The 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina generated extensive national coverage of New Orleans K-12 education reforms.
Excerpt from President Obama’s speech
“Working together, we’ve transformed education in this city. Before the storm, New Orleans public schools were largely broken, leaving generations of low-income kids without a decent education. Today, thanks to parents and educators, school leaders, nonprofits, we’re seeing real gains in achievement, with new schools, more resources to retain and develop and support great teachers and principals. We have data that shows before the storm, the high school graduation rate was 54 percent. Today, it’s up to 73 percent. Before the storm, college enrollment was 37 percent. Today, it’s almost 60 percent. We still have a long way to go, but that is real progress. New Orleans is coming back better and stronger.”
Broadcast Media
Superintendent John White on MSNBC
NBC on the state of schools post Katrina
Roland Martin on Troy Simon, who could not read until age 14 and is now at senior at Bard College
The 74: Videos of Past, Present and Future of New Orleans schools
NBC highlights New Orleans education and includes the YouthRise rally
PBS on New Orleans (Education section starts at the 15 minute mark.)
New York Times video on education (scroll down and watch New Orleans East)
ESPN chronicles Carver’s rebuilding
Alexina Medley, principal of Warren Easton, on progress post storm
Print and Online Media
Jamar McKneely in People Magazine and on People Now
U.S. News and World report on New Orleans teachers, the real heroes post Hurricane Katrina
John White in the Washington Post on how No Child Left Behind can look to New Orleans as a model
Sarah Carr on Slate.com sharing a view of charters in New Orleans
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on progress in New Orleans
Bloomberg on children leading the rebirth in New Orleans
Cokie Roberts highlights schools’ progress
Jonathan Alter on why liberals should learn to love charter schools
Forbes on the dramatic growth of New Orleans charter schools
The Daily Signal reports on TFA alumni in New Orleans
Doug Harris in the Washington Post on the complicated progress of schools in New Orleans
National Geographic on school progress
The New Teacher Project (TNTP) on the lessons we can take from New Orleans
New Orleans STAND parent reports positive news on Dropout Nation
Sivi Domango, school leader of Arthur Ashe, on Black America Web discussing her experiences post-Katrina and in Vibe discussing opening up a charter school post-Katrina
News One on New Orleans 10 years later
Commentary Magazine on Hurricane Katrina’s proudest legacy
Reason.com on how New Orleans charter schools have made real improvements
Education Week Stories
Patrick Dobard on standing up the system
Senator Landrieu discusses how charters are addressing equity
Huffington Post Stories
Former homeless New Orleans College Prep student graduates as valedictorian
Facts that New Orleans school leaders want people to know
Education is one of the bright spots post Katrina
School buildings that were destroyed after Katrina
The Network Journal Stories
Highlighting Jamar McKneely of Inspire NOLA
Interview with Dana Peterson of the RSD
Madame Noir Stories
Highlighting Jahquille Ross, a teacher from Harte Elementary
Interview with the principal of Warren Easton, Alexina Medley
Education Post Stories
Kira Orange-Jones touts educators’ resilience
Anton Brown, former student at New Orleans College Prep, discusses his high school
Negative Coverage
New York Times on the Myth of the New Orleans School Makeover
Responses to the New York Times piece:
Superintendent John White’s open letter to schools and children
Superintendent John White and a parent’s response published in the NYT
International Business Times claims that students are left behind
The Guardian is suspicious of charters in New Orleans
U.S. News and World report: New Orleans charters foster unhelpful competition
The Root believes that charter schools in New Orleans are inequitable
Louisiana charters are the worst according to 2011 NAEP results in Huffington Post