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Education

School Wars

How Battles Over Vouchers, Book Bans, COVID-19 and More Are Harming Public Education

Political conflict has shifted how the nation educates kids, leaving them on increasingly different and unequal paths at school.

16 stories published since 2024

Idaho Gave Families $50M to Spend on Private Education. Then It Ended a $30M Program Used by Public School Families.

by Audrey Dutton,

In the Wild West of School Voucher Expansions, States Rely on Untested Companies, With Mixed Results

by Alec MacGillis,

On a Mission From God: Inside the Movement to Redirect Billions of Taxpayer Dollars to Private Religious Schools

by Alec MacGillis,

Arizona Regulators Closed a Failing Charter School. It Reopened as a Private Religious School Funded by Taxpayers.

by Eli Hager,

Despite Trump’s Win, School Vouchers Were Again Rejected by Majorities of Voters

by Eli Hager and Jeremy Schwartz,

In a State With School Vouchers for All, Low-Income Families Aren’t Choosing to Use Them

by Eli Hager and Lucas Waldron,

In an Unprecedented Move, Ohio Is Funding the Construction of Private Religious Schools

by Eli Hager,

The Unequal Effects of School Closings

by Alec MacGillis,

School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.

by Eli Hager,

Conservatives Go to War — Against Each Other — Over School Vouchers

by Alec MacGillis,

Texas Is the Largest GOP Stronghold Without Pro-School Voucher Legislation. Gov. Abbott Is on a Crusade to Change That.

by Jeremy Schwartz,

“I Refuse to Be Told What to Do”: Facebook Posts Show a Conservative School Board Member Rejecting Extremism

by Jeremy Schwartz,

Former Far-Right Hard-Liner Says Billionaires Are Using School Board Races to Sow Distrust in Public Education

by Jeremy Schwartz,

The Influential Conservative Group Making it Harder for Idaho Districts to Fix Their Schools

by Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman,

Private Schools, Public Money: School Leaders Are Pushing Parents to Exploit Voucher Programs

by Alec MacGillis,

Skipping School: America’s Hidden Education Crisis

by Alec MacGillis,

What We’re Watching

During Donald Trump’s second presidency, ProPublica will focus on the areas most in need of scrutiny. Here are some of the issues our reporters will be watching — and how to get in touch with them securely.

Learn more about our reporting team. We will continue to share our areas of interest as the news develops.

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Sharon Lerner

I cover health and the environment and the agencies that govern them, including the Environmental Protection Agency.

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Andy Kroll

I cover justice and the rule of law, including the Justice Department, U.S. attorneys and the courts.

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Melissa Sanchez

I report on immigration and labor, and I am based in Chicago.

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Jesse Coburn

I cover housing and transportation, including the companies working in those fields and the regulators overseeing them.

If you don’t have a specific tip or story in mind, we could still use your help. Sign up to be a member of our federal worker source network to stay in touch.

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