Jonaki Mehta
Jonaki Mehta is an LA-based NPR correspondent covering education with a focus on students with learning differences. Mehta has covered discrimination against students with disabilities, the benefits of integrating disabled students into general education classrooms, and the integral role federal dollars play in rural school communities.
Before joining NPR's Education Desk, Mehta was a producer for All Things Considered. She has covered breaking news stories around the country about reproductive rights, hurricanes, deadly wildfires, and mass protests. She was part of the award-winning team that told stories from Taiwan, exploring issues of identity as the island faced a consequential election. She also produced stories in Ukraine in the days leading up to Russia's invasion. As the show's west-coast producer, she covered nature, culture, and music across California — including as a founding member of the show's "First-time Grammy nominees" series.
Mehta attended undergrad at UCLA where she found her love for radio stories, hosting a news and culture talk-show. She has worked for Marketplace, LAist, and a number of publications as a freelance producer and reporter. She was once a kindergarten teacher in Oakland, California, which instilled in her the utmost respect for educators.
Sign up for the NPR Ed Newsletter, sent weekly.
-
House of Nanking has long been known for simple and fresh homestyle multi-regional Chinese food. Now, Peter and Kathy Fang are sharing their story and culinary secrets in a new cookbook. -
Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students. -
As the situation in Gaza becomes more and more dire, with reports of people dying from starvation, NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Israel's Permanent Representative to the U.N. Danny Danon. -
ICE raids have led to fear and anxiety for immigrants in Los Angeles. That fear extends even to those who are in the U.S. legally, keeping many away from public life. -
Schools in Maine have been at the center of a political battle with the Trump administration. Now, many fear after-school programs, critical for low-income communities, could be lost. -
International students make up more than a quarter of Harvard University's student body. Harvard says the government's actions, which could cut off a major revenue stream, are "unlawful." -
From hundreds of entries, our judges chose one student's intimate telling of the value of lifelong friendships and being single as the grand-prize winner of the NPR College Podcast Challenge. -
Schools in Maine are in the middle of a political and legal battle between the Trump administration and Gov. Janet Mills. Key programs for the most vulnerable students are at stake. -
The Education Department says millions of borrowers in default will have a chance to make a payment or sign up for a repayment plan. But on May 5, those who don't will be referred for collection. -
A presidential effort to revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status could run up against a number of challenges, including violating federal law.
