New Orleans in the News
Amazing Recovery
The Recovery School District is remarkable for the gains it has made in student and school performance and also for the fact that state and district leaders have been so willing to give up operational power. Government agencies typically mushroom in size, not downsize, but the RSD has allowed academic and budget decisions to be made by school-based leaders.
Great Expectations in New Orleans
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) conducted a case study of New Orleans schools to determine what lessons could be learned about charter school authorizing. NACSA concluded that New Orleans’ successful authorizing process involves high standards, increased community engagement, and greater accountability. View a quick summary of NACSA’s Lessons Learned.
New Orleans’ Recovery system changes heighten charter school debate, NPR reports
As a new school year begins, NPR’s Claudio Sanchez visited New Orleans schools. He interviewed a school principal, two teachers and the head of the Black Alliance for Educational Options, who discuss the changes they have seen, some of the successes that have come from charters and school choice, and the challenges still faced by New Orleans schools.
First all-charter system set to debut in New Orleans
New Orleans CityBusiness looks at the evolution of the Recovery School District in New Orleans and interviews some of those involved in the nation’s first all-charter district. Patrick Dobard, RSD Superintendent, Jay Altman, CEO of FirstLine Schools, and Jonathan Bertsch, Director of Advocacy for KIPP New Orleans Schools, discuss some of their more difficult challenges as well as their hopes for the future.
New Orleans public schools have seen successes, challenges in past year, new report says
Tulane’s Cowen Institute has released its annual State of Public Education in New Orleans. The report concludes that academic performance in New Orleans continues to improve, and students have better choices than they did before Hurricane Katrina, but the challenges ahead include continued academic growth and ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
Louisiana’s AP Success
Louisiana Students Achieve Top Advanced Placement Gains in State History
In 2014, the number of college credits earned by Louisiana students on Advanced Placement (AP) exams increased by close to 25% – from 5,144 in 2013 to 6,410 in 2014. This is the largest increase in state history. Credits earned by students who score a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP exams are transferable to nearly any college in the nation and all colleges in Louisiana. View AP results by school and district.
Latest on Common Core
The debate over Common Core has moved to the courts. There are now three legal claims making their way through the system.
On Tuesday, the judge heard initial arguments in the lawsuit filed by teachers, parents, charter schools and BESE, alleging Governor Jindal’s interference with Common Core is unconstitutional. There were two main arguments: Do the plaintiffs have standing (the right to sue), and can the governor be deposed?
On Friday, Judge Tim Kelly will hear arguments in the lawsuit filed by 17 legislators against BESE and the Department of Education, alleging they didn’t follow the law in adopting the Common Core Standards.
The governor amended his own lawsuit to invalidate the state’s memorandum of understanding with PARCC. He is now seeking a court injunction to immediately stop the state from using tests tied to Common Core. In the new pleadings, Jindal says, “PARCC is the implementation platform for a carefully orchestrated federal scheme to supervise, direct and control educational curriculum, programs of instruction and instructional materials in direct violation of federal law.”
The announced Republican candidates for Louisiana’s 2015 gubernatorial race have criticized Jindal’s handling of the Common Core debate. U.S. Senator David Vitter says he “strongly supports the Common Core standards,” and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne says the governor is abusing his power in “an outrageous exercise in politics.”
Superintendent John White says the debate over Common Core may imperil Louisiana’s accountability system, including school performance scores, teacher assessments, voucher eligibility, and the state takeover of failing schools. White also said efforts to derail Common Core are “hugely disruptive” to Louisiana’s public schools and pose a “real risk of serious academic and fiscal harm” that may carry a huge price tag.
National Stories
Diversity on the Rise Among TFA Recruits
This year, half of Teach For America’s 5,300 new recruits identify as people of color, versus a national average of 17%. Twenty-two percent of the recruits identified themselves as African American; 47% received Pell Grants, meant for low-income college students; and 33% are coming from graduate school or with prior professional experience.
What Happens on K-12 Policy if Republicans Take Over the U.S. Senate?
Education Week talked to Senator Lamar Alexander about what might happen to education policy if Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate in November. Alexander believes the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) will move much faster in a united Congress. He also believes that the Obama administration’s top priorities, Race to the Top, the Investing in Innovation program, and the School Improvement Grant program will probably go away in a Republican Senate.
A Closer Look at a Math Performance Task From PARCC
Math educators from Maryland review a 4th grade performance task from the PARCC tests and note the level of advanced thinking it requires. Meanwhile, in California, a mathematics professor argues that Common Core math standards represent a huge step backward for her state.
Louisiana Headlines
Iberville schools to sue BESE over state funding of charter
The Iberville Parish School Board has voted to sue BESE to stop the funding of a new Type 2 charter in its district. Iberville says by law MFP must go to parish and city school systems. Editor’s note: This will be a lawsuit for New Orleans to watch. The constitution states that BESE shall, “allocate the funds to parish and city school systems.” Charter schools, while meeting the criteria of being public schools, are not school systems. Types 1, 3, 4 and 5 receive their funding through a school district. Some Type 2 charter schools, however, receive their MFP money directly from the state. (In New Orleans, it’s Lycee Francais, International High School and New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy.) Educate Now! suspects the litigation will likely revolve around the meaning of “allocate.”
BESE to consider career courses
The state Department of Education announced the first 23 Jump Start Graduation Pathways that will be submitted to BESE for formal approval in October. Jump Start pathways are courses of study students can use to earn national industry credentials and the newly crafted Jump Start Career Diploma. Students must take a minimum of 9 course credits in a graduation pathway, which can include high school courses, dual enrollment college courses, internships and industry training, and they must attain industry credentials in their chosen field.
Louisiana education department publishes high school student guide
Louisiana’s education department has released a guide that highlights state policies and programs for counselors, teachers and parents of high school students, including information about planning for struggling students, the state’s accountability system, counseling programs, and ways to receive skills training and advanced college credit. The department is also holding a series of webinars this month for superintendents, principals, teachers and counselors. View the High School Planning Guidebook.
Local News
5 possible futures for New Orleans’ John McDonogh High School
BESE has directed the RSD to work with OPSB and members of the community to come to a decision regarding the now former John McDonogh High School building. At the end of last school year, the Future is Now charter group relinquished its authorization for the failing school, and the building now stands empty. The building is to be renovated, and it is yet to be determined if the RSD will run a school, authorize a new charter or return control of the building to OPSB, which could run a school or authorize its own charter.
New Orleans public school start dates and leadership changes, 2014
The Times-Picayune has compiled a list of school start dates for each of the city’s schools. The list also includes changes in school management or locations for this year.
How one New Orleans neighborhood worked to reopen its school — and lost
This two-part series looks at the Hollygrove neighborhood and its efforts to reopen an elementary school on the Paul L. Dunbar campus. In 2010, RSD Superintendent Paul Vallas signed a letter saying the RSD would support the Choice Foundation’s application for Dunbar. In 2013, the RSD assigned the Dunbar campus to KIPP New Orleans. The RSD recently announced that the Dunbar space would be split between the two charters for two years while one of KIPP’s other locations is renovated, with Choice Foundation taking over the location once KIPP’s renovations are complete.
For a list of other schools that have been reassigned several times, view this article from the Times-Picayune.