Month: July 2012

In the News – July 27, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

  • RSD Adopts Expulsion Policy
  • Voucher Accountability Approved
  • Voucher Lawsuit Status
  • Community Colleges – Working to Improve Results
  • A Look at Virtual Schools
  • Other National Education Stories
  • More Local News

RSD Adopts Expulsion Policy

Recovery School District to List Behaviors that Could Get Students Expelled
Times-Picayune – July 16, 2012
To improve consistency and transparency among its schools, including its charter schools, the RSD has developed a new expulsion policy with a list of expellable offences and a uniform procedure for handling complaints and hearings. The RSD has also developed an issue reporting process for parents.  Continue reading →

Proposed Accountability Plan for Voucher Schools Released

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Superintendent White has issued his proposed standards 
for Academic Accountability for Voucher Schools.

BESE will meet tomorrow (Tuesday, July 24th) at 11:00 am to vote on Superintendent White’s Proposed Policy for the Voucher Program.

Educate Now! supports these policy recommendations and strongly urges BESE to approve them.

Quick Summary

Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year:

  • Schools with fewer than 10 voucher students in a tested grade and with fewer than a total of 40 voucher students enrolled in tested grades (3-11) will have their test results reported by grade (if more than 10 students) and by program (all students tested if more than 10 total). Continue reading →

End of Course Test Results Are In

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Earlier this month, the state released the results of the End of Course tests (EOCs).

Background Info on End of Course Tests

Louisiana has phased out the Graduation Exit Exam (GEE) and replaced it with EOCs.

  • The graduating class of 2014 must pass at least three EOCs to graduate: English II or English III, Algebra I or Geometry, and Biology or American History. *
  • EOCs count for at least 15% of a student’s grade in the course.
  • School Performance Scores will now be calculated using EOC results instead of the GEE.

Results by School

Some schools outperformed the state average in the percent of students considered proficient (scoring Excellent or Good). Ben Franklin and Lusher – both selective admission schools – outperformed the state in all 4 subjects – Algebra I, English II, Geometry and Biology. Warren Easton and Sci Academy out performed in 3 of the 4 subjects. Continue reading →

In the News: A Clipping Service – July 16, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News

  • New Orleans in the National Spotlight
  • End of Course Test Results Are In
  • Voucher Updates
  • National Education News
  • Technology Lacking in LA Schools
  • Local Stories

New Orleans in the National Spotlight

U.S. Top Education Official: N.O. Doing ‘Fantastic’ with Improvements
WWL TV – July 12, 2012
According to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, New Orleans is doing “a fantastic job” at improving schools and student performance, but we have to remain vigilant about closing failing schools.  Continue reading →

News Alert: University Presidents Sound the Call

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

 At 2:00 pm today, the presidents of New Orleans’ universities
and colleges issued the following call to service.  

Xavier Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The leaders of Tulane University, Loyola University, Xavier University, Dillard University and Our Lady of Holy Cross College issued a “call to service” urging the city’s most qualified and visionary leaders to vie for seats in the Nov. 6 Orleans Parish School Board election. All seven school board seats will be on the ballot. Continue reading →

A Tale of Two Schools: Voucher Performance

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Performance is uneven in traditional public schools. Performance is uneven in charter schools. It should come as no surprise that performance is uneven in nonpublic schools.

Let’s look at two schools participating in the Orleans voucher pilot: St. Leo the Great and Upperroom Bible Church Academy.

  • Last year, St. Leo had 136 voucher students; Upperroom Bible had 74.
  • Both began participation 4 years ago, beginning with students in grades K-3.
  • Both had more than 60% of their total student population receiving vouchers.
  • Students enrolling in either school from grades 1 and up came from a failing school.
  • Students at both schools took the same state tests – iLeap and LEAP.

But the similarities stop here. Continue reading →

In the News: A Clipping Service – July 2, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

We’re Number 1

Brookings Metro Monitor Ranks N.O. #1 in Economic Recovery
Brookings Institution – June 27, 2012
A Brookings Institution report about the United States economic recovery ranks the New Orleans metropolitan area number 1 for overall recovery, number one in employment recovery, and number 2 in output (GDP) recovery for the first quarter of 2012.  Continue reading →