2023-24

2022-2023

Four veteran education journalists joined Columbia Journalism School for the 2022-2023 academic year as the newest group of Spencer Education Journalism Fellows to study and produce significant works of education journalism. This class of 2023 brings a depth of professional experience to the fellowship, which was launched with Spencer Foundation support 15 years ago to enhance education journalism with deep research.

2021-22

2020-2021

Four distinguished journalists were selected for the next group of Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting for the 2020-2021 academic year, the first year Columbia Journalism School has expanded its traditional residential fellowship to include two non-residential options.

2019-2020

Four distinguished journalists were selected for the next group of Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting for the 2019-2020 academic year. The fellows come from a variety of backgrounds and diverse news organizations to study at Columbia and work on significant works of journalism. This year’s group plans to examine demographic shifts in American suburban school districts, connections between school desegregation policies and affirmative action in higher education, and rural education challenges in both Mississippi and Wisconsin. The winners were chosen by a distinguished board (link is external) of journalists and education scholars after a competitive application process.

2018-2019

Columbia Journalism School recently selected four award-winning journalists as the next class of Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting for the 2018-2019 academic year. They will work on significant projects examining outmigration of black students from urban centers, English language learners in New York City and on Long Island, and the impact of race, class and politics on children’s learning. The new fellows are Kalyn Belsha of the Chicago Reporter, Emmanuel Felton of The Hechinger Report, Kyle Spencer, an independent education journalist, and Alexandra Starr, a freelance radio reporter.

2017-2018

Columbia Journalism School unveiled the next cohort of Spencer Fellows who will be pursuing ambitious projects examining education for black boys, the funding behind the education technology world, school reform and segregation in Florida, and school turnarounds in Brazil. The fellows are Nick Chiles, author and former education reporter for New York Newsday and Newark Star Ledger, Cara Fitzpatrick of the Tampa Bay Times, Antonio Gois of O Globo in Brazil, and Audrey Watters, book author and writer for hackeducation.com.

2016-2017

Columbia Journalism School has named four journalists as the 2016-2017 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects exploring big data and education, immigrant education, school segregation, and the charter and national standards movement in the U.S. and Brazil. The fellows are education journalists Jill Barshay of the Hechinger Report, Jo Napolitano of Newsday, Patrick Wall of Chalkbeat New York, and Fabio Takahashi of Folha de S. Paulo.

2015-2016

Columbia Journalism School has named three journalists as the 2015-2016 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects exploring the standards movement, voucher schools and new approaches to Standard English Learners. The fellows are teacher and magazine writer Sara Mosle, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel education reporter Erin Richards, and LA School Report journalist Vanessa Romo.

2014-2015

Columbia Journalism School has named three journalists as the 2014-2015 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects that will examine school choice and neighborhoods, the intersection of poverty and education, and the state of education for Americans with disabilities. A distinguished board of education scholars and journalists selected the fellows in a competitive application process.

2013-2014

Columbia Journalism School has named three journalists as the 2013- 2014 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects that will examine the impact of evaluating teacher preparation programs, the Obama administration’s competitive grant programs, and why American undergraduates are not learning critical thinking skills in their college years. A distinguished board of education experts and journalists selected the fellows in a competitive application process.

2012-2013

The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism named three education journalists as the 2012-2013 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects that will examine the growing influence of Advanced Placement curricula, the links between Community Colleges and current education reform efforts, and a broad look at the corruption of accountability measures.

2011-2012

The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism today named three education journalists as the 2011-2012 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects that will examine battles over textbooks and curriculum in Texas, the role of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in public schools, and the most effective ways for students to learn math and science.

2010-2011

Columbia Journalism School has named three education journalists as the 2010-11 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting to pursue projects that will examine the charter school revolution in New Orleans, various teacher assessment reforms in Colorado, and the science and policies of teaching parents and children how to read.

2009-2010

Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism named three New York journalists as the 2009-10 Spencer Fellows in Education Reporting based on projects that will explore issues about resilience and gifted education, desegregation in Louisville, KY., and the overhaul of New York City’s public school system under mayoral control.

2008-2009

Three veteran journalists were selected last March as the Journalism School’s 2008 Spencer Education Journalism Fellows. Each fellow received a $75,000 stipend to work on a major education reporting project during the 2008 academic year.