Sarah Carr
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Director, Spencer fellowship @columbiajourn. Author bit.ly/HopeHope re Nola schools. Prev: @muobrien; edu editor @bostonglobe; editor @teacher_project.
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Articles by Sarah Carr
Developmental screening outside the doctor’s office
Like many parents, I remember visits to the pediatrician’s office in my daughter’s earliest years as overwhelming — a swirl of weights and measurements, rushed conversations about sleep training, breastfeeding and tummy time, all while trying to keep the featured attraction (my wiggly baby) from derailing everything. The visits felt especially cramped when someone handed me a heavy electronic tablet with prompts to answer what seemed like an endless list of questions about my daughter.
Most kids miss recommended screening for autism, speech delays
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - During the first year and a half of her son's life, Valerie Gregory did everything she could to help him thrive: She read to him, talked to him, showed up for wellness checks, and whenever possible took him to a weekly playgroup, where both mother and son had the chance to socialize with peers.
Most kids miss recommended screening for autism, speech delays
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — During the first year and a half of her son’s life, Valerie Gregory did everything she could to help him thrive: She read to him, talked to him, showed up for wellness checks, and whenever possible took him to a weekly playgroup, where both mother and son had the chance to socialize with peers.
Most kids miss recommended screening for autism, speech delays
Two babies play together at “Books, Balls, Blocks,” a family event hosted by Help Me Grow Onondaga and the Early Childhood Alliance at Syracuse’s Betts Branch Library last spring. The event is part of a broad effort to expand access to developmental screening in New York. Credit: Amy Toensing for The Hechinger Report The Hechinger Report covers one topic: education. Sign up for our newsletters to have stories delivered to your inbox. Consider becoming a member to support our nonprofit journalism.
How children became this city’s lead detectors
How children became this city’s lead detectors When a doctor told Domininck Tompkins that her 1-year-old’s lead level was too high, she immediately suspected her child was being poisoned at their home, a poorly maintained rental with chipping paint. A few weeks later, when her landlord pulled up in her truck to collect the rent, Tompkins told the woman about a letter from the city confirming that lead detected in her daughter’s body posed significant health risks for the girl.
How children became this city’s lead detectors
In Milwaukee, a child’s blood test is too often the first housing inspection This story about children and lead poisoning was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. It was copublished and supported by the journalism nonprofit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
How children became this city's lead detectors
This story was copublished and supported by the journalism nonprofit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project MILWAUKEE - When a doctor told Domininck Tompkins that her 1-year-old's lead level was too high, she immediately suspected her child was being poisoned at their home, a poorly maintained rental with chipping paint.
How Children Became a City’s Lead Detectors
Milwaukee parent Domininck Tompkins has lived in rental units with lead hazards for many years. (Darren Hauck for The Hechinger Report) Society / June 18, 2026 How Children Became a City’s Lead Detectors In Milwaukee, a child’s blood test is too often the first housing inspection. Ad Policy This story about children and lead poisoning was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education.
Early intervention services for young children boost later test scores
A first-of-its-kind study has found that early intervention services — which can include occupational, physical and speech therapies, among others — improve children’s test scores, even years down the road. The study, conducted jointly by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and the New York City Health Department, showed that children who received the services between birth and age 3 outperformed similar peers on third grade reading and math tests.
Without school vaccine mandates, many kids may never see a doctor
Every December brings an end-of-year crush to Washington, D.C.âs pediatric clinics. In addition to the usual culprits â colds, the flu, RSV â thatâs also the time when the city school district issues notices reminding parents of children who are behind on required vaccinations to get caught up by December 8, or risk being turned away from school. For Dr. Megan Prior, a pediatrician in the district, the vaccine rush brings an opportunity to catch families up on more than shots.
Without school vaccine mandates, many kids may never see a doctor
Every December brings an end-of-year crush to Washington, D.C.’s pediatric clinics. In addition to the usual culprits — colds, the flu, RSV — that’s also the time when the city school district issues notices reminding parents of children who are behind on required vaccinations to get caught up by December 8, or risk being turned away from school.
Without school vaccine mandates, many kids may never see a doctor
Every December brings an end-of-year crush to Washington, D.C.'s pediatric clinics. In addition to the usual culprits - colds, the flu, RSV - that's also the time when the city school district issues notices reminding parents of children who are behind on required vaccinations to get caught up by December 8, or risk being turned away from school. For Dr. Megan Prior, a pediatrician in the district, the vaccine rush brings an opportunity to catch families up on more than shots.
5 early ed highlights from 2025
In the nearly 13 years since I wrote my first early childhood story for The Hechinger Report, I have never experienced a year quite like 2025. From the gutting of federal early childhood offices to threats to Head Start and the deeply felt ramifications of aggressive federal immigration enforcement, news on the early ed beat felt constant - and especially urgent - this year.
Can gifted testing spot potential in young children?
In New Orleans, a few hundred dollars could once help a family buy a “gifted” designation for their preschooler. As an education reporter for the city’s Times-Picayune newspaper several years ago, I discovered that there was a two-tiered system for determining whether 3-year-olds met that mark, which, in New Orleans, entitled them to gifted-only prekindergarten programs at a few of the city’s most highly sought-after public schools.
How young is too young for gifted testing?
In New Orleans, a few hundred dollars could once help a family buy a "gifted" designation for their preschooler. As an education reporter for the city's Times-Picayune newspaper several years ago, I discovered that there was a two-tiered system for determining whether 3-year-olds met that mark, which, in New Orleans, entitled them to gifted-only prekindergarten programs at a few of the city's most highly sought-after public schools.
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