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Author: Marta Jewson

About Marta Jewson
Marta Jewson is an independent reporter based in New Orleans. Marta has covered New Orleans schools for 15 years through the nation's largest education reform experiment and was instrumental in holding schools accountable to sunshine laws during the rapid expansion of charter schools in the city. She focuses on education, health and climate. She earned her journalism degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Kennedy High School voided 144 state exams last year, after giving wrong test

April 10, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
The school had, by far, the most tests voided due to irregularities of any school in the state. A lawyer for Kennedy's charter group said the issue will be added to an ongoing investigation into other problems, including alleged grade-fixing.

Harney’s emergency bathroom repairs complete, school district says

April 5, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
The school district is leaving portable toilets on campus as a precaution.

Lead filter installation now nearly complete at Plessy Community School

April 4, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
The move comes one week after a 7th-grader’s water test prompted action. Dozens of other New Orleans public schools are still waiting for lead filters.

Students at school slated for closure face yet another hurdle: no bathrooms

April 3, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019

New Beginnings CEO placed on paid leave during investigation into grade inflation, falsifying records

April 1, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
Law firm will investigate grade changes at Kennedy High School and allegations that CEO falsified board records related to a lucrative bus contract.

School district delays lead water filter installation at French Quarter school

April 1, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
Orleans district promised Monday installation at Plessy after a test performed by a student found possible contaminants. But the filters won’t work properly without booster pumps. The district says about 16 schools need the pumps.

New Orleans 7th grader’s lead test results prompt district to speed up filter installation at French Quarter school

March 29, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
The district’s pledge to install filters in all schools has been delayed several times.

Parent says Bricolage Academy’s new aftercare policies exclude special education students

March 28, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
The charter school’s board gave Bricolage’s CEO an April 15 deadline for a report on special education services. A lawyer says schools must include children with disabilities in after-school programs.

Orleans school district continuing to look into Kennedy grade changes

March 28, 2019 Updated November 7, 2019
The district previously found no evidence of wrongdoing. But officials have received new information prompting them to take another look.

F to D grade changes at Kennedy High School are suspicious, former administrator says

March 22, 2019 Updated January 10, 2020
Runell King says he discovered evidence that Kennedy employees improperly inflated students' grades. He sent it to top administrators and was fired soon after. The CEO of the school's charter network denies the allegations, saying the changes were made to correct a software error.

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