Maureen Downey

Atlanta

Education Blogger and Columnist at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

I write. I blog. I do it for @AJC. Learn more: https://t.co/fku01KNcfp Join me in discussing today's education issues around Georgia and across the nation.

Featured in: Favicon

ajc.com (+1) Favicon

seattletimes.com Favicon

mercurynews.com Favicon

newsday.com Favicon

thestar.com.my Favicon

denverpost.com Favicon

statesman.com Favicon

orlandosentinel.com Favicon

koreatimes.co.kr Favicon

charlotteobserver.com + 114 more

Articles

‘Noblest enterprise’ has been a privilege to chronicle

2 months ago | lasvegassun.com | Maureen Downey

I began covering schools as a young reporter fresh out of graduate school. Now I am an old reporter with enough mileage to retire. After 46 years in the news business, I’m writing my last education column. Covering education has been a privilege and the most important work I’ve done. The changes I’ve witnessed — the rise of computers and the internet’s transformation of social and commercial interaction — have been mind-boggling.
My last words on education

Jan 5, 2025 | ledger-enquirer.com | Maureen Downey
Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Dec 16, 2024 | thederrick.com | Maureen Downey

ATLANTA — School choice advocates blame the decisive defeats of major ballot referendums on vouchers in three states this year on the campaign spending and propaganda by opponents. Yet, even in deep red Kentucky and Nebraska, where overwhelming majorities of the electorate endorsed Donald Trump, voters broke with Republican orthodoxy and rebuffed vouchers. Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Dec 16, 2024 | heraldonline.com | Maureen Downey
Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Dec 16, 2024 | bnd.com | Maureen Downey
Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Dec 16, 2024 | ledger-enquirer.com | Maureen Downey
Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Dec 16, 2024 | mercedsunstar.com | Maureen Downey
Georgia won't attain gold-standard in education under current funding formula

Dec 8, 2024 | ajc.com | Maureen Downey

What makes the Georgia Gold Dome shimmer is its 24-karat gold leaf — no fillers, no dilution, no watered-down components. The same can’t be said about the political debates under the dome, where the arguments often build on murky assertions and thin evidence. That’s especially true in education matters where emotion and anecdote now prevail over fact and reality.
Second Trump term means more political attacks on public education

Dec 4, 2024 | chronicle-tribune.com | Maureen Downey

When I began covering education in Georgia 28 years ago, most legislation focused on proven drivers of student success including teacher quality, relevant curriculum and adequate funding. State education reform commissions pondered such questions as middle school design, high school size and ideal pupil-teacher ratios. Today, legislators talk more about school bathrooms, book bans and pronouns, issues that don’t bolster academic achievement but do rile up voters.
New report: Georgia laws on crime contribute to school-to-prison pipeline

Dec 2, 2024 | ajc.com | Maureen Downey

Former Gov. Zell Miller is most often remembered for the monumental HOPE Scholarship that sent more Georgia students to college at a minimal cost. A report on the school-to-prison pipeline released Tuesday contends Miller also sent more teens to prison as a result of changes to the juvenile justice systemthat remain in place today.

Contact details

Emails

[email protected]

Socials & Sites

Try JournoFinder For Free

Search and contact over 1M+ journalist profiles, browse 100M+ articles, and unlock powerful PR tools.

Start Your 7-Day Free Trial →

X (formerly Twitter)

Followers: 10K
Tweets: 10K
DMs Open: No

Maureen Downey @AJCGetSchooled

11 Apr 25

Teacher loses job after video shows racial epithet written in classroom https://t.co/fUNmS0RHb2

Maureen Downey @AJCGetSchooled

10 Apr 25

ICE revokes international student visas of four people at Emory University https://t.co/xlNKne1UHV

Maureen Downey @AJCGetSchooled

10 Apr 25

Parents: Here are the key education bills that passed this legislative session https://t.co/vUJk7a3vuw

Maureen Downey

Articles

‘Noblest enterprise’ has been a privilege to chronicle

My last words on education

Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Rocky rollout of Georgia private school vouchers is just beginning of challenges

Georgia won't attain gold-standard in education under current funding formula

Second Trump term means more political attacks on public education

New report: Georgia laws on crime contribute to school-to-prison pipeline

Contact details

Emails

Socials & Sites

X (formerly Twitter)