Marta Jewson, Author at The Lens

Author Archives: Marta Jewson

Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned to New Orleans in the fall of 2014 after covering education for the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in journalism and social welfare and a concentration in educational policy studies.

Jewson has covered New Orleans schools for 15 years through the nation's largest education reform experiment. She was a founding member of the outlet's Charter School Reporting Corps and was instrumental in holding schools accountable to sunshine laws during the rapid expansion of charter schools in the city.

Schools

Low attendance at Superintendent search firm’s community meetings

by Marta JewsonJanuary 12, 2022January 12, 2022

The meetings were held virtually due to a rise in COVID-19 cases in the city.

Coronavirus

New Orleans schools shatter weekly record with 2,233 COVID-19 cases reported

by Marta JewsonJanuary 10, 2022January 11, 2022

The school district is not calling for remote learning, though several schools have independently decided to pivot to virtual instruction.

Government & Politics

Council approves measure to give Mayor’s Office a say on education grants

by Marta JewsonJanuary 7, 2022January 7, 2022

Harrah’s Fund dollars previously went to the Orleans Parish School Board. But the city has other educational priorities.

Coronavirus

Amid COVID-19 surge, Algiers Charter reverts to remote learning

by Marta JewsonJanuary 5, 2022January 5, 2022

The NOLA Public Schools district is tracking 136 COVID-19 winter break cases and 451 people are quarantining. Those numbers don’t include tests taken this week.

Schools

Another New Orleans charter school will close due to low enrollment

by Marta JewsonJanuary 4, 2022May 26, 2022

IDEA Oscar Dunn is the second school this week that officials have said will close due to enrollment problems. The school opened in 2019 and has operated through three pandemic school years.

Schools

First school closure announced as NOLA Public Schools tackles ‘right-sizing’ amid declining enrollment

by Marta JewsonJanuary 3, 2022May 26, 2022

FirstLine’s Live Oak elementary school will close at the end of the school year. FirstLine took over the school in 2018 but officials say it has struggled with under enrollment.

Schools

More details on NOLA Public Schools officials’ ‘right-sizing’ plan to come in January

by Marta JewsonDecember 29, 2021May 26, 2022

Population growth in New Orleans has not kept up with the expansion of charter schools over the past decade. District officials are considering consolidations and possible closures to address the problem.