(29 entries)

Judge: Deb Kollars, education reporter, Sacramento Bee
Kollars won the Education Writers Association's 1998 Fred M. Hechinger Grand Prize for Distinguished Education Reporting for her investigative series looking at how California school districts artificially lower their dropout rates by not reporting all students who left.

First Place
MARISA SAMUELSON
Tucson Citizen
"Probes target Sabino records"
"Congratulations on a strong, unflinching package. The stories were carefully documented, fair and balanced, and well-organized and easy to follow."

Second Place
LORI BAKER and JIM GINTONIO
The Arizona Republic
"School Districts Pass the Trash"
"A thorough and well-written package on an important and obviously timely subject."

Third Place
BEVERLY MEDLYN
The Arizona Republic
"State Crushing Kids' Dreams"
"A strong and focused story, with an excellent top and clear writing throughout."