In this edition of In the News:
- School Revolution
- National Spotlight on Louisiana
- Don’t Shortchange Our Children
- Superintendents in the News
- National Education Stories
- Louisiana Updates
- Local News
- More Good News
School Revolution
The Big Easy’s School Revolution
Washington Post – April 27, 2012
After examining the impressive progress made by New Orleans schools since Katrina, the Washington Post asks the question: In districts where schools are horribly failing, why should it take a natural disaster to return power to parents and educators?
Why The Next Big Ideas In Education Will Come Out Of New Orleans
Fast Company – April 17, 2012
In New Orleans, a strong desire for educational reform, the abundance of charter schools, and the expanding entrepreneurial spirit have made the city a hotbed of creativity that is generating new ideas to change education.
National Spotlight on Louisiana
The national news continues to report on Louisiana’s education reform and new laws that will change teacher tenure, greatly expand school vouchers, and increase the potential number of charter schools. The Economist’s Governor Jindal Extends His Reach and Marketplace’s Louisiana Schools to Undergo Major Reforms are just two examples of recent national coverage.
Don’t Shortchange Our Children
Last October, the Orleans Parish School Board was the only government agency in New Orleans to vote against rolling forward (or increasing) the millage tax rate. As a result, our school system lost $4.8 million in funding, roughly $40,000 per school, and $100 per student. On May 15, the OPSB will vote on this issue for next year. Stand for Children has started a petition to the OPSB asking them to roll forward the millage and bring much needed resources to our public schools. Show your support and add your name to the list.
Superintendents in the News
Analysis: Education Revamp Hands Power to White
New Orleans CityBusiness – April 16, 2012
By approving Gov. Jindal’s education reform legislation, Louisiana lawmakers have handed over a vast amount of power and regulatory authority to State Superintendent John White, his department, and BESE to determine performance standards for the new programs and to devise how they will operate.
ABCs of Economic Renewal
Wall Street Journal – April 18, 2012
Former RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas has taken on a new challenge – turning around failing schools in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While the district is much smaller than New Orleans, if Vallas does well there, he could have a pretty big impact. Success in Bridgeport, a cash-strapped city with strong unions, could inspire reform in other, similar cities with failing schools.
National Education Stories
Advocates Worry Implementation Could Derail Common Core
Education Week – April 23, 2012
The Common Core Standards face their biggest challenge yet: implementation. The success of the standards will depend largely on how they are put into practice. Teachers need to be trained in how to teach the new standards; new instructional materials need to be developed; and new assessments must be designed.
1 in 2 New Graduates are Jobless or Underemployed
Associated Press – April 23, 2012
A recent analysis of young college graduates shows that about 1.5 million bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 (53.6%) are jobless or underemployed, the highest percentage in at least 11 years.
Louisiana Updates
School ‘Achievement Zone’ Proposed for North BR
The Advocate – April 28, 2012
The Louisiana Department of Education is creating a special “Baton Rouge Achievement Zone” aimed at turning around low-performing public schools in the Baton Rouge area. This New Orleans-style special zone will initially be made up of nine low performing schools, which will be run by the RSD. The RSD could begin converting six of these schools to charters as early as the fall of 2013. Read the DOE press release.
Education Leaders Advance Initiatives to Expand College and Career Ready Opportunities for High School Students
Louisiana Department of Education – April 17, 2012
Beginning next school year, the state will implement several new measures to improve college and career ready opportunities for high school students.
- The state will fund the cost of administrating a series of ACT tests to all public school students enrolled in grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.
- The state will provide funds to train approximately 350 teachers to teach AP courses. Through a federal grant and state 8(g) funding, Louisiana will fund 8,500 AP test administrations for low-income students.
- The state will also encourage and support districts and high schools in applying for TOPS Tech Early Start funding, which is available for high school students who enroll in Industry-Based Occupational or Vocational Education Credential programs in top demand occupations.
Second Voucher Plan Clears Legislature, Heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Desk
Times-Picayune – April 24, 2012
Another new voucher law, sponsored by Rep. Talbot, will allow corporations and individuals to receive dollar for dollar rebates for contributions they make to nonprofits that grant private-school tuition scholarships to low-income students. Note: Earlier, Educate Now! reported incorrectly that scholarship recipients did not have to take state tests, but the law does require them to take the English and math state tests.
Screening of Charter School Operators Will Be Opened Up, State Agency Promises
Times-Picayune – April 19, 2012
New changes to the Louisiana Department of Education’s charter approval process will address complaints that the process often excludes community-based groups. In the future, each of the four-person review teams from the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) will include at least one local member. In addition, applicants will have a chance to respond in writing to comments from NACSA before the department sends its recommendations to BESE.
Local News
West Bank Charter Group May Manage Harte and Karr Another Year
Times-Picayune – April 27, 2012
The Orleans Parish School Board has the charter for Alice Harte Elementary School and Edna Karr High School, but from the beginning they have contracted with the Algiers Charter School Association (ASCA) to run the schools. ACSA’s contract is up for renewal, and ACSA wants it extended for four years, but the OPSB has only offered two. If they can’t come to some agreement, another charter operator will have to be chosen. In the meantime, ACSA has agreed to run the schools until 2013.
Carver High School Alumni Demand a Say in the Future of their New Orleans School
Times-Picayune – April 22, 2012
Some alumni of Carver High School along with local community members are angry about the RSD’s plans to phase out the old Carver (a failing school) and bring in one of the city’s proven charter operators to start a new program on the Carver site. They recently protested outside the school when they learned the RSD had hired a new principal without consulting them to run the old Carver as it is phased out.
New Orleans Charter School Selected for Obama’s Arts Push
Times-Picayune – April 23, 2012
Batiste Cultural Arts Academy, a K-8 charter school, is one of eight schools in the country chosen for President Obama’s arts education drive. Over the next two years, Batiste will receive intensive arts education resources, expertise, and the involvement of high-profile artists.
Too Many New Orleans Children Numb to Violence: Jarvis DeBerry
Times-Picayune – April 24, 2012
When RSD Superintendent Patrick Dobard arrived on the scene after shots were fired into a school bus, he found the students sitting calmly on the bus. Dobard found it amazing but also sad. “Shootings are so prevalent,” he said. “It’s like they’ve been desensitized.”
Former Mayor Marc Morial to Address Students at Sophie Wright School
Times-Picayune – April 26, 2012
Former Mayor Marc Morial addressed students at Sophie B. Wright Charter School last week. Morial is now the president of the National Urban League, and his visit to Sophie B. Wright was part of the Urban League’s kickoff for their 2012 national conference, which will be held in New Orleans in July.
Fishman Prize Winners Announced
The New Teacher Project – April 30, 2012
Educate Now! congratulates Jamie Irish and Whitney Henderson of KIPP Central City Academy for winning the national Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice. The Fishman Prize is awarded annually by The New Teacher Project to no more than five public school teachers. Winners must demonstrate exceptionally effective teaching with students from high-poverty communities. Each will be recognized with a $25,000 award.
More Good News
After Educate Now! sent out our email on Tuesday, we learned of more good news about the class of 2012 – 100% of Miller McCoy Academy’s 72 graduating seniors were accepted to college, 70 to four-year colleges. Congratulations to Miller McCoy’s class of 2012 for your remarkable achievement.
Educate Now! would like to hear more about the success of your students. If you have a story to share, email me at ljacobs@educatenow.net.