This shocking series by Cara Fitzpatrick, Lisa Gartner and Michael LaForgia, with haunting photos by Dirk Shadd, revealed that “black children in Pinellas County are failing at higher rates than black children in virtually any other school district in Florida.” Focusing on five elementary schools in black neighborhoods, the study painted a picture of a school board either oblivious to the problems or inclined to blame them on the cycle of poverty, while schools in comparably disadvantaged areas of the state were instituting programs that helped students succeed. Pinellas Superintendent Mike Grego responded candidly to the story, suggesting that the problems will be addressed. Thanks to the exhaustive research and pointed questions of a team of excellent journalists, he has a mandate to start.
This article appears in Sep 24-30, 2015.