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Aliyya Swaby

I write about children, families and inequality in the South.

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What I Cover

I report on issues affecting children and families including education, criminal justice, health care and the social safety net. Recently, I’ve been investigating how states handle threats of mass violence at schools.

My Background

I joined ProPublica’s South unit in 2021, after spending several years covering public education and state politics at The Texas Tribune. My reporting in Texas exposed school officials criminalizing students for vaping, highlighted the state’s role in remote learning failures and drew attention to mental health challenges among young children. My series on the legacy of school segregation in Texas was a Livingston Award finalist. I also won a prize in the 2020 National Awards for Education Reporting for beat reporting that investigated the impact of the coronavirus on Texas public schools.

The Right to Read

How to Fix America’s Confusing Voting System

Voting can be a convoluted obstacle course, especially for those who can’t read. Here are proven ways of fixing the system and enabling millions more voters to participate.

One in Five Americans Struggles to Read. We Want to Understand Why.

This is not only an individual hardship but a societal crisis. We want to look at the root causes that make reading inaccessible for so many people.

COVID-19 Hit This County Hard. A Weakened Health Department Still Can’t Get People Vaccinated.

Clayton County has the highest percentage of Black residents in Georgia and the lowest vaccination rate in the metro Atlanta area. Amid widespread community mistrust, a strained health department struggles to figure out what to do next.

Coronavirus

Has Your School Had a COVID Outbreak? Is Your District Following CDC Guidelines? Help Us Report.

As the Delta variant spreads across the country, ProPublica is reporting on the health and safety of students. Tell ProPublica whether your school is following CDC guidelines and whether any students, faculty or staff have gotten sick.