After a major graduation scandal, the New Beginnings Schools Foundation is giving up its charters for Kennedy High and Capdau Charter, an elementary school. The KIPP network is interested in taking both over.
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.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Kira Orange Jones qualified to run for BESE after judge denies challenge
The challenge was based on outstanding 2015 and 2017 state taxes. Jones filed them the day before qualifying for reelection.
Posted inSchools
Kennedy HS student says he was unofficially sent home for months, describes what civil rights lawyer calls ‘blatant’ special education violations
Nicole Jones said her son was sent home after Thanksgiving break to learn on a school laptop at home, a placement that may have been done illegally.
Posted inSchools
Warren Easton football coaches battered student with ‘Big Freedia’ paddle, lawsuit says
The lawsuit says the alleged incidents caused the student lasting harm.
Posted inSchools
Fewer than half of Kennedy HS seniors who took summer courses now cleared to graduate, board president says
A review found that about 90 seniors from the class of 2019 were found ineligible to graduate. Some have been taking summer courses to graduate before the new school year begins, but only 24 of 53 have been cleared to move on by the state.
Posted inSchools
Judge denies request to produce Kennedy HS transcripts; problems at school ‘worse than we thought,’ says plaintiffs’ lawyer
A Louisiana Department of Education employee said New Beginnings was not providing all the documentation needed to certify students. Even students who took summer classes are unsure if they have earned enough credits.
Posted inSchools
A mother’s year-long fight for a gifted test reveals charters don’t have to offer services
The state department of education said charter schools are exempt from state statutes for gifted students, but they receive money extra for gifted students.
Posted inSchools
Kennedy HS lawsuit delayed in ‘shell game’, lawyer says
The hearing will likely be held Tuesday, but students’ lawyer Suzette Bagneris argues time is of the essence as students may be losing scholarships and financial aid opportunities.
Posted inSchools
School zone enforcement begins after some New Orleans schools start
School zone cameras will begin issuing tickets on Aug. 12 but lower speeds can be enforced if school is in session.
Posted inSchools
Nearly all school water fountains have lead-removal filters, district says
Three years after the district first promised to test for lead in school water, 95 percent of drinking fountains have lead-removal filters.