Author: Leslie Jacobs

In the News: A Clipping Service – May 3, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

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? Continue reading →

A Cause for Hope

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

As we struggle to build a better future for our youth, it is important that we take time to recognize the large and small successes that transpire in our schools every day.

Just this past week, two of our open-admissions high schools have given us reason to celebrate. Sci Academy held a Senior Signing Day to honor the accomplishments of its first graduating senior class. Over 94% of their 55 graduates were accepted to a 4-year college. And Lake Area New Tech Early College High School reported that 100% of their 125 graduates were accepted to either a 2 or 4-year college. Continue reading →

News Alert: Darryl Kilbert to Resign as OPSB Superintendent

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Darryl Kilbert has announced that on June 30, 2012 he will be stepping down as Superintendent of Orleans Parish Schools due to health reasons.

For six years, Mr. Kilbert has served as Superintendent for the the Orleans Parish School Board, leading the small group of schools left to the OPSB after the state takeover post-Katrina. This now includes 17 schools – 11 charters and 6 traditional schools. In the years since Mr. Kilbert took over, the district’s financial position has gone from near-bankruptcy to earning a top-notch credit rating.

Mr. Kilbert said that he is resigning effective June 30 in order to focus on his health. “I have committed to our School Board that I would devote my full abilities and efforts to leading the district. And to be able to fully recover, I am not able to meet those commitments in a way that I feel necessary or that you deserve.”

For more on Darryl Kilbert’s tenure at the OPSB and his resignation, read this article in the Times-Picayune.

Educate Now! thanks Mr. Kilbert for his service to the OPSB, our schools, and our children.

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

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

  • Louisiana Makes National Headlines
  • Charters in the News
  • A Question of Discrimination
  • More on Louisiana Education Reforms
  • Local Stories

Louisiana Makes National Headlines

La. School Choice Options Expand After Sweeping Education Overhaul
Education Week – April 13, 2012
Education Week examines Louisiana’s education reform legislation and calls it “one of the most exhaustive education overhauls of any state in the country.” The magazine looks at the implications of the new laws and how these reforms compare to efforts made by other states. Continue reading →

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

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

  • Economic Success of New Orleans
  • Legislative Update
  • What Does the Public Think?
  • Other Louisiana Stories
  • National News
  • Closer to Home

Economic Success of New Orleans

Economic Recession and Recovery in America’s 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas
Brookings Institution – March 2012
Brookings has named Greater New Orleans one of the “20 Strongest Performing Metros” in the nation based on the strength of our economic recovery. Brookings looked at the 100 largest metropolitan areas, and New Orleans’ job growth and gains in economic output placed our city in their top 20.  Continue reading →

A Call to Action: Amend the School Choice Bill

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Dear Legislator:

Over the next two weeks, you will be asked to vote for the Choice Bill (HB 976 and SB 597), which will make over 350,000 public school students eligible for vouchers. Done well, it can change lives, giving students trapped in failing schools better educational opportunities and improving education statewide. Done poorly, it will waste taxpayer money and financially strain local school districts.

So, let’s pass a good bill – one that will use our tax dollars to provide a better education for public school students. As it currently stands, the bill has two key flaws that you can easily fix.

First, the current bill fails to protect against fraud or mismanagement of tax dollars. 

Continue reading →

In the News: A Clipping Service – March 19, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

  • A Big Leap Forward
  • Weighing in on the Legislative Agenda
  • A How-To Guide for New Orleans-Style Reform
  • Tougher Expulsion Policies Don’t Equal More Crime
  • Charter Accountability
  • National Education Stories
  • Local News

A Big Leap Forward

The Big Easy’s Business Leap Forward
The Wall Street Journal – March 16, 2012
The Wall Street Journal celebrates New Orleans’ entrepreneurial boom and the new risk-taking spirit in New Orleans exemplified by Idea Village’s fourth annual Entrepreneur Week, which featured 525 start-up companies competing for more than $1 million in capital and consulting services.
 
Editor’s Note: Jen Medbery, founder of Drop the Chalk/Kickboard, won Entrepreneur Week’s top award – the Coulter Challenge IDEApitch. Congratulations Jen for marrying the education reform movement with the city’s entrepreneurial renaissance. Continue reading →

The Session Begins

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Governor Jindal has made K-12 education reform the cornerstone of his legislative agenda. He is proposing sweeping changes – including expanding vouchers, creating more charter schools, and changing teacher tenure – that could radically alter the landscape of Louisiana education.

This Wednesday the House Education Committee and this Thursday the Senate Education Committee will hear his three foundational bills.

  • Rep. Carter’s House Bill 976 and Sen. Appel’s SB 597, which expand school choice, including the scholarship program, pathways for charter schools, the providers who can offer courses to K-12 students, and a “parent trigger” for failing schools.
  • Rep. Carter’s House Bill 974 and Sen. Appel’s SB 603, which link teacher tenure to performance, make effectiveness the primary criterion for personnel decisions, and grant authority for hiring and placement of personnel to school superintendents.
  • Rep. Carter’s House Bill 933 and Sen. Appel’s SB 581, which outline a framework for a single coordinated early childhood education system with accountability for academic outcomes.

Comments on the Governor’s Education Package

Gov. Bobby Jindal Education Overhaul Legislation Introduced
The Times-Picayune – March 3, 2012
This article outlines the governor’s ambitious plans, provides details on the different bills to be debated, and presents arguments for and against his most controversial proposals to overhaul teacher tenure and expand vouchers. Continue reading →

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 →