Jessie Gómez

Jessie Gómez

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 latest set of state standardized test results highlight the ongoing efforts needed to help students refine English language arts and math skills following pandemic-era learning disruptions.

Newark Public Schools was granted a federal extension allowing school districts to wrap up projects funded by federal COVID relief dollars as it continues to deal with its facilities needs.

Los estudiantes de inglés representan más de una cuarta parte de la matrícula del distrito este año escolar. Los líderes del distrito están trabajando para contratar más maestros bilingües que se comuniquen en diferentes idiomas.

A 2012 settlement agreement required Newark Public Schools to reach 95% compliance with federal and state timelines for identifying and evaluating students with disabilities.

The number of Newark Public Schools students in need of special education services is rising. During the first week of school, some students with disabilities missed class due to enrollment issues.

Newark Public Schools officials had planned to have the cameras installed by Aug. 31 before the start of the new school year. But challenges in connecting the required cabling through school buildings are delaying the project, sources say.

This year, Newark’s nearly 40,000 students were expected to arrive at school by 8:15 a.m. Students felt a mix of excitement and nervousness as they embarked on a new year.

More than 40,000 students are expected to return to classrooms next week and, under a new schedule this year, can expect a longer school day.

Más de 170 estudiantes y exalumnos de Newark compartieron las barreras que les impidieron ir a la escuela y permanecer allí. El Newark Opportunity Youth Network publicó las conversaciones en un portal en línea.

English language learners make up more than a quarter of the district’s enrollment this school year. District leaders are working to hire more bilingual teachers who communicate in different languages.