Month: February 2012

News Alert: BESE Approves Major Changes to the MFP

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Yesterday, BESE approved an MFP resolution that now goes to the legislature to be voted upon.

The resolution approved yesterday includes some major changes that align with the Governor’s K-12 reform agenda. The underlying philosophy of these changes is the money to educate a child should follow that child to a broader array of education providers – not just public elementary and secondary schools.

Background on the MFP: The MFP stands for the Minimum Foundation Plan and is the formula that provides the funding for public schools in Louisiana. It includes the local share (local property and sales taxes dedicated to K-12 education) as well as the state share (money paid by the state.) BESE approves an MFP resolution every year, which the legislature can only vote to approve or reject – they cannot amend it.

STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS (VOUCHERS)

If the legislature votes in favor of this resolution, Student Scholarships will be included in the MFP. The pilot voucher program in New Orleans was funded with state dollars outside of the MFP and had to be annually appropriated by the legislature. By including the vouchers in the MFP, the scholarships will now be funded using both state and local revenues and have the constitutional funding protection provided by the MFP. Continue reading →

In the News: A Clipping Service – February 27, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

  • RSD Headlines
  • Enrollment Begins for 2012-13
  • National Education Stories
  • Louisiana’s Education Leaders in the News
  • Governor’s Reform Agenda

RSD Headlines

Recovery School District Releases ‘Equity Report’
Associated Press – February 15, 2012
The RSD has released a new Equity Report that provides information on schools by categories, such as graduation rates, academic performance, and enrollment of students with disabilities. View Equity Reports for each individual RSD school.

Continue reading →

Schools More Diverse; High Poverty Stays the Same

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Orleans Public School Enrollment Continues to Climb with Increase in Diversity and Charter Choice

  • New Orleans continues its steady increase in enrollment, growing from 39,877 students last year to 42,030 this year.
  • The student population continues to diversify, with the percentage of non-African American students growing to 13.7% this year, up from 11.3% last year and 6.6% before Katrina.
  • The percentage of students attending charter schools increased sizably, from 71% last year to 77.5% this year
  • The percent of students qualifying for free and reduced lunch has remained fairly constant – 83.5% – and is more than 16 percentage points higher than the state average.

View student enrollment for OPSB and RSD by year and by sub-group (white, black, free, reduced).


View the Oct 1 student enrollment by school.

For more information on children in New Orleans, read this report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. It includes demographic and socio-economic data as well as information on educational achievement.