Author: Marta Jewson
- About 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.
NOLA schools chief: Initial Kennedy HS investigation ‘inconclusive,’ though later findings ‘a different story’
The district’s long-awaited report on the scandal that led to half the school's senior class being unable to graduate on time is five pages long and light on details.
Law firm hired to investigate Kennedy HS quickly ruled initial grade changing allegations untrue
It's unclear how Adams and Reese attorneys reached the conclusion. And one official from Kennedy's charter board suggested that opinions have since changed.
KIPP approaching limit on how many students a charter school operator can enroll
The three top operators had nearly 30 percent of OPSB students last year. And KIPP, the largest, is expanding.
Charter group may lose Coghill school, six other charters face renewal
Seven New Orleans charter schools are up for renewal this winter as their charter contracts come to an end.
Kennedy HS working to avoid repeat of 2019 graduation scandal, charter network official tells board
New Beginnings CEO Kevin George said he believes the problems discovered at Kennedy are not unique to the school. The New Orleans school district has promised a citywide audit of high school records.
New Beginnings CFO, director of student services out as Kennedy HS investigations continue
The charter school network has lost eight administrators since last spring, when widespread problems at Kennedy began to come to light.
NOLA Public Schools holding four community meetings on plans for school buildings, district properties
District officials will present plans for long-term and surplus property and take input from the public at four meetings over the next two weeks.
State special education monitoring errors could impact federal consent decree over New Orleans schools
The Louisiana Department of Education calls the problem a “selection error” and states that because eventually more schools than required were monitored it shouldn’t be a problem. Southern Poverty Law Center lawyers disagree.
Lead-removal filters for Orleans Parish school kitchens on tap next
The district's three-year long project to install lead-removal filters at school drinking fountains is nearly complete. Charter schools will be in charge of replacing those filters. The district is now exploring kitchen filters.
