Jessie Gomez
Reporter, Chalkbeat Newark
Jessie Gomez is a Reporter at Chalkbeat Newark covering Newark Public Schools. She is a proud Latina and first-generation college student with experience covering local communities and Black and Latino communities. Jessie was previously a reporter at The Record/Northjersey.com covering Morris and Bergen County communities in New Jersey. Before that, Jessie had a one-year fellowship at MuckRock, a non-profit news site based in Boston, focused on public records law and FOIA work. Jessie also has experience in political communications, broadcast and digital media.
The number of students in need of summer school increased this year partly because of state standardized test scores that showed Newark students scoring low in math and reading, the district said.
In March, the Newark Board of Education filed an appeal over the state’s decision to approve North Star Academy’s charter school expansion, one of the largest charter school networks in the city with six elementary, six middle, and two high schools.
As security surveillance technology evolves in schools, experts say oversight and community discussions of its implementation should grow too.
Paula White, executive director of JerseyCAN, a statewide education advocacy organization, explains the “reading crisis” among children in New Jersey and the need for a state plan.
Five years after the Newark school system returned to local control, newly elected Board of Education members were officially sworn in at Thursday’s reorganization meeting.
Shabazz’s company, Legacy Inc., “Everybody Has One,” will continue to provide consultancy services for the Newark School of Global Studies and Malcolm X Shabazz High Schools.
State education leaders voted to change the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment passing scores to 725, down from the original 750 scores.
The district will hold mandatory summer classes for struggling students, programming for students with disabilities, and optional activities for all students led by community partners.
Three Newark candidates win a spot to oversee New Jersey’s largest school district but concerns remain about low turnout.
This year, Newark residents voted for three candidates among eight running for school board, including two incumbents vying to keep their seats and six individuals hoping to secure a spot.
Districts nationwide have also invested significant portions of their budgets and federal relief funds to upgrade school security measures as worries over student safety grow.
The state Department of Education recommended lowering the passing score but some board members worried that could reduce career and college readiness.
The awards were made with the help of the New Jersey Justice Collaborative for Girls, a state-funded leadership and advocacy program for young women.
Newark residents will cast their vote in April for next school year’s $1.3 billion budget blueprint that also boosts spending for English language learners.
The Newark Teachers Union is researching why some employees were excluded from a $1,000 “Let’s Go To Work” payment announced during the annual convocation held at the start of the school year.
Newark voters will pick from a list of new and returning candidates when they cast their ballots on April 25.
As a young girl, Nubia Lumumba recruited kids in her neighborhood for her makeshift school in her backyard. Today, she’s the teacher of her own high school classroom where she aims to connect with students on a deeper level.
Last year, the state adopted a higher passing score than one recommended by education officials, but promised to review the results to determine if New Jersey should lower the benchmark for juniors this year.
The state shut down University Heights Charter School last summer due to low test scores, declining enrollment, and an unstable leadership team.
Emails obtained by Chalkbeat Newark show the growing tensions among students and pleas from frustrated teachers and a parent asking school leaders to stop and prevent racist harassment on campus.
In New Jersey, a school can be identified as needing comprehensive, targeted, or additional targeted support and improvement. Additional federal funds are provided to these schools to help raise student achievement.
On Thursday, the school board approved four motions to pay attorney’s fees for board members served with ethics complaints.
Gov. Phil Murphy and Newark leaders announced 26 schools in New Jersey will teach AP African American Studies next year.
With only 3% of voters participating in last year’s school board election, Newark based group Project Ready hopes to increase this year’s turnout.
Newark Public Schools continues to average a 91% daily attendance rate but schools with high average daily attendance may still have a core group of chronically absent students.
Researchers find racial and wealth disparities in diagnoses, and call for more research and services.
Trust for Public Land and Congregation Ahavas Sholom will build a playground at Lincoln Elementary School at no cost to Newark Public Schools.
An attempt by board member Crystal Williams to halt the extension of Roger Leon’s contract to 2028 drew no support from other board members.
During Newark Board of Education’s retreat meeting, Board President Dawn Haynes addressed questions about the Superintendent’s contract.
A new partnership between Newark and the Devils Youth Foundation aims to raise attendance in four high schools.