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Jessica Calefati

Jessica

Jessica Calefati is an education investigative reporter for The Baltimore Banner focused on what Maryland kids need to be successful in school, college and careers. She previously covered Johns Hopkins University for the Banner. Before that, she covered colleges, universities and workforce development for POLITICO. For nearly 15 years, Jessica has been writing about students and families, working first in New Jersey, later in California, and then in Pennsylvania. At The Star-Ledger, her hometown paper, she covered Chris Christie and Cory Booker’s campaign to transform Newark’s struggling school system. At The Mercury News in California, Jessica investigated a chain of online charter schools that turned a profit while failing to educate students. And at The Philadelphia Inquirer, she exposed staggering levels of teacher turnover at schools serving vulnerable children. Jessica graduated from George Washington University with a degree in journalism and political science. Her work has been recognized by the Gerald Loeb Awards, the National Headliner Awards, the Keystone Media Awards, the Society of Professional Journalists NorCal, the New Jersey Press Association and others. Jessica lives in Washington with her husband and daughter. She’s also a certified yoga instructor and hopes to teach in Baltimore.

The latest from Jessica Calefati

Pocomoke High School math teacher La'Tier Evans helps a student with an algebra assignment in her classroom on Friday, Dec. 8, 2023 in Pocomoke City, MD. Evans was inspired to teach after having a Black teacher in the eighth grade, and is now Worcester County’s only Black secondary math teacher.
After years of low test scores, Maryland schools will change the way they teach math
Maryland education leaders want to get more kids taking advanced math sooner.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 17: U.S. President Donald Trump departs after speaking with reporters in the Grand Foyer during a tour at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after leading a board meeting on March 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. After shunning the annual Kennedy Center Honors during his first term in the White House, Trump fired the center’s president, removed the bipartisan board of Biden appointees and named himself Chairman of the storied music, theater and dance institution.
Trump singles out Baltimore’s math scores as he dismantles U.S. Education Department
The president conflated an Algebra I test with “basic mathematics.”
The Grill at Harryman House is shutting down after nearly 40 years in business: ‘Tears me to shreds’
The establishment’s longtime proprietor said he was devastated that he could not keep the business going.
The Department of Human Services building on South Charles Street in Baltimore.
Fewer Maryland children are dying from abuse or neglect than originally reported
Corrected data show deaths still exceed the national average.
Del. Susan McComas, a Harford County Republican, at the Maryland State House in 2024.
Maryland child welfare agency backs bill to boost transparency on abuse deaths
In a submitted letter, an agency official wrote that the bill aligns well with the Moore administration’s goal to prioritize transparency, honesty and openness. Last year, another agency official expressed concern about a similar bill.
Penalties recommended for child welfare agency over missing data on foster kids, deaths
Concerns about the reliability of the agency’s data emerged after The Banner questioned the growing number of child maltreatment fatalities in Maryland that had seemingly gone unnoticed by elected officials. Worry about the accuracy of human services data has widened since then.
Maryland recorded an alarming rise in child deaths from abuse and neglect. No one noticed.
As many as 83 Maryland children died from abuse or neglect in 2023, making the state’s published rate of child maltreatment fatalities among the worst in the nation.
Under the proposed plan, students would no longer be separated into math classes of different levels in pre-K through second grade.
Maryland could ax advanced math classes in elementary schools
Top education officials want to overhaul how the subject is taught after years of poor test scores.
Anne Arundel Police detain two suspects in Meade High School stabbing
It was not immediately clear whether the suspects are fellow students.
Favour J. speaks about national politics with Baltimore Banner reporter Jessica Calefati at Academy for College and Career Exploration, in Baltimore, Monday January 13, 2025.
What do Baltimore teens think about national politics? We asked them.
Concerned. Disappointed. Terrified. Those are a few of the words high school students used to describe their reactions.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell presented his budget at a school board meeting on Wednesday.
Anne Arundel schools chief wants to spend more on special education, teacher planning time
The school system’s budget is 9% larger than last year’s, despite warnings of state budget shortfall.
The state board of education wants a more public buy-in and consistent format for the exams.
Maryland schools will get new standardized tests. Here’s what to expect.
The state board of education wants a more public buy-in and consistent format for the exams.
Westowne Elementary students in Catonsville practice reading with an AI instruction program called Amira.
How an AI bot helps Baltimore County kids learn to read
School officials say the tool is closing learning gaps at record speed, even as literacy advocates raise concerns about screens.
Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said his office does not release evidence to the public when an investigation is ongoing or a trial is pending.
Baltimore state’s attorney won’t release records on child who starved to death
Despite pressure from lawmakers, the Byrd family’s interactions with Child Protective Services remain confidential.
Zona Byrd
A little girl starved to death in Baltimore. Why did no one help her?
Five-year-old Zona Byrd’s parents face first-degree murder and child abuse charges.
A city sanitation worker died after being injured while on duty, according to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
DPW worker dies from injuries sustained while collecting trash in West Baltimore
A city sanitation worker died after being injured while on duty, according to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works.
Five of the races are head-to-head matchups against candidates with dramatically different visions for the school system.
What to know about Anne Arundel County school board candidates
Five of the races are head-to-head matchups against candidates with visions for the school system that can differ dramatically.
Library and campus of the University of Maryland located in College Park, MD.
University of Maryland can’t cancel Gaza vigil, federal judge rules
A federal judge on Tuesday granted a University of Maryland student group’s request for an injunction — with a few conditions.
Photograph of long low building with unconventional church spire and cross, with empty parking lot in front. Outside of building is labeled "Greater Grace Church."
Greater Grace leaders name organization to lead sex abuse investigation
Greater Grace officials announced that they had selected an evangelical nonprofit, GRACE, to lead an independent investigation of sexual abuse in the church.
Survivors of Greater Grace and their loved ones held a protest outside the Baltimore campus Friday.
Greater Grace church vows to probe its handling of sex abuse allegations, publicize the findings
The East Baltimore-based church expects to select a firm in the next few weeks and anticipates the work could take up to six months. Pastor Robert Colban's empathetic tone Sunday marked a departure from the more defensive sermons delivered by another pastor in response to a Baltimore Banner series of articles.
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