In Struggle To Fix Special Education, Texas Charter Schools Still Lag Behind
Houston Public Media
This story uncovers gaps in services for students with disabilities at Texas charter schools. It was part of a four-part investigative series about special education in Texas, which was named best radio series in 2020 by the Barbara Jordan Media Awards. The awards recognize journalism that accurately and positively reports on individuals with disabilities.
How Harvey And The Move To End DACA Interrupted One Houston Student's College Plan
Here & Now / Houston Public Media
For a year, Laura followed one Houston high school’s ambitious endeavor to create a new model for school, after it won a $10 million dollar grant from the XQ Institute. Along the way, Laura told stories about innovative classes, the longtime principal’s storied career -- and unexpected ouster -- and the impact of real world events on students.
Many Pakistani Kids Must Mix Work With School
Here & Now / Houston Public Media
Laura traveled to Pakistan with the Internatinal Center for Journalists’ U.S.-Pakistan Journalists Exchange. During the fellowship, she and other U.S. journalists visited Pakistani newsrooms, nonprofits and advocacy groups. Laura reported from Karachi and produced two features about education in Pakistan, which aired on NPR and WBUR’s Here & Now.
Inside the Classroom: Two Students At Two High Schools Talk About Extreme Contrasts
Houston Public Media
Laura launched the series “Inside the Classroom” to feature what educator looks and feels like for the people who experience it the most: students, educators and parents. The intimate, non-narrated audio portraits follow a StoryCorps style and drew a lot of positive feedback from listeners who shared “driveway moments.” This piece with two students at markedly different schools was featured in a presentation at the Education Writers Association’s National Seminar in 2016.
How Parents Search for Opportunities for Their Children And Find Different Results
Houston Public Media
This piece was part of a series called “Fair or Falling Short?” It examined how Texas pays for public schools and inequities in the system. Laura produced the series through a fellowship from “The Equity Reporting Project: Restoring the Promise of Education,” which was developed by Renaissance Journalism with funding from the Ford Foundation.