In the News

In the News: December 27, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

Proud to Call It Home

America’s 50 Best Cities
Bloomberg Businessweek – December 28, 2012
According to Businessweek, New Orleans is one of the top 15 cities in America. New Orleans ranked #14 out of 100 based on leisure activities, educational attributes, economic factors, crime, and air quality. We scored high marks for our good times, our resilience since Katrina, our universities and the quality of our air, but crime kept us out of the top 10.  Continue reading →

In the News: December 17, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

Educate Now! is deeply saddened by the events in Newtown, Connecticut, and our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been devastated by such senseless violence. Let us honor the memory of those who were lost by doing a better job of protecting and nurturing the children in our own community.

The Times-Picayune recently reported that nearly one third of New Orleans middle-school students are experiencing symptoms of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. More than 29% have seen assaults committed with weapons, while almost 14% have witnessed murders. All of us in New Orleans must work together to provide the mental health and social services that our children need and deserve.

In Other News

In the News – September 27, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

Is N.O. a Model for America?

Born on the Bayou: A New Model for America
Third Way – September 2012
In this report for the non-partisan think tank Third Way, writer David Osborne examines the turnaround of New Orleans public schools, reviewing the history of the RSD, how the city arrived at what is now a majority-charter school system, and what have been the academic results. Osborne calls our school turnaround “stunning” and “dramatic” and says results in New Orleans “could well shake the foundations of American education.” He also wrote a commentary for Education Week.

In the News – September 10, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News: 

Democrats vs. Republicans on Education

Republican Education Platform 2012 Emphasizes School Choice, Teacher Accountability
Huffington Post – August 29, 2012
The GOP education platform advocates providing broad education choices to parents and children at the state and local level — whether through charter schools, virtual schools, career and technical education programs, vouchers, or tax credits. The party also advocates an emphasis on STEM subjects, merit pay for teachers, and proper implementation of technology in the classroom to facilitate learning.

Democratic Platform Hails Common Core, Praises Teachers
Education Week – September 4, 2012
In its official platform, the Democratic Party challenges and encourages states to raise their standards so students graduate ready for college or career. Democrats also say they will provide states and communities with the flexibility and resources they need to improve K-12 education. The platform gives teachers significant recognition and praise, but it also refers to the need for carefully crafted teacher evaluation systems. Continue reading →

In the News – August 27, 2012

Posted on by Leslie Jacobs

In this edition of In the News:

LA’s Minority Students Outperform Peers

Louisiana Minority Students Making Gains in College and Career Readiness
LA Department of Education – August 22, 2012
According to a 2012 ACT report, Louisiana’s minority students – including Hispanic, African-American and American-Indian students – outperformed their peers across the nation on the ACT. The average composite score for Louisiana’s African-American students is 17.5, compared to 17.0 nationally. The average composite score for Louisiana’s Hispanic students is 20.5, compared to 18.9 nationally. 

Continue reading →