The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "classroom" ...
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Testing The System
USA TODAY's "Testing the System" focused on mandated state standardized tests, and in particular, whether radical gains in scores in some schools or classrooms were real or the product of cheating.
Tags: Standardized tests; schools; classrooms; cheating; grades
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Janitor Paid $100,000 to Travel
This series exposed the outrageous hiring practices at the nation's sixth largest school district, casting a light on a system in which janitors and copy clerks were paid huge salaries as teachers- but barely set foot in the classroom. Ultimately, the reporting effort saved taxpayers $1 million, led to pay cuts for 59 employees, and resulted in stricter oversight of the Broward County School District.
Tags: Broward County School District; Hiring; School; Taxpayer
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Testing the System
The story focused on mandated state standardized tests and whether radical gains in scores in some schools or classrooms were real or the product of cheating.
Tags: standardized tests; No Child Left Behind; tests; MAP tests; classroom; teachers; cheating
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NCAA: Mixed Messages
The phrase “student-athlete” has been used for a number of years, but recently it seems unsuitable for college athletics. In this series, a number of issues are spotlighted and they include “academics, the arms race, television money, the use of likenesses and images, and the myth of the four-year scholarship”. The main purpose of this series was to display the recent activities of college athletics and let you decide if the phrase “student-athlete” still applies.
Tags: athletic department; FOIA; Florida State; Rutgers University; sports; networks; money; grades; classroom; education
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Failure Gets a Pass
The investigations uncovers just how rarely California school districts fire probationary instructors. Teachers who abuse, molest and harm children are often kept in the classroom. The articles explore how districts demonstrate a lax attitude toward teacher evaluations, confuse state laws and neglect regulations.
Tags: California; schools; districts; teachers; abuse; molest; harm; students; fire; evaluations; Commission of Professional Competence; probationary; instructors; tenure;
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Reaching Black Boys
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) had the highest suspension rate out of the country's 10 largest school districts. Many of those suspended were young black men. This came at a time when Arne Duncan, CEO of CPS, said he aimed to close the achievement gap. Depriving black students of valuable class time due to suspensions seemed contradictory to the goal.
Tags: CPS; Chicago; Schools; black; arne duncan; suspension; classroom; expulsion; achievement gap; role models; african; school district;
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Mall School
A Team 4 hidden camera investigation exposed a system that allows disruptive students to get the same diploma as other children, even though they only have to put in half the number of hours. Many of the schools they attend are run by private non-profits that are not required to have certified teachers. The students only have to spend 15 hours a week in the classroom, which is about half as much as regular students. And when it's time to graduate, they get a diploma from their home high school, just like other students.
Tags: educations; teacher certification; high school education; private nonprofit organizations; disruptive students; contracting
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Disciplining Oregon Teachers
Oregon state and local education officials poorly protected children from teachers who have molested or abused students. Secret deals were made by school administrators to get rid of these problems.
Tags: child abuse; classroom; sexual assault; statutory; school board; school district;
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Subtraction by Addition: A watchdog report on MPS' failed construction program
The series focused on a failed $102 million neighborhood school building program to add classrooms, gyms, libraries, labs and entire schools for Milwaukee schoolchildren. The investigation found that tens of millions of dollars of classrooms added since 2001 sit empty or severely underused.
Tags: school district; construction; enrollment; classroom; academic; test score
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Columbia's Knotty Noose Problem
A noose was left on the door to Madonna Constantine's office. Constantine was a black professor and a well-known expert on race issues in the classroom. But after this bizarre incident, rumors began to surface that she consistently cut corners by plagiarizing the work of students and colleagues. This investigation follows the rise and fall of Madonna Constantine, as the university at first turned a deaf ear to the rumors of her plagiarism.
Tags: race; higher education; professors; plagiarism; Madonna Constantine; experts; hate crimes