Looking to New Orleans
New Orleans school reform could serve as model for KCPS
KSHB Kansas City – February 17, 2014
The education think tank CEE-Trust has developed a plan for taking over Kansas City Public Schools (should the state of Missouri choose to intervene) that borrows heavily from New Orleans – decentralizing school control and giving educators the freedom to run schools as they choose while holding them to strong performance accountability standards.
‘Educare New Orleans’ a poster program for closing the education gap
Minnesota Post – February 17, 2014
The Minnesota Post says Educare New Orleans could serve as a model for high-quality early childhood education. The 27,000-square-foot facility, located on the site of the former St. Bernard housing project in Gentilly, opened in October and serves 150 low-income children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years and their families. Educare is a national program with 19 early childhood centers throughout the country.
Bard early college high schools, coming soon to Cleveland, treat students and education seriously: Sneak peek from New Orleans
Plain Dealer – February 16, 2014
Bard College plans to expand its early college program to Cleveland, Ohio in the fall. Cleveland’s Plain Dealer newspaper visited one of Bard’s early college locations in New Orleans to see what happens when high school students take college-level courses as part of their normal school day.
National audience to get a look at city’s high school marchers
The Advocate – February 21, 2014
The CBS show “48 Hours” is streaming the New Orleans documentary “The Whole Gritty City” on its website. The documentary tells the story of three marching bands as they push to prepare for Mardi Gras and highlights the importance of marching bands in the lives of New Orleans students. View the documentary.
NBA, students transform New Orleans high school
Times-Picayune – February 14, 2014
Joseph S. Clark High School was chosen by the NBA for one of its NBA Cares events leading up to the All-Star Game. The school received a room of new weight machines, 30 computers, and new time clocks for the gym. In addition players from the NBA and WNBA, along with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Mayor Mitch Landrieu, helped students and volunteers paint murals on walls and spruce up the school grounds.
Appreciating the Differences
The Connection between Choice and Humility
Education Next – February 13, 2014
In response to criticism directed at Collegiate Academies, Neerav Kingsland argues that the ultimate goal of the New Orleans public education system isn’t uniformity; it’s diversity. School choice allows families to pick the school that is best for their children, and the fact that Collegiate’s Sci Academy is one of the most in-demand schools in the city shows that, for many, Collegiate is a good fit.
New Orleans charter teacher criticizes same school another teacher praised
Times-Picayune – February 11, 2014
Just a few days after Meredith Simons wrote her article blasting the discipline policies at other New Orleans charter networks, teacher Rebecca Radding wrote a blog post criticizing Simons’ own school, KIPP McDonogh 15, for its rigid class structure and discipline policies. Radding taught at KIPP McDonogh 15 for three years before joining the staff at Ben Franklin elementary.
Editor’s note: Enough already! KIPP McDonogh 15 elementary, Ben Franklin Elementary, and Sci Academy are all “B” schools and are in high demand. Educate Now! urges educators to respect that there are different and equally successful school cultures and ways of educating students, and not all students and families, nor all teachers, want the same type of school. Parents and teachers can choose the school that best fits their needs.
Louisiana Headlines
Early Common Core testing will be a jarring wake-up call – what then?
The Lens – February 12, 2014
When Louisiana students first take high-stakes exams aligned with the Common Core curriculum, it is likely that no more than 3 out of 10 will achieve proficiency. When this happens, Louisiana will have three choices: 1) abandon Common Core; 2) accept the consequences and label 70% percent of students failing, most teachers unsatisfactory, and nearly all schools with an F; or 3) report the performance results but delay accountability. Neerav Kinsland of New Schools for New Orleans says Louisiana’s choice to implement higher Common Core standards, report the results, but delay accountability is the right one.
Private school enrollment falls 5% in Louisiana, even more in New Orleans, Baton Rouge areas
Times-Picayune – February 13, 2014
This article analyzes public and private school enrollment in the state and region over the last decade. Across the state, private school enrollment has fallen slightly more than public school enrollment. Within the Greater New Orleans/Baton Rouge region, private school enrollment has fallen much more than public enrollment and has been slower to rebound since Katrina.
Special-education rules spark advocate arguments
The Advocate – February 21, 2014
Special education advocates are proposing that Louisiana change its graduation standards for special needs students. Louisiana has stricter standards than other states, including passage on state tests that can pose major hurdles. Under their proposed plan, IEP teams would decide whether students should move to the next grade based on whether their performance on state assessments meets expectations. The proposal is backed by the Louisiana Association of Special Education Administrators and Families Helping Families of Greater Baton Rouge.
Monroe judge again rules Jindal teacher tenure law unconstitutional
Times-Picayune – February 21, 2014
A District Judge in Monroe reviewed his 2013 ruling on Act 1 and the teacher tenure law and determined that his earlier ruling was correct. Judge Benjamin Jones said parts of Act 1 are unconstitutional because the law does not provide for a full and fair due process hearing for teachers post-termination. Jones was forced to re-visit his decision after the state Supreme Court vacated it in January saying the state Attorney General didn’t have the opportunity to properly participate in the case.
State certifies 3 language immersion schools
Associated Press – February 19, 2014
The Louisiana Department of Education has certified three schools as world language immersion schools based on overall excellence in offering high-quality, highly effective world language immersion learning and teaching. Congratulations to the International School of Louisiana, located in New Orleans, for receiving this certification.
National Stories
Obama’s ConnectED Initiative Gets Major FCC, Corporate Financial Support
Education Week – February 14, 2014
Seven companies, including Apple, AT&T and Sprint, have pledged more than $750 million in goods and services toward President Obama’s ConnectED initiative to bring high-speed Internet and technology into classrooms. In addition, $2 billion in funding from the FCC’s E-rate program will be repurposed to connect more than 15,000 schools to high-speed broadband.
‘Virtually No Difference’
Inside Higher Ed – February 19, 2014
The largest study of students at colleges that don’t require SAT or ACT scores found that high school grades are a better predictor of college success than test scores. The study involved 123,000 students at 33 colleges and universities and found that students with low high school grades but high test scores generally received low college grades, while those with high grades in high school but low test scores generally received high grades in college.
Study Finds Years in School Matter More Than High School Diploma
Education Week – February 10, 2014
A recent study compared two groups of students – those that barely passed their high school exit exams and earned a diploma and those that barely failed the tests and did not earn a diploma. The two groups ended up earning virtually the same amount of money, suggesting that schooling and the ability to remain in school are more meaningful than merely possessing the high school diploma credential.
Local News
Children wait for school buses along some of New Orleans’ busiest thoroughfares
The Lens – February 12, 2014
In the wake of the death of Shaud Wilson, the Akili Academy first-grader who was killed crossing the street to get to his bus stop, The Lens examined about 80 school bus routes for nine schools and found many stops are on the busiest roads in the city, including South Claiborne, Elysian Fields, and Canal Street. Students are crossing major intersections without crossing guards.
City Council promises New Orleans school transportation task force after 6-year-old’s death
Times-Picayune – February 12, 2014
The New Orleans City Council has promised to form a task force to research ways the city could help schools to transport students to and from school more safely. Initial ideas include ensuring all school zones are properly marked, legislation mandating cameras on every bus and a monitor to serve as a crossing guard and prevent crimes, and developing a more centralized transportation system.
With OneApp, New Orleans students try to toot their way into Algiers school
Times-Picayune – February 21, 2014
To accommodate the new OneApp schools with selective admission requirements, this year’s schedule included an early December application deadline for 11 selective programs at 5 schools. OneApp received 811 applications for these early-deadline programs, including language immersion programs at Lycee Francais, the International School, and the International High School, as well as McDonogh 35’s STEM Magnet Academy (a school within a school) and Edna Karr High School’s band program.
All in the family: Bus exec slapped with $5,000 fine for contract from his sister
The Lens – February 20, 2014
Bobby Hardrick, owner of BCH Services Group, admitted to violating state ethics laws when he entered into a school transportation contract with his sister Tiffany Hardrick while she was principal at Miller McCoy. It is not known whether the state is also investigating Tiffany Hardrick for her role in awarding the contract.
Announcements
Future of School Challenge
4.0 Schools and New Schools for New Orleans, with support from Khan Academy, have launched the $250K Future of School Challenge with the goal of encouraging innovators and entrepreneurs to develop a radically new, student-centered model for schools. Participants will receive training, mentoring, and funding to help develop their ideas, and at least one team will receive an Incubation Fellowship to help open their new school in New Orleans in the fall of 2016. For more information, visit www.futureofschool.org.
Charter schools teacher fair is March 22 in New Orleans
The 8th annual New Orleans Charter Schools Teacher Fair will be held Saturday, March 22 at Hynes Charter School. Teachers who are interested in interviewing with charter schools from across Louisiana can register online at the Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools website. School principals and administrators who would like to participate can also sign up online.