by developing a methodology that quantifies school performa…
A FEW GOOD CARs
Investigative MethodsJournalism & NewsroomEducationJournalism schools are increasingly teaching computer-assisted reporting (CAR) skills, but many programs don't require students to take these courses despite managing editors activ…
ASSESSING THE E-RATE
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA journalist discovers that wealthy school districts are disproportionately applying for technology funding through the FCC's E-rate program, while poorer regions lag behind, sugge…
CAR-COOKING RAW NUMBERS
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesNew York news organizations routinely publish standardized test report cards that show wealthy suburban schools outperforming poor urban schools, but researchers find that many inn…
ANALYZING SCHOOL ANALYSIS
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesThe Detroit Free Press and other major newspapers are moving beyond simple test-score rankings to produce more nuanced school report cards that account for socioeconomic factors an…
Evaluating educators
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA new journalist uses database management skills learned at NICAR training to help organize and analyze standardized test score data from Montana schools, enabling the newspaper to…
What teaching is really like
EducationInvestigative MethodsJournalism & NewsroomTwo former journalists who became university professors describe the demanding reality of academic teaching, revealing that despite its appealing reputation, professorship requires…
Bending the Rules
Investigative MethodsData & DatabasesEducationThe Kansas City Star used eight databases including NCAA-provided data on graduation rates and legislative votes to investigate the role of money in college sports, learning valuab…
Coaching for dollars
Investigative MethodsEducationData & DatabasesThis issue highlights investigative reporting in sports, focusing on coaching salaries in Texas high schools and NCAA's role in college sports finances. It discusses the AP's local…
On the Internet
EducationJournalism & NewsroomA guide to useful web resources for education reporting and research, compiled by Pete Weitzel, featuring sites like Education Week that provide statistics, articles, and backgroun…
Handout of the Month
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesThis IRE conference handout guide provides education reporters with computer-assisted reporting (CAR) techniques to investigate and compare school district data, including demograp…
Adding Numbers
EducationData & DatabasesDemographics & CensusA reporter used data analysis to uncover that Hispanic and Native American students had the largest representation gap compared to educators, rather than Black students as initiall…
Inexperience Reigns
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsBaltimore Sun reporters discovered that disadvantaged schools with the lowest test scores and highest poverty rates are staffed disproportionately with inexperienced teachers, limi…
Record Fight
Data & DatabasesEducationInvestigative MethodsDetroit Free Press reporters obtained salary data for over 22,000 Detroit Public School employees to investigate principals earning extra compensation for after-school activities a…
Separate & Unequal
EducationData & DatabasesDemographics & CensusAn analysis revealed that Cincinnati's public schools are struggling to retain middle-income families, leading to a disproportionate number of low-income students in public schools…
Back to School
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesJournalists across multiple newsrooms have uncovered significant issues in public school systems, including middle-income student exodus, uncertified substitute teachers, unequal t…
Using regression analysis
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsReporters at the Omaha World-Herald used regression analysis to evaluate school effectiveness by comparing actual test scores to predicted scores based on student demographics, the…
Students rank schools
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA University of Tennessee journalism class partnered with the LaFollette Press newspaper to produce an eight-page special report on Campbell County schools using state education da…
Head of the Class
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThe Arkansas Democrat-Gazette developed a straightforward methodology for ranking schools by combining multiple quality indicators like test scores, teacher training, and diversity…
CAR goes on field trip
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesA local news team used computer-assisted reporting to investigate funding disparities in school field trips across six districts, finding that similar-sized districts spent varying…
Students beat odds
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsFresno Bee reporters analyzed California test scores against socioeconomic factors, finding that some schools with disadvantaged students outperformed wealthier districts, challeng…
Count me in
Investigative MethodsEducationData & DatabasesThe Minneapolis Star Tribune education team successfully used spreadsheets on a tight deadline to analyze and compare eighth-grade test scores across 300 school districts.
Excel goes Dutch
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesAn education reporter conducts her first CAR project analyzing employment data from Dutch universities, discovering that while cutting expenses, university boards ironically increa…
Not every college offers CAR knowledge
Journalism & NewsroomInvestigative MethodsEducationMany university journalism programs have not adopted computer-assisted reporting education despite its proven benefits, facing obstacles like equipment costs, institutional resista…
All in the family
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesAn investigation into Broward County's seventh-largest school district revealed millions spent on questionable personnel practices, including widespread nepotism, excessive overtim…
What's affecting test scores?
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsA New Jersey analysis of over 2,000 public high schools reveals that poverty is the strongest factor correlating with test scores, prompting investigation after the state stopped p…
The school of hard data
EducationData & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsThis newsletter edition of Uplink explores the potential of computer-assisted reporting on educational issues like school segregation and SAT scores, and highlights reporters’ util…
Uplink update
EducationInvestigative MethodsPublic SafetyThis journalism newsletter focuses on computer-assisted reporting techniques for education beat coverage, featuring expert journalists discussing data analysis methods for stories …
Taking bytes out of the education apple
EducationInvestigative MethodsData & DatabasesInvestigative reporters used computer database matching to uncover serious problems in school systems, including hundreds of convicted felons working as teachers and bus drivers, a…
MO Education Department releases test scores to MICAR
Data & DatabasesInvestigative MethodsEducationA journalist uncovers how Missouri's Department of Education restricts access to standardized test data through bureaucratic obstacles, preventing even the state itself from analyz…