Comments for Educate Now! http://educatenow.net Educate Now! is a non-profit organization dedicated to effective and sustainable reform of New Orleans public schools. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:44:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Voucher Program in Trouble by Leslie Jacobs http://educatenow.net/2011/07/06/voucher-program-in-trouble/#comment-7357 Leslie Jacobs Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:44:41 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2869#comment-7357 An accountability provision was added to the legislation prior to final passage. It is now up to the Department of Education and BESE to determine what standards will be applied to the voucher program (by August 1, 2012). If they adopt a reasonable standard- schools participating in the voucher program are successful in educating their voucher students- then I think we are giving kids better opportunities. I don't see districts defaulting on their bond debt. First, I suspect the number of students participating in the program will be limited, especially if there is reasonable accountability. Secondly, as a district loses revenue (and the students) from the voucher program, they will need to cut expenses. But they will still be obligated to pay the bond debt. The cuts will need to come from other areas. In New Orleans, the student count plummeted after Katrina, but the district still had to pay the bond debt. The bond debt rose to over $1100/student, giving schools less money for the classroom. As the student population has returned, the bond debt is down closer to $800/student- still higher than pre-Katrina levels. An accountability provision was added to the legislation prior to final passage. It is now up to the Department of Education and BESE to determine what standards will be applied to the voucher program (by August 1, 2012). If they adopt a reasonable standard- schools participating in the voucher program are successful in educating their voucher students- then I think we are giving kids better opportunities.

I don’t see districts defaulting on their bond debt. First, I suspect the number of students participating in the program will be limited, especially if there is reasonable accountability. Secondly, as a district loses revenue (and the students) from the voucher program, they will need to cut expenses. But they will still be obligated to pay the bond debt. The cuts will need to come from other areas. In New Orleans, the student count plummeted after Katrina, but the district still had to pay the bond debt. The bond debt rose to over $1100/student, giving schools less money for the classroom. As the student population has returned, the bond debt is down closer to $800/student- still higher than pre-Katrina levels.

]]> Comment on Voucher Program in Trouble by monsignor http://educatenow.net/2011/07/06/voucher-program-in-trouble/#comment-7337 monsignor Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:34:49 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2869#comment-7337 Hi Leslie, I'm assuming you're still with EducateNow. Since Gov Jindal did not want accountability for taxpayer paid tuitions at nonpublic (private) schools, both religious and secular, I wonder if you believe as I that this is the beginning of the dismantling of Louisiana Public School Systems? Also, the local money that I voted to tax myself to build school buildings will be sent to a private school along with the MFP money per child. State Super. John White said that the money for my district will be *deducted* from my school district BEFORE it reaches our district. I see decreased (lowered) bond ratings with some bonds defaulting. Interest rates will be very high. Hi Leslie,

I’m assuming you’re still with EducateNow.

Since Gov Jindal did not want accountability for taxpayer paid tuitions at nonpublic (private) schools, both religious and secular, I wonder if you believe as I that this is the beginning of the dismantling of Louisiana Public School Systems?

Also, the local money that I voted to tax myself to build school buildings will be sent to a private school along with the MFP money per child. State Super. John White said that the money for my district will be *deducted* from my school district BEFORE it reaches our district. I see decreased (lowered) bond ratings with some bonds defaulting. Interest rates will be very high.

]]> Comment on Voucher Program in Trouble by Leslie Jacobs http://educatenow.net/2011/07/06/voucher-program-in-trouble/#comment-6889 Leslie Jacobs Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:41:33 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2869#comment-6889 Educate Now compared the performance of the voucher students to students in the Recovery School District, since the students participating in the scholarship program would have had the RSD schools as their other alternative. The public schools missing from the list are under the oversight of the Orleans Parish School Board, and there is no way to judge other private schools, as private schools do not participate in the state's testing program (LEAP and iLeap). Only those students receiving vouchers are required to take the state's tests. Educate Now compared the performance of the voucher students to students in the Recovery School District, since the students participating in the scholarship program would have had the RSD schools as their other alternative. The public schools missing from the list are under the oversight of the Orleans Parish School Board, and there is no way to judge other private schools, as private schools do not participate in the state’s testing program (LEAP and iLeap). Only those students receiving vouchers are required to take the state’s tests.

]]> Comment on 2005 Test Scores by Lore http://educatenow.net/resources/data-and-analysis/student-test-scores/2005-test-scores/#comment-6854 Lore Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:32:54 +0000 http://educatenow.net/#comment-6854 That's a clever answer to a tricky quesiton That’s a clever answer to a tricky quesiton

]]> Comment on Voucher Program in Trouble by Clark Thompson http://educatenow.net/2011/07/06/voucher-program-in-trouble/#comment-6731 Clark Thompson Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:39:43 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2869#comment-6731 I'm confused by this list: http://educatenow.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2011_Voucher_vs_RSD_Performance_by_School.pdf I note that ISL, Audubon Charter, Lusher, Hynes, and many other Charter Schools are missing from this list. Why? Also, I think it would be of great value to see where the other city private schools stand with respect to these standards. Are they not evaluated by the same standard? I’m confused by this list: http://educatenow.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2011_Voucher_vs_RSD_Performance_by_School.pdf

I note that ISL, Audubon Charter, Lusher, Hynes, and many other Charter Schools are missing from this list. Why? Also, I think it would be of great value to see where the other city private schools stand with respect to these standards. Are they not evaluated by the same standard?

]]> Comment on Senior Graduation Rate Rises Again by Leslie Jacobs http://educatenow.net/2011/06/07/senior-graduation-rate-rises-to-94/#comment-4674 Leslie Jacobs Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:41:15 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2740#comment-4674 Educate Now has the latest drop out data- by school- the department has published: http://educatenow.net/resources/data-and-analysis/dropout-data/ This data is for the 2009-10 school year, and lags the data for the senior graduation rate by one year. Educate Now gets the senior graduation data every spring from the schools, and it is self reported data. If you want to discuss further, email me directly at ljacobs@educatenow.net Educate Now has the latest drop out data- by school- the department has published: http://educatenow.net/resources/data-and-analysis/dropout-data/
This data is for the 2009-10 school year, and lags the data for the senior graduation rate by one year. Educate Now gets the senior graduation data every spring from the schools, and it is self reported data. If you want to discuss further, email me directly at ljacobs@educatenow.net

]]> Comment on Senior Graduation Rate Rises Again by Rachel Meadows http://educatenow.net/2011/06/07/senior-graduation-rate-rises-to-94/#comment-4667 Rachel Meadows Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:21:50 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2740#comment-4667 Hi Leslie, Great analysis. I was wondering if you have data of graduation rates for ALL the schools in New Orleans. I am trying to do an analysis of graduation rates pre- and post- Katrina, and it seems like while there is an overall increase in the percentage of graduating seniors, the number of students graduating is less significant (due to the fact that there are less students overall). I would also be curious in a school-by-school breakdown of graduation rates since I'm sure some are much better than others. Thanks, Rachel Hi Leslie,

Great analysis. I was wondering if you have data of graduation rates for ALL the schools in New Orleans. I am trying to do an analysis of graduation rates pre- and post- Katrina, and it seems like while there is an overall increase in the percentage of graduating seniors, the number of students graduating is less significant (due to the fact that there are less students overall). I would also be curious in a school-by-school breakdown of graduation rates since I’m sure some are much better than others.

Thanks,

Rachel

]]> Comment on Voucher Program in Trouble by Lee Barrios http://educatenow.net/2011/07/06/voucher-program-in-trouble/#comment-4433 Lee Barrios Sat, 20 Aug 2011 05:44:36 +0000 http://educatenow.net/?p=2869#comment-4433 The voucher (so-called scholarship program) program is intended to re-segregate the charter schools by assisting higher performing students to attend private and parochial schools OR to provide a vehicle for removing low performing and special education students to effect an increase in SPS scores for charters. Florida brags that it has passed legislation increasing its voucher program for students with disabilities and has added vouchers for 504 students. The voucher (so-called scholarship program) program is intended to re-segregate the charter schools by assisting higher performing students to attend private and parochial schools OR to provide a vehicle for removing low performing and special education students to effect an increase in SPS scores for charters.

Florida brags that it has passed legislation increasing its voucher program for students with disabilities and has added vouchers for 504 students.

]]> Comment on Contact Us by Leslie Jacobs http://educatenow.net/leslie-jacobs-contact-us/#comment-3896 Leslie Jacobs Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:47:30 +0000 http://localhost:8888/Leslie%20Jacobs/educatenow/www2/?page_id=12#comment-3896 The non public schools in Lourisiana do not particpate in the LEAP tests.. The one exception is that students reciving vouchers are required to take the LEAP tests, and the department of Education publishes the results by school if there are at least 10 students in any grade that took the tests. Educate Now listed the results of schools that met this criteria. Many of the non public schools do administer some type of national test and may be willnig to share the results with you if you ask the school. The non public schools in Lourisiana do not particpate in the LEAP tests.. The one exception is that students reciving vouchers are required to take the LEAP tests, and the department of Education publishes the results by school if there are at least 10 students in any grade that took the tests. Educate Now listed the results of schools that met this criteria.

Many of the non public schools do administer some type of national test and may be willnig to share the results with you if you ask the school.

]]> Comment on Contact Us by Lorain Flynn http://educatenow.net/leslie-jacobs-contact-us/#comment-3875 Lorain Flynn Tue, 09 Aug 2011 02:38:38 +0000 http://localhost:8888/Leslie%20Jacobs/educatenow/www2/?page_id=12#comment-3875 Where can I find out the specific leap scores for Private or Catholic schools? I am looking for a private Christian School called Light City Christian Academy. You show the leap scores for public schools but I can not find out the leap scores anywhere for these private Christian schools. Can you provide me with the leap scores for Light City Christian Academy in Orleans Parish? The school acceps the state voucher. Where can I find out the specific leap scores for Private or Catholic schools? I am looking for a private Christian School called Light City Christian Academy. You show the leap scores for public schools but I can not find out the leap scores anywhere for these private Christian schools. Can you provide me with the leap scores for Light City Christian Academy in Orleans Parish? The school acceps the state voucher.

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