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 charter schools face daunting task of attracting enough students to stay afloat
New Orleans’ nearly all-charter school system is built on competition, and for new schools, that means competing with established schools for students. State funding is based on enrollment, so falling short can put a new school in financial trouble.
Milestone charter and state school board squabble over CEO credit-card incident
School chief resigned after improperly running up $13,000 bill.
Parents forum at Dillard highlighted frustration with, appreciation for, schools
Organizers hope local voices will be included in national conversation about charter schools.
Public works boss says department fixes school lights when public complains
Presentation to council follows two citywide surveys of warning signs by The Lens.
Historic switch today to School Board highlights changes in New Orleans schools
MLK charter is the first eligible school to choose Orleans Parish School Board oversight.
Lusher asks Attorney General if it must release the name of its admissions test
CEO Kathy Riedlinger says some parents could gain access to the test if they know its name.
ReNEW CEO encouraged retesting of students so network could get grant
Two school leaders at SciTech resigned last month for testing irregularities.
Lens asks judge to reconsider his ruling in public-records case against city and mayor
Civil District Court judge said the law is not "hard, fast and definite."
Orleans Parish schools superintendent to give direct-run schools more autonomy
With only five traditional schools left, new chief is cutting central office staff.