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

OPSB rolls forward property tax rate, adopts new process for charter approvals

by Marta JewsonSeptember 17, 2020September 17, 2020

In COVID-19 update, officials say that about 38 percent of students have opted to stay home.

Coronavirus

Backpacks, masks and temperature checks: NOLA Public Schools’ youngest students return to the classroom

by Marta JewsonSeptember 17, 2020September 17, 2020

Twelve New Orleans public schools are reopening for in-person classes this week. Students have been at home since March.

Coronavirus

Virtual learning resumes Wednesday, NOLA Public Schools announces

by Marta JewsonSeptember 15, 2020September 15, 2020

Hurricane Sally delayed the district’s plan to return to in-person learning. Schools can open to students Thursday.

Coronavirus

NOLA Public Schools cancels virtual class Tuesday due to Hurricane Sally

by Marta JewsonSeptember 14, 2020September 14, 2020

The first three days of in-person class had already been cancelled. The storm is expected to linger over the Gulf Coast on Tuesday.

Coronavirus

City, NOLA public schools to remain in phase two, as rest of state moves into phase three

by Marta JewsonSeptember 10, 2020December 18, 2020

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the state will move to phase 3 Friday, but details were limited.

Coronavirus

Schools forge ahead with reopening, but watching data closely after Labor Day crowds

by Marta JewsonSeptember 8, 2020September 8, 2020

Pre-kindergarten through fourth grade students will return to public schools Sept. 14 through Sept. 25.

Coronavirus

Emails: 25 school employees at 19 New Orleans public schools have tested positive for coronavirus over summer

by Marta JewsonSeptember 4, 2020September 4, 2020

The NOLA Public Schools district is set to begin its phased in-person reopening in a little over a week.

Coronavirus

NOLA Public schools no longer focused on daily case counts to make reopening decisions

by Marta JewsonSeptember 3, 2020December 18, 2020

The news comes as the city has seen an increase in new daily cases over the past week. The district says it is shifting its focus to testing positivity rates, which remain low.