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.
New Beginnings CEO placed on paid leave during investigation into grade inflation, falsifying records
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
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
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
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
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
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.
Orleans school district wants to shift $10 million from facilities to academics, requiring change to state law
State law requires that money taken from a property tax and a portion of school sales taxes only be used for facility renovation and repair. Also, the district contemplates swapping properties with city housing authority.
Week in Review: The final year in a closing school
Class Dismissed: The final year in a closing school
As teachers and students search for new jobs and schools, resources dwindle and test scores could too. Part two in a series on school closures in New Orleans.
