After the storm

Hello from Erica, Kalyn, and Wellington on Chalkbeat’s national desk. Amid the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton, some schools have already reopened, providing students a much needed sense of normalcy and helping parents return to work or deal with clean-up. But other schools may take weeks or months to reopen. We talked to educators who have been through it before about what to expect in the months and years ahead.?

The big story

Communities across the southeast are still digging out from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Helene, in particular, caused devastating flooding in hilly regions of western North Carolina, and some schools remain closed indefinitely as the search for the missing and dead continues.

Educators who have helped students weather previous disasters told Chalkbeat that recovery is a long road. Students —?and teachers —?can have long-lasting mental health effects after a major natural disaster, and losing a school can feel almost like losing a home.?

Students of different ages may need different types of help to recover, experts said, and students who experienced worse losses or escaped dangerous situations may need extra support.

A 2022 study published by the federal Government Accountability Office about the impact of natural disasters on schools found that “academic recovery generally could not take place until students and staff had begun their emotional recovery.”?

Read the full story here.

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More national stories

Homeless families often turn to extended-stay hotels as a least-bad alternative to sleeping in cars or at shelters. But living in hotels can come with a lot of negative health consequences for children, who may be exposed to mold, overcrowding, and violence. Some schools that serve a large population of homeless students are developing programming to serve these children’s specific needs. That includes some extra care for sleep-deprived students who doze off in class.?

Local stories to watch

• Philadelphia’s foray into "year-round" schooling has focused on expanding before- and after-school programming, not reshaping the academic calendar. The mayor has touted the initiative as a new vision for the city’s schools and the fulfillment of a campaign promise. But so far it’s mostly provided greater access to programs that already existed. Families and educators say they’re grateful for the additional slots, but they wish they had better communication about what exactly “year-round” school entails.
• New York City’s teachers union is raising big concerns about a new math curriculum that de-emphasizes memorization and practice. The union opposition stands in contrast to its support for the city’s literacy curriculum overhaul. The debate over Illustrative Math, which is also used in Philadelphia and many other districts, reflects broader disagreements about the best way to teach students math.
• Colorado may stop allowing religiously affiliated preschools that participate in the state’s public preschool program to reserve seats for congregation members. The state is considering the rule change in response to a lawsuit brought by Catholic preschools that wanted to accept public money without agreeing to non-discrimination requirements. The legal case is ongoing, but a judge already has questioned whether the congregation preference raises equal access concerns. The case could reach the U.S. Supreme Court.