Investigative Reporter - Education

images and flyers of missing indigenous people fill poster boards outside a grassroots organization that is working to help indigenous people affected by the arizona's response to medicaid fraud

Patients, advocates describe ‘pure chaos’ in state response to AHCCCS fraud

by Hannah Bassett and Maria Polletta November 2, 2023November 1, 2023

The state’s failure to adequately anticipate the impact of widespread suspensions among behavioral health providers has put members of an already susceptible population at further risk of relapse, abuse, homelessness and even death as operators shut down.

A student at El Dorado High School in Chandler, Ariz., uses a pencil to take a quiz during the 2022 fall semester. The charter school does not suspend students for attendance violations, a practice that is pervasive in other schools throughout Arizona. Photo by Isaac Stone Simonelli | AZCIR

Proposed bill to ban suspensions for attendance violations falls short

by Maria Polletta and Tara García Mathewson June 14, 2023August 18, 2023

Tyequan Colkey, 19, es un estudiante de 12º grado de El Dorado High School, una preparatoria chárter de Chandler, Ariz., que no suspende a los estudiantes por infracciones de asistencia. Isaac Stone Simonelli | AZCIR

Muchas escuelas encuentran modos de resolver el problema del ausentismo sin suspensiones

by Tara García Mathewson and Maria Polletta December 16, 2022January 25, 2023

Tyequan Colkey, 19, is a senior at El Dorado High School, a charter high school in Chandler, Ariz., that does not suspend students for attendance violations. The school helped turn around Colkey’s history of absenteeism. Photo by Isaac Stone Simonelli | AZCIR

In wake of pandemic, some districts take less-punitive approach to absenteeism

by Tara García Mathewson and Maria Polletta December 13, 2022December 14, 2022

Camilla Forte | The Hechinger Report

Derechos civiles en riesgo: Estudiantes afroamericanos y latinos son suspendidos más por faltar a clase

by Tara García Mathewson, Maria Polletta and Fazil Khan December 9, 2022January 25, 2023