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Author: Jessica Williams

About Jessica Williams
Jessica Williams stays on top of the city's loosely organized collection of public schools, with a special emphasis on charter schools. In 2011 she was recognized by the Press Club of New Orleans for her reporting on charter school transparency and governance. In 2012, she was part of a team that received a National Edward R. Murrow Award for their work following a New Orleans family's recovery after Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Edna Karr Secondary School in Algiers, and she obtained her bachelor

Head of charter school association criticizes Cedric Richmond for voting against expanded charter funding

May 28, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
Bill would expand who could apply for federal grants to expand and improve charters.

State releases elementary and middle-school standardized test scores

May 27, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
How did your school do?

Louisiana follows experts’ tips to prevent, detect standardized test cheating

May 21, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
Shortcomings are in the number of computers in schools and charters that investigate themselves.

Plagiarism on standardized tests three times higher in New Orleans schools than rest of Louisiana

May 21, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
New Orleans schools continue to have a higher rate of plagiarism on standardized tests than the rest of the state. Two factors could be at play: There could be a greater pressure to succeed, and there are more low-scorers in big cities.

How The Lens reported our latest story on standardized testing in New Orleans

May 21, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
Even using method preferred by the state, New Orleans is an outlier.

College entrance rate: city public high grads edge past statewide peers

May 20, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
Nearly 70 percent of 2012 graduates of New Orleans public high schools went on to college, new data show.

Fact-check: Landrieu’s account of improving New Orleans schools mostly accurate

May 19, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
The schools in the Recovery School District have shown the most improvement.

$26,000 vanishes from charter group’s student activities fund; NOPD on the case

May 13, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
New Foundations board replenishes the account; student activities will not be impaired.

Audio: Louisiana teachers to be judged more based on students’ performance on tests

May 13, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
A researcher says Louisiana's system for measuring teacher effectiveness is one of the best in the country.

Audio: Teachers prep for standardized tests to ensure they follow rules

May 12, 2014 Updated November 7, 2019
An inside look at how teachers at Success Prep got ready.

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The Lens fights to reveal and report on issues that impact the community and the region. Staunchly defending the public's right to know and deeply committed to sharing our knowledge with the community at large. We center human impact in all our work.
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