The State of
Public Education
in New Orleans
2014 Report
Patrick Sims | Debra Vaughan
The Cowen Institute for Public
Education Initiatives at Tulane University
The Cowen Institute’s mission is to advance the success of New Orleans children and young adults on their educational pathways through
research, policy analysis, and programs that support youth. Launched
in March 2007, the Cowen Institute chronicles education reforms
in the city and assesses their impact on New Orleans youth and
families. We promote practical application of the knowledge we gain
and use research to both develop our own programs and to advance
effective public policies. We seek to be responsive to the community
and work in partnership with others to enhance the success of K-12
education and to strengthen career pathways for Opportunity Youth
in New Orleans. Embedded in a great anchor institution, we leverage
Tulane University resources to further this work.
Applied Research
Public Policy
College & Career Readiness
Reconnecting Opportunity Youth
Applied Research at the Cowen Institute
The Cowen Institute’s Applied Research staff serves as an objective
voice to education leaders, policymakers, the media, and the public
about what is taking place in public education in New Orleans
– particularly in the areas of accountability, school choice, and
governance – by disseminating relevant data and research. We draft
briefings and conduct forums, meetings, and seminars that inform
educators, administrators, media, and the general community on
the impact of public education reforms in New Orleans.
The Cowen Institute for
Public Education Initiatives
Tulane University
1555 Poydras Street, Suite 700
New Orleans, LA 70112
504.274.3690
www.coweninstitute.org
This report was made possible through the
generous support of the Osa Foundation.
July 2014
The transformation of public education in New Orleans continues. It has been described as a centralized school
system reinventing itself as a decentralized system of schools. Since 2007, the Cowen Institute has taken on
the task of describing this reinvention. Through our annual State of Public Education in New Orleans report,
the Cowen Institute provides a clear narrative of the progression and implementation of this new model. We
identify meaningful trends while providing healthy critique and pressure for improvement. This year a dedicated website, www.speno2014.com, expands the report into interactive maps and searchable data sets that allow
more exploration and clarity.
When the state took over the majority of public schools in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,
it catalyzed a new era of accountability, an expanded charter landscape, and a multi-layered governance model.
To date, no urban area has decentralized and reinvented its public education to the extent that we have, though
many are beginning to try.
The landscape of public schools in New Orleans is changing constantly as both the state Board of Elementary
and Secondary Education (BESE) and the local Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) authorize new charter
schools and close low performing schools. As managers of these portfolios of public schools, OPSB and the Recovery School District (RSD) make decisions independent of one another. Community members and parents
often struggle to navigate this ever-changing environment.
Unified governance continues to be elusive. There is little desire to return to the system of governance that
previously existed. As charter schools under RSD have earned the option of transferring to OPSB, they have
all opted to remain with RSD. A unified system of schools with a single central office responsible for serving all
students and holding all schools accountable to transparent and equivalent standards is unlikely at this point.
Yet, in lieu of a central office, a multitude of ad hoc systems are organizing and emerging to address the absence
of centralized services. These systems have been articulated and formalized in the innovative Cooperative
Endeavor Agreement (CEA) between OPSB and RSD. The CEA centralizes processes, similar to traditional
centralized sub-structures that we now have in place, such as enrollment and expulsion hearings. It also begins
to establish protocols to protect our substantial investment in school facilities and launches cross-district programming and shared funding to serve our city’s most vulnerable students.
This official agreement is an indication of the will of OPSB and RSD to work together in good faith to solve
real problems of youth and schools. We find that what was considered a reactive strategy to the devastation of
Hurricane Katrina is no longer an experimental reform movement. This is public education in New Orleans.
Sincerely,
John J. Ayers
Executive Director
Map tiles by Stamen Design, under CC BY 3.0. Data by OpenStreetMap, under CC BY SA.
Table of Contents
1 System Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
School Governance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Cooperative Endeavor Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Enrollment and Demographics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2 Operations & Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
School Finances. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
School Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
School Choice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Human Capital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The State of
Public Education
in New Orleans
2014 Report
14
16
17
19
3 Student Achievement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
K-8 Achievement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Common Core. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
9-12 Achievement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4 Successes & Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Successes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Challenges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Looking Ahead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
5 Appendix. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Acknowledgments
QR Codes
When you see a QR code, like the one below, use your smart
phone to scan it. It will link you to an interactive version of
the data or map on our website at www.speno2014.com.
This report would not be possible without the
honest and sincere feedback of the education
stakeholders and community members who
shared their perspectives of public education
in New Orleans. Additionally, we are grateful
for the expertise and insights provided by our
external reviewers and appreciate the feedback
and contributions of the Cowen Institute
staff, especially John Ayers, Jonah Evans,
Mary Lee Murphy, Vincent Rossmeier, and
Matt Segraves. Lastly, we would like to thank
the Osa Foundation for supporting this work.
System Overview
The 2013-14 school year marks the eighth full school
year since the dramatic transformation of the public
school system in New Orleans. Although structures
and policies continue to evolve, the overarching
reform mechanisms that were catalyzed by Hurricane
Katrina and its subsequent flooding in 2005 continue
to define the public education model. School autonomy, parental choice, and high-stakes accountability
remain hallmarks of the system. Reflecting on the past
school year, the 2014 State of Public Education in New
Orleans report provides information about the system
of public schools, student outcomes, and the evolving education landscape. This report also highlights
successes, as well as challenges, that continue to face
public education in New Orleans.
As a result of Hurricane Katrina and consistently low
academic performance, public education in New Orleans
has redeveloped under a decentralized governance model.
In 2005, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education (BESE) placed the majority of public schools
under the oversight of the Recovery School District (RSD).
The local Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) retained
control and oversight of 17 schools. As families returned to
the city, charter schools began to dominate the portfolio of
public schools serving students in the city.
New Orleans is considered a portfolio district, where the
governing authority oversees a system of independent
schools that operate under performance contracts.1 Charter
schools, not directly run by the district, have autonomy
to hire staff, allocate their budgets, and negotiate service
contracts. OPSB and RSD act as the portfolio manager by
closing low-performing schools and allowing the opening
of new schools or the replication of successful schools.
Common Acronyms and Abbreviations
ACT: College admissions exam
BESE: Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
CEA: Cooperative Endeavor Agreement
CMO: Charter management organization
EOC: End of course test (high school)
FRL: Free and reduced-price lunch
LDOE: Louisiana Department of Education
LEA: Local Educational Agency
2
LEAP/iLEAP: Elementary and middle school
standardized tests
LEP: Limited English Proficiency
OneApp: Centralized application process for most
New Orleans schools.
OPSB: Orleans Parish School Board
RSD: Recovery School District
SPS: School performance score
Figure 1: Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) & Louisiana Department of Education
2013-14 School Year
State Superintendent: John White
Recovery School District
Superintendent:
Patrick Dobard
Orleans Parish School Board
Interim Superintendent:
Stan Smith
4 BESE
Charter Schools
5 RSD DirectRun Schools
6 OPSB
Direct-Run
Schools
Louisiana Legislature
14 OPSB
Charter Schools
1 Independent
School*
57 RSD
Charter Schools
87 Public • 11 Direct-Run • 75 Charter • 1 Independent School • 44,791 Students
School Governance
In the 2013-14 school year, 87 public schools were located
in the city of New Orleans. BESE oversees two types of
charter schools: four BESE charter schools, which operate
under BESE and can enroll students from across the state,
and 57 RSD charter schools, which operate under RSD.
The five schools that RSD provided direct oversight to in
the 2013-14 school year closed in the summer. The local
school board, OPSB, also oversees 14 charter schools.
OPSB directly operates six schools In addition, one
independent public school in New Orleans is under the
jurisdiction of the state legislature.
Each year, there are changes in the education landscape
due to school closures and the authorization of new charter
schools. The rate of yearly changes has slowed as the system
has stabilized in recent years.
During the 2013-14 school year, 44 school boards operated public schools in New Orleans. This includes OPSB,
BESE, 12 charter management organizations (CMOs), and
30 independent charter schools recognized as local educational agencies (LEA).
The complex and decentralized nature of public education
in New Orleans creates potential barriers for the system to
equitably serve the needs of all students. Rules, policies,
and procedures vary across the systems. While OPSB and
RSD have worked together to rebuild and renovate public
school facilities, no single entity is responsible for ensuring
that all students receive equal treatment across the changing policies and directives.
*The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) is
an independent school created by the state legislature, but
in this report it will be categorized with the charter schools
in data analysis and disaggregation.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
3
To address the unintended consequences of a decentralized
system of public schools, RSD and OPSB worked together
to implement centralized solutions designed to provide
equity and transparency. For example:
• All public schools now use the same expulsion policies and procedures. RSD hosts a centralized Student
Hearing Office that is utilized by all public schools in
New Orleans.
• Most schools use the unified enrollment system,
OneApp, established by RSD in 2012. All but nine
OPSB charter schools and NOCCA participated in
the spring 2014 application process for enrollment in
the 2014-15 school year. All schools will be required to
participate when their charters are renewed.
• Formal standards for charter school performance have
been approved by both BESE and OPSB. These standards were created to provide charter school operators
with clear and consistent expectations for academic,
financial, and operational performance.
In March 2014, to address the primary challenges of providing services, programs, and financial resources to serve
the needs of all students citywide, RSD and OPSB signed
a landmark cooperative endeavor agreement (CEA).2 The
CEA lays the foundation for collaboration among the
districts to meet the needs of all public school students in
New Orleans. The agreement clarifies the existing partnership and commitment between RSD and OPSB and identifies new programs designed to equitably serve all students
in the parish, particularly those with special needs.
Legislation, which created RSD in 2003, states that
low-performing schools placed under RSD could be returned to local control after five years, given that the school
has met acceptable academic benchmarks and demonstrated academic gains for two consecutive years. The process
for return, codified in 2010, states that an eligible charter
school decides by a vote of the charter school’s governing
board whether to stay under RSD or transfer to OPSB.3
Long-term unified governance under OPSB appears to
be unlikely. During the 2013-14 school year, ten charter
school operators overseeing 17 schools eligible to return to
OPSB decided to stay under RSD oversight.4 This marks
the third year in a row that all eligible charter schools have
decided against going under OPSB governance.
4
Obstacles cited in previous years behind eligible schools’
decision to stay with RSD was resolved during the 2013
regular session of the Louisiana Legislature. Act 330,
signed into law by Governor Jindal, allows RSD charter
schools transferring to OPSB to maintain their autonomy
as well as their status as an LEA.5 As an LEA, a school is
able to handle its own grants and administrative reporting and receive some federal funds directly, rather than
through OPSB.
This also addressed the issue of weighted funding. Previously, schools in traditional school districts, such as OPSB,
receive the same amount of funding regardless of the levels
of need. Schools that serve a larger proportion of students
with severe disabilities, such as many of those under RSD,
would be disproportionately and negatively impacted by
the shift to the traditional district’s funding formula.
Media coverage by both The Times-Picayune and The Lens
identified concerns related to OPSB’s ability to govern
effectively as reasons for the lack of return, as well. Until a
permanent superintendent is named, there may be reluctance to return to OPSB.6 Some school boards prefer to
stay with the structure they know (RSD) rather than transfer to the unknown and potentially unstable OPSB.7
Schools (CMOs) eligible to transfer in 2013
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Akili Academy (Crescent
City Schools)
Arthur Ashe Charter
School (FirstLine Schools)
Dr. M.L. King Charter
School (Friends of King)
Dwight Eisenhower Academy (ACSA)
KIPP Believe College Prep
(KIPP)
KIPP Central City Academy (KIPP)
KIPP Central City Primary (KIPP)
KIPP McDonogh 15
School for the Creative
Arts (KIPP)
Lafayette Academy Charter
School (Choice Foundation)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lake Area New Tech Early
College High School (New
Beginnings)
Langston Hughes Academy (FirstLine Schools)
L.B. Landry-O.P Walker
College and Career Prep
High School (ACSA)
Martin Behrman Charter
School (ACSA)
Morris Jeff Community
School
Samuel Green Charter
School (FirstLine Schools)
Sci Academy (Collegiate
Academies)
Sylvanie Williams College
Prep Elementary (New
Orleans College Prep)
The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement
The 2014 Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) defines the relationship between RSD and
OPSB in three areas: educational programs and services intended to meet the needs of the city’s
most vulnerable students; facility improvement; and the efficient and equitable use of funding
and shared financial resources. The following is a summary of the key details of the agreement.
Serving the Needs of All Students
• RSD and OPSB will work together to meet the needs of vulnerable student populations.
• RSD and OPSB will create an exceptional needs fund to help schools serve students with the highest needs. OPSB will
contribute $5 million from their general fund balance to capitalize the exceptional needs fund. In addition, a portion
of the State Revenue Sharing Fund allocation will be dedicated to the fund.
• OPSB and RSD agree to provide services to chronically absent students, a therapeutic setting for students with severe
mental health needs, and support for the transition of court-involved youth back into schools. Funds set aside by
Harrah’s Casino will be used for these services.
• RSD and OPSB will continue to gather and analyze information on student demographics and school capacity to
jointly plan for the number and types of schools needed citywide.
• RSD will continue to administer the unified enrollment system, OneApp, for the 2014-15 school year and all RSD
charter schools, OPSB direct-run schools and new charter schools will participate. Upon charter extension or renewal,
all OPSB charter schools will participate.
• RSD will continue to operate an Early Learning Center and community-based early intervention program to provide
citywide educational services to three- and four-year olds with disabilities. OPSB will operate the Child Find office to
identify students in need of services.
• OPSB will continue to operate the Youth Study Center and the Alternative Learning Institute, which both serve incarcerated youth.
• RSD will continue to operate the Student Hearing Office. RSD charter schools and OPSB direct-run schools will
utilize the Student Hearing Office and common student expulsion policies. Participation will continue to be voluntary
for OPSB charter schools.
Improving Facilities
• Upon its completion, RSD will transfer the Bradley Elementary School building to OPSB.
• OPSB will transfer control of the McDonogh #35 building to RSD temporarily. The facility will return to OPSB once
its no longer needed.
• RSD will identify land to build a new Behrman Elementary School campus; OPSB will purchase the property.
• Upon completion of Booker T. Washington High School, OPSB will purchase adjacent property for athletic facilities.
• RSD and OPSB will continue to work together to implement the Master Plan. OPSB will use the proceeds of the sale
of excess properties to finance projects identified in the Master Plan.
• RSD will continue to pursue tax credits to leverage funds to finance the SFMP and OPSB will bring requests to the
board for a vote.
Using Funds and Sharing Financial Resources
• RSD and OPSB will work together to create and implement a common accounting process.
• OPSB will ensure that Qualified School Construction Bonds (QSCB) and insurance proceeds will be used to benefit
schools occupied by both RSD and OPSB schools.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
5
Figure 2: Public Schools in New Orleans, 2013-14 School Year
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE)
RSD
Superintendent
Benjamin
Banneker
ES
New Orleans
College Prep
Lawrence
D. Crocker
ES
George
W. Carver
HS
Sylvanie
Williams
ES
Cohen
College
Prep HS
KIPP: New
Orleans
Walter L.
Cohen HS
KIPP
Believe ES
KIPP Central City
Primary
KIPP
McDonogh
15 ES
Sarah T.
Reed HS
KIPP
NOLA ES
KIPP Central City
Academy
KIPP Renaissance
HS
A.P.
Tureaud
ES
ReNEW
ARISE
Academy
ES
Mildred
Osborne
ES
Friends of
King
Joseph A.
Craig ES
Carver
Collegiate
HS
Carver
Prep HS
SciTech
HS
Crescent
City Schools
International School of
LA ES
Accelerated HS #1
Accelerated HS #2
Schaumburg ES
Akili
Academy
ES
International High
School
Crescent McDonogh
Coghill
Accelerat- Leadership City Park
Comb.
ES
ed ES
N.O.
Military &
Maritime HS
Edgar P. Lagniappe McDonogh
HS
ES
Harney ES
N.O. Center
for the Creative Arts
MillerMcCoy
Comb.
Morris Jeff
ES
The NET
Charter
HS
James M.
Singleton
ES
Success
Prep ES
Fannie C.
Williams
ES
Andrew H.
Wilson ES
Sophie
B. Wright
Comb.
Legend
BESE
Charter
Indep.
OPSB
State
Charter
School
OPSB
DirectRun
RSD
Charter
RSD
DirectRun
NOPS
Superintendent
NonNetwork
Charter
Alice
Harte ES
Mary
Bethune
ES
Audubon
ES
Edna Karr
HS
Benjamin
Franklin ES
Bricolage
ES
Mahalia
Jackson
ES
Einstein
ES
McDonogh
35
Academy
ENCORE
ES
McDonogh
35 College
Prep HS
Edward
Hynes ES
Eleanor
McMain
Comb.
Lake
Forest ES
Collegiate
Academies
Delores T.
Aaron ES
Non-Network
Charters
Inspire
NOLA
Dr. ML
King
Comb.
Cultural
Arts
Academy
Louisiana
Legislature
6
ARISE
Schools
BESE
Charters
Lycée
Français ES
Orleans Parish School Board
(OPSB)
Paul
Habans
ES
Sci
Academy
HS
Harriet
Tubman
ES
Lusher
Comb.
Choice
Foundation
Esperanza
ES
R.R.
Moton ES
Lafayette
Academy
ES
McDonogh
42 ES
Homer
Plessy ES
New
Beginnings
Pierre A.
Capdau
ES
Gentilly
Terrace
ES
Warren
Easton HS
Lake Area
New Tech
HS
Medard H.
Nelson ES
FirstLine
Schools
Arthur
Ashe ES
J.S. Clark
Prep HS
Benjamin
Franklin
HS
Sci High
HS
John Dibert ES
Samuel J.
Green ES
Langston
Hughes
ES
Fischer
Accelerated ES
LandryWalker HS
Algiers Charter
School Association
Algiers
Tech HS
Martin
Behrman
ES
Eisenhower ES
McDonogh
32 ES
Charter School Governance
OPSB Superintendent Search
In New Orleans, 42 charter school boards oversee 75 public charter schools. In Louisiana, public charter schools are
required to be governed by a local board. The board holds
the charter with the authorizer and is held accountable
for the operation of the school. The responsibilities of the
charter school board include ensuring that the academic
program is effective, maintaining compliance with the law
and all requirements outlined in the charter, and sustaining
financial solvency.8 In addition, charter boards can provide
expertise and resources to the school.
Two years have passed since OPSB has had a permanent
superintendent; interim superintendent Stan Smith has
filled the position since July 2012. The search for new leadership has been marred by delays, divisions amongst the
board, and uncertainty about the future of a district that
will include the last remaining direct-run schools in New
Orleans starting in the 2014-15 school year.13
Louisiana Charter Law and BESE Bulletin 126 set guidelines on board composition. Charter schools are required
to have a minimum of seven board members. Charter
school board members cannot be employed by the school,
and there are restrictions on the number of immediate
family members that can serve on the same school board.9
In addition, BESE-authorized charter school board
members are required to have a diverse set of skills, including experience in education, organizational operations,
community development, finance, and law.10 At least 60
percent of board members must reside either in the parish
where the school is located or a neighboring parish.11
No elected official or school board member may serve on
an RSD charter school board located in his or her jurisdiction.12 A single charter school board can oversee multiple
charter schools, as is the case with schools that are under a
Charter Management Organization (CMO).
CMOs are nonprofit organizations that operate multiple
charter schools, often with a shared vision and mission.
The CMO has a single governing board of directors
representing all schools within the network. The CMO
provides centralized support to a group of schools, including administrative support to hire, evaluate, and provide
professional development for the teaching staff, as well as
fulfilling reporting and financial oversight responsibilities
for the schools.
OPSB spent much of 2013 identifying a professional firm
to lead the search. Eleven search firms from across the
country applied to head the search process. By September,
an appointed community panel recommended, and the
board narrowly approved, the selection of Hazard, Young,
Attea & Associates (HYA) to conduct the search process.14
HYA, a Chicago-based company, has assisted over 1,000
school boards with executive searches.
By January 2014, there was the expectation that a superintendent would be selected in the spring. Nolan Marshall,
Jr. was elected president of OPSB, replacing Ira Thomas.15
Under Marshall and HYA’s leadership, the board identified
its criteria for a new superintendent in February and began
accepting candidate applications.16
Twice the board identified a group of finalists and twice
it voted not to proceed with hiring any of them. In
March, four finalists were selected and interviewed. After
a two-month lull, OPSB announced it would continue to
interview candidates.17 In May, three additional finalists
were identified but, after a contentious board meeting in
June, OPSB failed to advance any of the finalists for public
consideration.18
The timetable for hiring a permanent superintendent
continues to fall off-course. None of the seven finalists has
been able to garner the required five-vote supermajority.19
C
harter boards are publicly funded and are subject to “sunshine laws.” Charter school board meetings must be
open to the public in accordance with the Louisiana Constitution and Open Meetings Law, R.S. 42:4.1. Notice of
meetings must be posted with an agenda at least one day prior to the meeting. The boards may not discuss any new topic
not included on the posted agenda. On any item up for a vote, the board must allow an opportunity for public comment.
Minutes must be kept and made available within a reasonable time after each meeting.
Source: New Schools for New Orleans, Charter School Legal Handbook.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
7
Schools, Operators, and CMOs
Table 1: Charter Management Organizations, 2013-14
In the 2013-14 school year, 87 public schools in New
Orleans enrolled 44,791 students.20 The vast majority
of public school students, 91 percent, attended charter
schools. New Orleans continues to lead the nation among
urban districts in the percentage of public school students
enrolled in charter schools.
Charter Management # Schools Enrollment % of Total
Organization
(Oct. 2013) Enrollment
RSD Will be 100% Charter
At its peak, RSD operated 35 direct-run schools. When
the 2013-14 school year ended, RSD closed its last five
remaining direct-run schools, making RSD-New Orleans
the first 100 percent urban charter school district.21
RSD Direct-Run Schools Closed May 2014
• Sarah T. Reed HS
• A.P. Tureaud ES
• Benjamin Banneker ES • Walter L. Cohen HS
• George W. Carver HS
Without the responsibility of managing the direct-run
schools, RSD will experience a significant reduction in
force. Hundreds of teachers and other employees will be
laid off as RSD limits its responsibilities to charter oversight and accountability as well as managing system-wide
services such as centralized enrollment, the expulsion hearings office, and the truancy center. Of RSD’s 600 employees, 510 will be let go due to reorganization in 2014.22
With the closure of RSD’s remaining direct-run schools,
nearly 700 students were required to transfer to new
schools.23 Families who chose to apply to RSD charter
schools or OPSB direct-run schools applied through
OneApp and received general priority through the OneApp
process. In the 2014-15 school year, New Orleans will
have only six traditional, direct-run schools, all operated by
OPSB.
As seen in Table 1, during the 2013-14 school year, of the
75 charter schools operating in New Orleans, 45 charter
schools operated under one of the 12 CMOs, serving 56
percent of public school students in New Orleans.24
Algiers Charter School
Assoc. (ACSA)
6
4,107
9%
Knowledge is Power
Program (KIPP) N.O.
6
3,755
8%
ReNEW-Reinventing
Education, Inc.
6
3,307
7%
FirstLine Schools, Inc.
5
2,800
6%
New Beginnings
School Foundation
4
2,019
5%
Choice Foundation
3
1,872
4%
Inspire NOLA
2
1,743
4%
Crescent City Schools
3
1,396
3%
Friends of King
2
1,202
3%
New Orleans College
Preparatory Academies
3
1,173
3%
ARISE Schools
2
900
2%
Collegiate Academies
3
854
2%
All Charter Schools in
a CMO
45
25,128
56%
Enrollment and Demographics
Since Katrina, changes in enrollment patterns have occurred as the governance structure has shifted. Prior to
Katrina, New Orleans public schools resembled a traditional school district, with 96 percent of schools being
directly run by the Orleans Parish School Board (120
schools). After the storm, the model rapidly shifted. In the
first school year after Katrina, about half of schools became
chartered and many others were run directly by RSD. That
year, OPSB went from operating 96 percent of schools
directly to only nine percent and 55 percent of all students
attended charter schools, up from only four percent.25 In
the following years, as schools opened, RSD had control of
most of the schools in New Orleans.26 Figure 3 illustrates
this change and how both OPSB and RSD enrollment
have continued to move toward charter schools.
Total public school enrollment in New Orleans continued its steady rise after Hurricane Katrina caused a sharp
decline in enrollment. The 2006-07 school year had a total
enrollment of about 26,000, only about 40 percent of the
2004-05 school year’s total of roughly 65,000. Despite
yearly increases, the past school year’s enrollment of 44,791
was still less than 70 percent of pre-Katrina levels.27
8
Figure 3: New Orleans Public School Enrollment: 2004-2014
Number of Students (October)
70,000
52,500
Total enrollment,
especially enrollment
in OPSB direct-run
schools, dropped
sharply in the wake
of Katrina.
In 2013-14, RSD charter schools
enrolled the most students, while
its direct-run enrollment has
steadily declined since 2008 .
RSD Direct
RSD Charter
OPSB Direct
OPSB Charter
BESE
35,000
OPSB enrollment
has been relatively
stable since Katrina.
17,500
0
2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10
2010-11
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students - October 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
Evolving Landscape
The public education landscape in New Orleans is continuously evolving. Each year, there are changes in the education
landscape due to school closures and the authorization of
new charter schools. Changes between 2012-13 and 201314 include:
BESE charter schools:
• Milestone SABIS relocated its campus to Jefferson Parish. As a BESE charter school, it enrolls students from
across the state.
RSD direct-run schools: RSD closed or chartered seven
of its twelve schools.28
• Three schools closed: Abramson Elementary, Murray
Henderson Elementary School, and James Weldon
Johnson Elementary School.
• Mary Coghill Elementary School was closed and
re-opened as Mary Dora Coghill Accelerated Charter
School operated by the Better Choice Foundation.
• Paul Habans Elementary School was closed and reopened as Paul Habans Charter School within the
Crescent City Schools network.
• Schaumburg Elementary School was closed and reopened as Schaumburg Elementary within the ReNEW
Schools network.
• L.B. Landry High School was merged with O. Perry
Walker High School. L.B. Landry-O.P. Walker High
School is within the Algiers Charter School Association.
RSD Charter Schools: Four charter schools closed and three reopened under new operators.29
• The charter for Benjamin Mays Elementary School was not
renewed.
• The charter for Crocker Arts and Technology Charter School
was not renewed. The school re-opened as Crocker College
Prep within the New Orleans College Prep network.
• The charter for Pride College Prep was not renewed. The
school re-opened as Mildred Osborne Charter School within
the ARISE network.
• The charter for Intercultural Charter School was not renewed.
In 2013-14 the campus served as Einstein Extension. Einstein
Charter School is an OPSB charter school.
OPSB Charter Schools: OPSB became the authorizer of two
schools formerly under BESE and opened two new charter
schools.
• Harte Elementary and Edna Karr High School changed authorizers from BESE to OPSB.30
• Bricolage Academy of New Orleans opened its doors and
enrolled kindergarten students. It intends to add a grade each
year.31
• Homer A. Plessy Community School, managed by Citizens’
Committee for Education, opened its doors and enrolled students in pre-kindergarten to second grade.32
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
9
Figure 4: Map of New Orleans Public Schools by Racial/Ethnic Composition, 2013-14
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School Students - October 2013.
Diversity in New Orleans Schools
Public schools in New Orleans have a different racial and
ethnic composition from the city’s total population. Using
2012 U.S. Census population demographics as a reference,
the schools are categorized based on how closely their populations mirror that of New Orleans.33 The map illustrates,
by location, to which category each school was assigned.
Only four schools in the city fell into the “Representative
of NOLA” category (Audubon Charter School, Homer
A. Plessy Community School, Morris Jeff Community
School, and New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy)
and two were in the “Representative of NOLA Youth”
category (Encore Academy and New Orleans
Charter Science and Mathematics High School).
Racial/Ethnic Composition Categories:
African-American > 95%: if a school’s African-American population was greater than 95%.
African-American 76%-95%: if a school’s African-American population was between 76 percent and 95 percent.
White > 40%: if a school’s White population was greater than
40%.
Representative of NOLA: if a school’s population was similar to
that of NOLA, within 10% range of the city’s demographics.
Representative of NOLA Youth: if a school’s population was
similar to that of NOLA, within 10% range of the city’s youth
demographics.
Hispanic > 15%: if a school’s Hispanic population was greater
than 15%.
Asian >15%: if a school’s Asian population was greater than 15%.
Hispanic and Asian > 40%: if a school’s combined Hispanic and
Asian population was over 40%.
Figure 5: New Orleans Population Estimates, 2014
New Orleans Total
Demographics*
New Orleans Youth
Demographics*
New Orleans Public
School Demographics**
African-American: 59.4%
African-American: 73%
African-American: 85.0%
White: 30.8%
White: 17.4%
White: 7.0%
Hispanic: 5.3%
Hispanic: 4.8%
Hispanic: 4.0%
Asian: 2.9%
Asian: 2.5%
Asian: 2.0%
Other: 1.6%
Other: 2.7%
Other: 2.0%
African-American
White
Hispanic
Asian
Other
10
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School Students - October 2013 and U.S. Census Bureau
*Source: U.S. Census Bureau **Source: Louisiana Department of Education
Poverty in New Orleans Schools
Poverty continues to be relatively high among students in
New Orleans public schools. New Orleans public schools
are among the highest in the nation for its percentage of
students eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch (FRL).
Figure 6 illustrates that the city’s 2014 FRL rate is higher
than recent FRL rates in other major U.S. cities.
The distribution of FRL-eligible students across school
types is not consistent. BESE charters in New Orleans have
an average of 56 percent of FRL-eligible students, which is
significantly lower than the citywide average of 85 percent.
Similarly, those schools that have charters with OPSB
average 61 percent, well below the New Orleans public
school average. Some OPSB charter schools have selective
admissions requirements.34
The schools directly run by OPSB, those schools directly
run by RSD, and the schools with charters from RSD,
were all above the citywide average. Each group of schools
has between 90-95% FRL-eligible students.35
English Language Learners
New Orleans public schools vary widely in their percentage
of students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). In the
2013-14 school year, only 14 schools in New Orleans had
more than five percent of their students with LEP.36
"
Due to privacy laws, LDOE does not report exact data for
schools with less than five percent of their student body
with LEP, however, the data for the 2011-2012 school year
is provided by the U.S. Department of Education.37 The
chart below illustrates
the wide rangeof
of LEP
rates.Orleans
Distribution
New
Schools
5%
or School
moreStuLEP in
Figure 6:with
Percent
Public
Percent of Public School Students dents Eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch
Eligible fOrleans,
or Free/Reduced Lunch New
2013-14
(Year of Data in Parentheses)*
School City
(Year of Data in Parentheses)*
%FRL
Esperanza New Charter School
Orleans (2014)
%LEP
82%
36.4%
Newark International High (2012)
School of New Orleans
82%
11.7%
Einstein Charter School
Chicago (2012)
85%
New ork SCenior ity (2013)
Sarah Towles RYeed High School 81%
Philadelphia (2014)**
Mahalia Jackson Elementary School
81%
77%
ENCORE AAtlanta cademy(2014)
Washington, DC (2014)
76%
Sci Academy
Miami-­‐Dade (2013)
73%
Andrew H. Wilson Charter School
Denver (2013)
72%
Dwight D. Sources: Eisenhower Elementary School
Kids Count Data Center; NY State 32.6%
10.8%
9.9%
9.4%
9.2%
Sources: Kids Count Data Center; NY State Dept. of Education; Georgia Dept. of
Dept. of Education;
EducaUon; Georgia ept. of Pennsylvania Dept. of
Education;
Florida
Dept.
of
DC
Public D
Schools;
John D
ibert Community School
Education; ChicagoEducaUon; Tribune. Florida Dept. of EducaUon; DC Public Schools; Pennsylvania Dept. of on a citywide level (in*Different years were
used in
cases where
the most recent
data
John cDonogh High School
EducaUon; Chicago Tribune. cluding
all M
charters)
were unavailable.
*Different years were used in cases where **Includes only some
charter schools.
Audubon Cthe harter School
most recent data on a city-­‐wide level (including all charters) were unavailable. **Includes only some cC
harter schools.
Alice M. Harte Elementary harter School
7.7%
7.5%
7.4%
7.0%
6.1%
5.3%
Generally, schools have quite low LEP rates, which can
make
it challenging
effectively
and efficiently provide 5.0%
Lycee Francais dto
e la Nouvelle-­‐Orleans
the instruction that is necessary for English language
Source: Louisiana Department of Education
learners. School leaders have identified the need for better
coordination on this matter and one CMO leader suggested the sharing of services across schools or for an outside
agency to offer English language instruction to schools.
schools by % LEP, 2011-2012
Figure 7: Percent LEP Students in New Orleans Public Schools, 2011-2012
Only 4 schools had a LEP population of 15% or
higher, with a range of 15-36%.
50% of schools had between 0.1% and 10% of
their students with LEP.
45% of schools had no LEP students.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
Source: U.S. Department of Education, Common Core of Data, http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
11
Source: U.S. Department of Education
Low: 0.64%
Many parties have been concerned about how
well New Orleans’ all-choice system serves special
needs students.38 In 2010, the Southern Poverty
Law Center filed a lawsuit against LDOE claiming
public schools in New Orleans were not complying with federal special education law.39 The
lawsuit has yet to be resolved.
Special education enrollment across schools and
governance types varies widely. Using the latest
data from the U.S. Department of Education,
BESE charter schools and OPSB charter schools
enrolled, on average, between 3-5 percent special education students, far fewer as a percentage
of their total enrollment than other city schools
in 2011-12.40 Schools with selective admissions
processes also tend to have lower rates of students
eligible under the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA).41
30%
% STUDENTS IDEA
Special Education in New Orleans Schools
Figure 8: Percent Special Education Students in
New Orleans Public Schools, 2012-13
Highest School
Average School
Lowest School
20%
22%
18%
10%
10%
5%!
5%
3%!
3%
2%
2%
5%
17%
11%
10%
11%
7%
5%
4%
1%
0%
BESE Charter* OPSB Charter OPSB Direct
RSD Charter
RSD Direct
*BESE Charter School data are from 2011-12
Source: Educate Now!, Special Education February 2013 & U.S. Department of
Education, Common Core of Data, http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
OPSB direct-run, RSD direct-run, and RSD charter
schools had, on average, between 10-11 percent of their
student bodies classified under IDEA in the 2012-13
school year.42 The percentage of IDEA-eligible students
enrolled in public schools ranged from zero to 22 percent
with an average of 9.9 percent in the 2012-13 school year.
Every “A” school in the city had below average rates of
special education students.43
Special Education in Louisiana
T
he U.S. Department of Education rates states based on
their compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Louisiana was found to meet IDEA’s legal
requirements in 2014. Beginning in 2014, states were also
rated on their special needs students’ academic outcomes.
Louisiana received the middle rating, “Needs Assistance,”
and will be required to seek technical assistance if it receives
this rating for two consecutive years. Only 18 states met the
requirements set under this national results-based accountability.44
Figure 9: Percentage of Students IDEA-qualified by School and
Letter Grade, 2012-13
New Orleans
High: 21.6%
New Orleans
Average: 9.9%
School Letter Grade
New Orleans
Low: 0.64%
Source: Educate Now!, Special Education February 2013, http://educatenow.net/2013/05/21/special-education-opsb-not-serving-its-share/
12
30%
A
B
C
D
F
T
N/A
Vouchers
Competition is seen by many as a key element of a choice
system.45 In addition to the many incentives to foster competition among public schools, the Louisiana Legislature
created the Scholarship Program to broaden the range of
competitors and provide parents with more choices.46
Louisiana’s voucher program provides financial support
for qualified children to attend private schools. In order
to qualify for financial support a student must either have
been enrolled in a “C,” “D,” or “F,” school in the previous
school year or be enrolling in kindergarten for the first time
and have a family income that does not exceed 250 percent
of the federal poverty guidelines for his or her family size.47
The maximum scholarship allocation in Orleans Parish in
the 2012-13 school year was $8,520 per student.48
In the 2013-14 school year, over 2,700 students in New
Orleans used the scholarship program to attend 28 private schools, which is only about six percent of the total
publicly-funded student population.49 Scholarship recipients are still required to take the same standardized tests as
public school students. A Scholarship Cohort Index (SCI)
is assigned to participating schools based on its scholarship students’ performance, which is similar to the School
Performance Score (SPS) that public schools receive.
Participating schools that score below a 50, which would
represent an “F” score on the SPS scale cannot enroll new
students. Schools that score below 50 for three of any four
years of participation will no longer be able to participate
in the scholarship program.50
For the 12 schools in Orleans Parish that received an SCI
in 2013, the average score was 56.6, which is just above an
“F” rating.51 Students in schools that are no longer permitted to participate based on poor performance will be eligible to receive a voucher to attend a participating school.
Fast Facts on Vouchers
30
56.6
77%
New Orleans schools are approved to participate in the program in 2014-15.52
is the average School Cohort Index score for
participating New Orleans schools in 2013.53
of New Orleans voucher students returned to
their voucher school in 2012-13.54
Voucher Legal Issues
L
ouisiana’s largest teacher associations filed a lawsuit
against BESE in the summer of 2012 asserting the
unconstitutionality of the voucher funding source. Vouchers
were slated to be funded through the state’s public education
funding formula. A civil court judge ruled the funding mechanism unconstitutional in the winter of 2012.55 The Louisiana Supreme Court upheld the ruling in spring of 2013.
The program is currently funded by a separate legislative
appropriation in the state budget. For the 2013-14 school
year, $20.2 million was included in the state budget for the
program.56
The United States Department of Justice (U.S. DOJ) sued
Louisiana’s voucher program over concerns that it increased
segregation in schools located in parishes that are still under
desegregation orders. A study by the Louisiana Department
of Education found no adverse impact of the use of vouchers
on school diversity.57 The U.S. DOJ has requested updated
reports 45 days prior to future voucher enrollment to ensure
compliance with desegregation orders.58
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
13
Operations & Administration
School Finances
Expenditures
Although public schools in New Orleans spend more than
schools throughout Louisiana in every major spending
category—Instruction, Pupil/Instructional Support, School
Administration, Transportation, and Other Support—two
categories account for the majority of the difference. New
Orleans schools spend about $900 more (42% more) per
pupil on “other support” and about $500 more (72%
more) per pupil on “school administration.”62
Louisiana ranks 20th in the United States in per-pupil
expenditures when adjusted for regional cost differences.59
Public schools in New Orleans continue to outspend the
state on average, although the gap continues to shrink
each year. As illustrated in Figure 10, average spending
at public schools in New Orleans was $12,797 per pupil
in the 2011-12 school year (the most recent year of data
available), about 19 percent higher that the state average of
$10,765.60
Compared to other public schools in New Orleans, RSD
direct-run schools spent the most on “other support”
($4,907 per pupil) and RSD charter schools spent the most
on “school administration” ($1,175 per pupil).63
However, RSD and BESE charter schools spent considerably less in total per pupil ($10,500-11,000) than OPSB
charter, and OPSB and RSD direct-run schools ($14,80017,300).61
Figure 10: Per Pupil Expenditures in New Orleans and Louisiana, 2001-2012
$15,557
$16,000
$14,122
$14,327
$13,040 $13,203 $12,797
$12,000
$7,248
$6,906
$6,547
$6,003
$8,881
$7,630
New Orleans
Louisiana
14
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
11
20
10
-
10
20
09
-
09
20
08
-
08
20
07
-
07
20
06
-
06
20
05
-
05
20
04
-
04
20
03
-
03
20
02
-
02
20
01
-
20
00
-
01
$0
12
$4,000
$6,571
$6,446
$5,797
$10,673 $10,745 $10,825 $10,765
$9,966
20
11
-
$8,000
$7,893
$7,296
Transportation Costs
Citywide busing and transportation became a community
concern when a six-year-old student was hit and killed
by a car in February of 2014 as he crossed the street for
his school bus.64 On average, New Orleans public schools
spent 21% more on transportation than all public schools
in Louisiana during the 2011-12 school year, the most
recent data available.65 RSD charter schools, which are
required to provide transportation to their students, spent
23% more on transportation than the average public
schools in Louisiana.66
Funding for Students with Special Needs
Beginning in the 2014-15 school year, public schools in
New Orleans will have access to additional funds to serve
students with special needs:
• Through the CEA, OPSB agreed to allocate $5 million
initially and $1.3 million annually to a high cost service allocation accessible to all public schools in New
Orleans.67
• The Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), the
public school funding program that determines state
allocations based on local revenues, will increase the
pool of money for high cost service allocation from
$3 million to $4 million.68 Additionally, Louisiana
allocated $4 million in IDEA funds.69 Statewide,
LEAs serving students with special needs can apply for
funds from the pool. For the 2013-14 school year, the
high risk pool was only able to fund 53 percent of the
additional costs schools incurred by serving qualifying
students.70
• RSD is implementing a new special needs funding
program.71 RSD will now distribute money to its
schools using a tiered system based on need and service
minutes. As a result of this change, RSD schools
serving the neediest students can receive up to an
additional $20,000 per child. Though OPSB has not
yet implemented a tiered system, it has committed to
consider using a citywide differential funding formula
in the future.72
Figure 11: Expenditures by Group in New Orleans Public Schools 2011-12
$18,000
Other Support*
Transportation
School Administration
Pupil/Instructional Support
Instruction
$13,500
$4,907
$4,012
$3,035
$9,000
$4,500
$2,141
$2,982
$762
$1,111
$631
$646
$1,218
$139
$1,067
$842
$5,756
$1,266
$6,622
$6,130
$4,100
$551
$985
$2,034
$545
$1,152
$1,811
$7,937
$1,231
$909
$1,363
$8,932
$7,242
$1,978
$777
$1,175
$964
$5,608
rte
ha
ire
R
SD
C
D
SD
R
C
B
PS
O
r
ct
r
ha
ire
B
PS
O
SE
BE
D
ha
C
an
rle
O
ew
N
rte
r
rte
Av
g
s
Av
g
a
an
si
ui
Lo
Source: Louisiana Departmnet of Education, 2012
ct
$0
*May include: General Administration, Business Services, Operations and Maintenance, Food Service Operations, Enterprise
Operations, Community Service Operations, Central Services
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
15
Facilities
Figure
XX: Master
PhaseStatus
1 and 2
Figure
12: Master
PlanPlan
Current
The School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans Parish, adopted in late 2008, serves as the city’s blueprint for renovating and rebuilding school facilities through 2016. In
August 2010, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) awarded RSD and OPSB a final settlement of
$1.8 billion, a single lump-sum for hurricane-damaged
public schools.73
24
5
6
Original Budget (2010, 2011)
om
C
st
om
oc
C
Pr
et
pl
ct
ru
em
ur
D
Source: Jacobs/CSRS prepared for RSD and OPSB, “May
2014 Program Update”, Status Date: 5-31-2014
18000
In early July, the Louisiana
Legislative Auditor released a
Other Support*
Transportation
report projecting a $330 million shortfall.77
$4,012
Currently, there
streams to pro13500
vide for school facility repairs. During the 2014 session,
$3,035 a bill allowing Orleans
the Louisiana Legislature approved
$551
Parish to dedicate funding to long-term maintenance
and
$985
$2,982
$2,141
preservation of school facilities,
which is expected $2,034
to be on
$762
9000
78$1,111
$631
the December 2014
ballot.
If
approved
by
Orleans
Parish
$139
$646
$7,937
voters, public schools in the$1,266
city will have
an
additional
$1,067
$1,218
$842replacements,
$30-40 million per year by 2021
$6,622for capital
$6,130
$5,756
repairs, and
4500improvements.
$1,718,102,874
$1,413,983,455
22%
$545
$1,152
$1,811
te
r
ct
$7,242
B
O
O
PS
B
C
D
ha
r
ire
2
e
Ty
p
SE
rle
O
ew
N
BE
an
na
s
Av
g
Av
g
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises
After committing to increasing the number of construction-related0 contracts awarded to disadvantaged business
enterprises (DBE) in 2012, RSD and OPSB made considerable progress towards their goals of 25 percent and 35
percent participation per project, respectively, during the
2013-14 school year. As of March 2014, DBEs had contracts valued at 16 percent ($40 million) of all open RSD
contracts ($242 million) and 26 percent ($47 million) of
all open OPSB contracts ($177 million).79
$4,100
PS
School Administration
Pupil/Instructional Support
areInstruction
no dedicated revenue
Source: Jacobs/CSRS prepared for OPSB and LDOE, “2014 1st Quarter Report”, Status Date 3-31-2014
16
e
n
io
en
n
es
ig
ng
an
ni
t
0
Figure 13: Actual vs. Expected Costs, March 2014
Projected Budget (Dec. 2013)
17
12
si
a
Budgets of construction projects, especially renovation
projects, often increase throughout the project process and
some variance between original and revised cost estimates
is to be expected. Nonetheless, a large variance in project
costs could have a major impact on the districts’ ability to
complete the entire plan with currently available funds. As
illustrated in Figure 13, a large gap exists between original
cost estimates and actual spending.76 For projects under the
Master Plan that were already complete or in construction
as of March 2014, revised cost estimates totaled $304 million (22 percent) more than the original cost estimates.
18
18
Lo
ui
As of May 2014, 17 of the 87 school rebuilding or rehabilitation projects of the Master Plan are complete,
with another 18 in construction, 5 in the procurement
process, 24 in the design phase and 23 in the planning
phase.75 Current awarded contracts for the Master Plan
total $420.1 million. Additional capital projects including
minor stabilizations, demolitions, and securing vacant
buildings, are in progress and amount to $14.8 million in
awarded contracts.
23
Pl
In response to concerns expressed by the community
regarding $420 million in unfunded projects under the
Master Plan, OPSB and BESE approved a revised Master
Plan in October 2011.74 The revised plan is intended to
build, refurbish, or renovate public school facilities without
requiring additional local funding. The revisions replaced
previously unfunded renovations and new construction
projects with less expensive refurbishment projects and
smaller school sizes. It also identified additional cost savings and cited additional revenue opportunities, including
Louisiana state historic tax credits and federal New Market
Tax Credits (NMTCs).
Current Status
24
The State of Teachers’ Unions
I
n January 2014, a Louisiana appeals court ruled that
more than 7,000 tenured teachers and staff of OPSB
were wrongly fired in the wake of Hurricane Katrina,
many of whom were members of the United Teachers
of New Orleans (UTNO) union.80 The court ruled that
the employees were denied their right to due process and
the right to be rehired after schools reopened. The court
awarded the employees two to three years of back pay,
including benefits. The decision is being appealed to the
Supreme Court and damages could amount to $1.5 billion
if the ruling is upheld.81
I
n May of 2013, teachers and administrators at Morris
Jeff Community School voted to create the first charter school-based union in Louisiana.82 Prior to Katrina,
all teachers were covered under a collective bargaining
agreement, which ceased to exist after the storm.
In the spring of 2014, Benjamin Franklin High School
teachers submitted a petition with signatures from 85 percent of the instructional staff to the school’s board, which
voiced their desire for a union.83 About a month later, the
board voted 9-1 in favor of allowing unionization.84
School Choice
Following Hurricane Katrina, neighborhood attendance
zones for public schools were eliminated. In the absence
of school zones, students exercise school choice and may
apply to attend any public school in the city regardless of
where they live. Until 2012, although parents completed a common application, they were required to apply
directly to the school. Enrollment decisions were made at
the school-level, often on a “first-come, first-served” basis.
Each school was responsible for managing its own enrollment process and maintaining a waitlist as needed.
The decentralized application process presented many
challenges to schools and families. Although many schools
appreciated the autonomy afforded to them in the enrollment decision-making process, they were faced with many
uncertainties. For example, if a student received acceptance
to more than one school, there was no formal mechanism
for accepting or refusing his/her seat. Schools had little
clarity on the number of students who would actually
enroll. For families, it was difficult to apply to multiple
schools and parents often complained about the lack of
transparency in the decision-making process.88
In 2012, RSD launched the city’s centralized enrollment
system, OneApp, which standardized the enrollment
process and created a single framework for enrollment
assignments. All RSD schools (charters and direct-run)
participated. Using OneApp, parents and students rank up
to eight schools in the order of their preferences or choose
to stay in their current school. Assignments are made
through an algorithm that assigns students to schools based
on various priorities. For example, sibling assignments are
prioritized; for grades K-8, geographic catchment area is
also prioritized. Students are offered one seat in the school
that best matches their preference and has an available seat.
Teachers from Benjamin Franklin High School will join
UTNO, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers
(AFT).85 AFT currently represents instructional staff at
over 150 charter schools across the country. Teachers from
Morris Jeff had conferred with UTNO representatives, but
chose instead to organize with the Louisiana Association of
Educators (LAE).86 The Lens reported that UTNO has been
actively seeking teacher contact information from charter
schools in an effort to reestablish the organization and offer
professional development to teachers.87
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
17
OneApp Results
Year 1 For the 2012-13 school year, 25,000 students submitted an
application using OneApp. 84.2% of entering kindergarten
and rising ninth grade applicants were offered a seat in one
of their top three schools.89 Seventy-five percent of applicants were placed in their number one choice. Students
who chose to stay in their current school were asked to
indicate their “intent to return” and 80 percent of students
elected to stay in their current schools.90
Year 2 The following year, OPSB direct-run schools and private
schools participating in the state voucher program joined
OneApp. OPSB charter schools could voluntarily join,
though only one chose to do so. Their participation will
be mandated upon their charter renewals.91 Of the 27,000
students who submitted applications in 2013 for the 201314 school year, 71.5 percent were offered a seat in one of
their top three schools and 55 percent of applicants were
placed in their number one choice school. OPSB schools
were most often ranked in the top three but have a limited
number of seats to offer. Nearly three-quarters of students
elected to stay in their current school.92
Year 3 For the 2014-15 school year, 75 public schools participated
in OneApp.93 New public school additions to the process
included five OPSB charter schools, four BESE charter
schools, and a new RSD school. Eighty percent of applicants were offered a seat in one of their top three choices. In the key transition grades (kindergarten and ninth
grade), 90 percent of students were placed in one of their
top three choices. Nearly 18 percent of students could not
be matched to any of their ranked schools.94 Students who
chose to stay in their current schools were not required to
submit an application or “intent to return.” About 75 percent of families did not submit a OneApp, opting instead to
remain in their current school.
Changes were also made so that selective admissions
schools could participate in OneApp. The timeline changed
to accommodate five schools (nine programs) with selective
admission criteria. The extra time was provided to ensure
applicants met the requirements before the computer
matching took place. For the 2014-15 school year, RSD
began accepting applications in November 2013.
18
Selective Admissions
Schools participating in OneApp are not required
to have open admissions policies, but they must
be transparent about their admissions criteria. For
example, Lycee Francais, International School of
Louisiana, and International High School have
language-immersion programs with fluency requirements above certain grade levels. Many schools require that families attend an Open House or school
tour in order to be eligible to enroll. Other schools,
such as International High School and McDonogh
#35 have programs with specific academic criteria,
and Edna Karr’s band program requires that students
audition for a spot.95
Placement Priorities
In addition to the priority placed on siblings and
students living within school’s geographic catchment
area, many schools prioritize children of staff members. Some schools serving students in middle school
and high school have prioritized placement of students from their elementary school pipeline. These
schools include Ben Franklin Elementary (grade 7),
Cohen College Prep (grade 6), McMain (grade 7),
McDonogh #35 Academy (grade 7) and McDonogh
#35 (grade 9).96
Catchment Zones
Students may be given priority to a school if they live
inside its geographic catchment zone.97 The city has
been divided into six catchment zones. These are not
the same as neighborhood schools zones because the
OneApp catchment zones are large and put many students well beyond walking distance to the schools.
Closing Schools
Students in closing schools receive preference when
applying to a new school; almost 700 students from
closing schools used OneApp to access their new
school, were more likely than the average student
to get into one of their top choices, and most were
placed in C or higher performing schools.98
Human Capital
Figure 14: Changes in Teacher
Characteristics, 2009-2013
TableWhat
2: Average
Teacher
Characteristics,
2012-13
does the average
teacher
in New Orleans look
like?
!
!
BESE
Students per Teacher
!
14.50
17.20
$47,975
$48,924
$47,248
% Certified Teachers
23%
87%
71%
Ave. Years Exp.
9.58
20.05
11.21
!
% Master's Degree or
Higher
45%
% Minority
25%
50%
43%
30%
Student
Growth
!
+
60%Learning Targets
57%
Student
(70% of teachers)
Turnover Rate
29%
21%
27%
!
OR
Source: Louisiana Department of Education,
Value18
Added Measures
Number
of Schools Report, June 2014
5
72
2014 MFP
Accountability
(30% of teachers)
54%
30%
34%
26%
9.9 yrs.
12.8 yrs.
RSD
11.36
Average Salary
!
OPSB
#
60%
% Minority
% Masters
% Turnover
Experience
Aver
2009-10
2012-13
2009-10
2012-13
50%
Final
Rating
Professional
Practice
Source:
Louisiana
Department
Average Years Exp.
9.9 of Education,
12.8
MFP Accountability Report, 2011 and 2014
!
!
=
!
Teacher
Observations
% Master's
% Turnover
Teacher
Evaluations
%M
% Tu
Ineffective
30%
34%
Effective: Emerging
30% Proficient
26%
Effective:
Highly Effective
60%Louisiana
54% teachers
year,
%M
% Minority
As of the
2012-13 school
are evaluated
based on a combination of classroom observations (50%) and
Human capital decisions, such as hiring, firing, and prostudent outcomes (50%), most using a system titled Comfessional development are decentralized in New Orleans.
pass.102 Student outcomes are based on value-added data in testMost school districts in the United States have a centralized
ed subjects and student learning targets in untested subjects. At
human resources department where hiring decisions, inthe end of each academic year, teachers are assigned one of four
Student Learning
cluding salary and benefits, are made
uniformly.
ConverseValue-Added Professional
Targets
Final Rating Effective (Proficient),
ratings: Ineffective,
Effective (Emerging),
ly, individual schools and CMOs
in ofNew
Orleans recruit
(30%
Teachers)
Practice
2012-13 School
Year
(70% of Teachers)
103
and Highly Effective. Figure 15 illustrates how New Orletheir own teachers, set their own pay levels, and compete
27% 17%
19%
19% 42%
their32%
peers on
the most objective
for teachers and administrators with
one another. 58% 35%ans teachers outperformed
64%
34%
60%
Compass measure, value-added. However, only 30 percent of
54% Minority
63%
This decentralization
took Teachers
hold after the RSD took over 42%teachers are rated
this way and 57%
the average Louisiana teacher
OR
28%The collective
most of New Orleans’ schools post-Katrina.
scores
higher
on
all
other
measures,
including the final rating.
40%
30%
50%
bargaining contract between OPSB and UTNO lapsed
in
Final Rating
50%
Minority Students 23%
Professional
Practice
Student
Growth
In
2012,
the
state
legislature
passed
a
law
that
tied
tenure to
16%!
18%!
14%!
mid-2006.9992%
This change, along with decentralization,
has
9%!
9%!
8%!
8%teacher
7% salaries and
3%
<1% <1%
4% teachers
7% teacher evaluations.
7%
TheTeacher
law requires
to
be
rated
highly
led to schools having widely varying
Observations
Ineffective
Student Learning
Targets
LA
NOLA
LA
NOLA
LA
NOLA
LA
NOLA
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
effective
five out of six years to receive tenure andEffective:
mandates
demographics, including levels of experience. Additionally,
Emerging
(70% of teachers)
Effective:
Proficient
that teachers
lose
tenure
when
they
are
rated
ineffective
for
a
new teacher pipelines and alternative certification programs
OR
Highly
Effective
104
105
single
year.
The
law
has
been
challenged
in
district
court.
have expanded as schools look for non-traditional ways to
Value Added Measures
(30% ofwill
teachers)
LDOE
continue to enforce the law pending completion of
attract staff.
the judicial process.106
Data suggest that teacher turnover and low
Highly Effective
experience levels are improving. Between
Effective: Proficient
Figure 15: Compass Ratings: 2012-13
the 2009-10 and 2012-13 school years, the
Effective: Emerging
Ineffective
average teacher in New Orleans gained about
Student Learning
Value-Added Professional
Targets Final Rating
three years of experience and, on average,
(30% of Teachers)
Practice
(70% of Teachers)
100
fewer teachers were leaving their schools.
"
Data from 2012-13 school year. BESE group includes NOCCA.
=
+
+
!
42%
19%
The percentage of minority teachers in New
34%
Student
Orleans schools has decreased during that
Growth
28%
same time period. In the 2012-13 school year,
40%
about 92 percent of students were minority,
50% 36%
23%
compared to just 54 percent of teachers.101
8%
7%
40% NOLA
LA
)(
58%
42%
OR
30%
9%!
3%
LA
27%
35%
16%!
7%
NOLA
+
!
!
=
!
63%
9%!
<1%
LA
17%
64%
18%!
<1%
NOLA
=
s
a
60%
57%
8%!
4%
LA
33%
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, Compass Final Report, 2012-13
14%! 17%!
3%
7%
19%
32%
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
14%!
7%
NOLA
19
Student Achievement
"
Academic achievement in New Orleans schools generally continues to improve, though it continues to lag
behind most other districts. Louisiana’s transition to
Common Core and its associated tests is uncertain,
which makes the state’s academic future unclear.
Nonetheless, even as schools have demonstrated
improvement, ongoing investment, innovation, and
commitment are necessary to create a sustainable
system of public schools where all children have the
opportunity to receive a high quality education.
Public schools in Louisiana are evaluated by the LDOE
and assigned a school performance score (SPS) based on
a set of criteria. Each year, schools receive a numbered
score, which corresponds to a letter grade. Beginning in the
2012-13 school year, LDOE changed the scale by which
schools are assessed.107 The formulas that are used to calculate the SPS are listed below. Schools that serve students
in grades K-8 are primarily graded based on their students’
standardized test scores.
The high school formula has four components, each given
equal weight: ACT score, End of Course Tests, Graduation
Rate, and Quality of Diploma. For the first time, a school
can also receive up to 10 bonus points for making progress
with its lowest-performing students.
Middle of the Pack
When LDOE changed the
rating scale from 200 to 150
points, it also changed the
distribution of schools by letter
grades. The chart to the right
illustrates how schools have
converged in the middle under
the new scale. The chart assigns
letter grades based on the same
year’s data to show that fewer
schools received As or Fs, but
more schools received Cs and
Bs. The biggest change is in the
number of F schools, which decreased by 55% in New Orleans.
Figure 17: New School Performance Score Formulas
Figure
16: Changes
in Letter
Distribution
of New Orleans
Public
Schools
New and Old in
Letter
Grades,
Gradeby
Distribution
New
2012-2013
Orleans Schools,
2012-13
11 A Schools
7 A Schools
11 B Schools
19 B Schools
15 C Schools
24 C Schools
25 D Schools
22 D Schools
18 F Schools
Old Formulas
100% Tests
100% Tests
20
MIDDLE (K-8)
95% Tests
5% High school credits
earned by end of
freshmen year
HIGH SCHOOL (9-12)
25% Composite ACT
25% End of Course Tests
25% Graduation Rate
25% Quality of Diploma
Source: Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Bulletin 11, §1101
New Formulas
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, State/District/School Achievement
Level Summary Report,New
2013 School Pe
ELEMENTARY (K-6)
ELEMENTARY (K-6)
8 F Schools
COMBINATION
SCHOOL
Average of:
(K-8 SPS x # Students) +
(HS SPS x # Students)
MIDDLE (K-8)
95% Tests
5% High school credit
earned by end of
freshmen year
Figure 19: Percentage of Students Mastery
and Above, All Subjects, Grades 3-8, 2014
LEAP & iLeap
As seen in the Figure 18, the percentage of public
school students in Orleans Parish at and above basic
has increased 15 percentage points since 2009. RSD
schools have been the main driver behind that increase, having grown 20 percentage points.108 OPSB
schools started at a much higher level and have grown
five percentage points during that same period.
Notably, schools’ performance on LEAP and iLEAP
across the state in 2013-14, and in OPSB and RSD,
remained unchanged from the 2012-13 school year.109
Many predicted that pass rates would decline as more
difficult tests were implemented to be aligned with
Common Core.110 However, unlike other states,
Louisiana did not immediately raise the passing score,
which has prevented an immediate drop in pass rates.
In Louisiana, as implementation of Common Core standards progresses, the passing scores will gradually be raised
to the Mastery level by the year 2025.111 Superintendent
John White said that in order for a district to earn an A in
2025, it will be required to have its average student at Mastery or above, which no district currently demonstrates.112
If measured by that standard today, few districts are performing well. Only 24 percent of Louisiana students, and
19 percent of New Orleans students, scored at Mastery and
above in 2014. Schools under OPSB performed relatively
well, with 42 percent of students at Mastery and above,
while RSD schools had just 12 percent of its students at
that level.113
Figure 18: Percentage of Students Basic and
Above,
Subjects,
Grades
3-8, 2009-14
PercentageAll
of Students
Basic and
Above, Grades
3-8, 2009-14
100%
77%
75%
64%
50%
80%
82%
83%
84%
82%
65%
66%
68%
56%
58%
51%
69%
63%
57%
69%
63%
57%
52%
48%
48%
43%
37%
25%
0%
"
2009
OPSB
Louisiana
Orleans-All
RSD
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, State/District/School
Achievement Level Summary Report, 2009-2014
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, LEAP State-District
Achievement Level Summary Report 2014
Common Core
Public schools in Louisiana began the transition to the
Common Core State Standards and aligned PARCC
assessments in the 2010-11 school year.114 In June of 2014,
Governor Bobby Jindal signed an executive order halting
the purchase of PARCC tests.115 The Governor also wrote
letters notifying the National Governors Association, The
Council of Chief School Officers, and PARCC that Louisiana would not continue to implement the standards and
tests. Immediately following the Governor’s actions, State
Superintendent of Education John White announced that
the Governor did not have the authority to stop implementation of the standards and tests.116 BESE has joined a
lawsuit against Governor Jindal regarding the constitutionality of his actions.117
While Common Core’s fate in Louisiana is uncertain,
schools were scheduled to fully implement the standards
and tests in the 2014-15 school year and BESE planned to
gradually implement aligned school accountability through
2025.118 For the next two years, BESE will not change the
distribution of school letter grades, as part of the transition
to the new standards and tests.119
Percentage of Students Mastery and Above, by Parish 2014
100%
75%
25%
0%
Louisiana -­‐ 24%
Orleans Parish -­‐ 19%
RSD -­‐ 12%
m.
SB
es
ion
na
ny
les
m.
on
on
rd
ier
ita
len
to
vis
ieu
tte
ion
na
rd
lle
roll
ne
ant
he
ary
es
on
on
oln
ine
dia
es
do
ine
ge
ula
inn
ria
ns
ge
ell
ion
es
on
ter
on
ille
ille
oa
tin
dia
oe
lin
hn
na
roll
ry
ee
les
nd
LA
ish
ish
ish
ish
ker
ish
ish
ish
sa
50% OPSB -­‐ 42%
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
21
End of Course Tests
ACT and State Scholarships
In Louisiana, high school students take End of Course
(EOC) tests in six subjects: Algebra I, Geometry, English II
and III, Biology and U.S. History. Students receive one of
the following ratings: Needs Improvement, Fair, Good, or
Excellent. In order to pass the course, a student must score
at or above Fair, but for a school to receive points towards
its SPS, its students must score at or above Good.120
Figure 20: EOC Index
at New
Orleans
Schools,
EOC Index
at NOLA
High Schools,
2013 2013
150
While the average student in New Orleans performed
below average, some New Orleans schools were well above
average. Benjamin Franklin (28.2) and Lusher Charter
School (24.1) both ranked among the top 10 schools in the
state.
State Average
NOLA Schools
100
50
0
"
LDOE began requiring that all 11th grade students take
the ACT, free of charge, in the 2012-13 school year, which
led to increased test completion throughout the state and
in New Orleans.122 Across all subject areas (English, Math,
Reading, and Science), Louisiana students scored 19.5 on
a 36 point scale, which was below the average U.S. student
(20.9). New Orleans students (18.1) performed below the
Louisiana average.123
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, School
Performance Summary 2013
Despite improvement in the average New Orleans high
school, Figure 20 illustrates that the EOC index in most
city schools were still below the state average in 2013.
OPSB schools have traditionally fared better than RSD
students and its students ranked 11th in the state for the
percentage of students scoring Good or Excellent in 2014.
Though New Orleans’ RSD students still rank near the
bottom in the state, their scores improved at the third
fastest rate in the state between 2009 and 2014 with an
increase of 34 percentage points.121
Figure 21: Percentage of Students Scoring
Good or Excellent on EOC, all Subjects 2014
ACT performance in New Orleans was highly variable and
many schools did not perform well. The ACT score is an
important criterion for students hoping to be eligible for
the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS),
which provides students with scholarships to Louisiana
state colleges and universities. To qualify for the Opportunity Award, a student must receive an ACT score above the
previous year’s state average, which is currently at 20. The
student must also have at least a 2.50 GPA in their core
courses. Students with higher ACT scores may be eligible
for additional funds through the Performance or Honors
awards.124
The Tech Award can be used at state technical schools and
community colleges. To qualify, a student must
score a 17 or higher on the ACT and have a GPA
of 2.50 or higher in their core courses.125
The TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and
Honors Awards are limited to four years; the Tech
Award is limited to two years. In order to maintain
any of the scholarships, a student generally must
keep their GPA at or above 2.50 at the end of each
spring semester.126
ORLEANS
ALL
Source: Louisiana Department of Education,
2013-2014 State-District Comparison
22
TOPS awards are only one way for New Orleans
high school graduates to receive financial support
for post-secondary education, with many students
receiving need- and merit-based scholarships. The
Times-Picayune reported that as of May 1, 2014,
city public school Class of 2014 had been awarded
over $53 million in merit scholarships.127
% Graduates Enrolled in
College Fall 2012
Cohort
Graduation
Rate
Total
By Type
Total
2-Year: 27%
By Type
2-Year: 52%
4-Year:
4-Year: 47%
Max Annual
57%
56% Award*
$2,656
Source:
Louisiana Department
Tech
12of Education, 2011-12
50% College Enrollment and Persistence Data
2
2
Honors***
1
8%
$5,936
$6,336
OPSB 8%
RSD
4%
$6,736
Graduated with
9 of 10
7 of 10
*Max award varies based on the tuition atCohort
student’s school.
**Performance Award max includes additional
stipend.
Enrolled$400/year
in
6 of 10
3 of 10
College$800/year
Fall 2012 stipend.
***Honors Award max includes additional
Source: Louisiana Department of Education,
ACT in
Scores, Class of 2013
Enrolled
5 of 10
College Fall 2013
2 of 10
Smaller than Average High Schools
Smaller
than
Average
On average,
New Orleans
high schools
are smaller than
the Louisiana and U.S. averages. In the 2013-14 school
High Schools
year, the average New Orleans high school had about 424
On average, New Orleans high schools are smaller
students.128 In comparison, the most recent data available
than the Louisiana and U.S. averages. In the 2013-14
(2010-11)
showed
that theNew
average
high high
school
in Louisischool year,
the average
Orleans
school
had
ana
had
620
students,
which
was
slightly
below
nationabout 424 students. In comparison, the mosttherecent
129
aldata
average
of 684(2010-11)
students.showed
Belowthat
arethe
the average
percentages
available
highof
New
Orleans
high schools
are students,
above, at, which
and below
school
in Louisiana
hadthat
620
wasthe
slightly
below the national average of 684 students.
state
average.
Below are the percentages of New Orleans high
Figure 22: New Orleans High School Sizes Relaschools that are above, at, and below the state average.
tive to State Average, 2013-14
Larger than State 17% (5 schools)
Average
At State Average
7% (2 schools)
Smaller than State 77% (23 schools)
Average
Sources: Louisiana Department of Education; U.S. Department
Sources: Louisiana Department of Education; U.S. Department of of
Education
Education
69%
2-Year: 44%
TOPS
RSD Award68%# Schools
44%% Schools
Opportunity
Total
2-Year: 31%
89%
71% Where the Average
79% Student
Table 4:OPSB
New Orleans
Schools
4-Year: 73%
4-Year:
Qualifies for TOPS based on ACT Composite Scores, 2013
Performance**
% Enrolled
in College
Spring 2014
% Graduates Enrolled in
College Fall 2013
79%
57%
Jump Start Career Education
Recently, ​BESE passed rules and the Louisiana Legislature
passed legislation to improve career education opportunities for high school students.130 The Jump Start program
seeks to prepare students for careers that do not require
a traditional four-year college degree, but still equip students with the skills to be eligible for a four-year college.
Students will receive training for positions in industries
that have been identified as high-growth sectors, such
as carpentry, plumbing, construction, and medicine.131
Coursework will also lead to or count towards industry-certified credentials, which should increase employability upon graduation. High schools will partner with
colleges and businesses to offer the coursework.
In 11th grade, students will choose one either the traditional or career track. This change will give low-performing 8th graders more opportunity to improve their scores
before having to choose between the two diploma tracks.​
Previously, students were placed in the career track in the
9th grade and would receive a less rigorous high school
education as a result​.132
BESE also changed the accountability system to balance
incentives for schools to develop high-quality career-education programs. For example, when calculating a
school’s graduation index, which counts as 25 percent of
a high school’s School Performance Score, a school will
be equally rewarded for having a student graduate in four
years with an advanced career-education credential as a
student who graduates on time with a qualifying score on
an Advanced Placement exam.133
The new career-education diploma program is scheduled
to be fully implemented by the 2017-18 school year,
when the old career diploma will no longer be awarded.134
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report 23
Figure 23: Class of 2012 Graduation Rates and Post-Secondary Enrollment
OPSB
RSD
4-Year
2-Year
9 of 10
Graduated with
7 of 10
Cohort
7 of 10
2012 Graduates
Enrolled in
4.5 of 10
College in Fall
2-Year:
3 of 10
4-Year:
7 of 10
Fall 2012
Enrollment by
College Type
2-Year:
4.5 of 10
4-Year:
5.5 of 10
4-Year
2-Year
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, College Going/
Enrollment Data for 2011-2012 High School Graduates
Cohort graduation rates in New Orleans, which measure
the percent of students graduating high school in four
years, mirrored the state average (about 73% in 201213).135 However, there is disparity between OPSB and RSD
schools. OPSB high school students ranked near the top
of the state with a cohort graduation rate of 89.3 percent
while RSD-New Orleans’ rate was only 59.5 percent.136
These trends carry over to students’ college matriculation.
More high school graduates from OPSB enroll in college
immediately after graduation than RSD graduates. Matriculating OPSB students enroll in four-year colleges at a
higher rate (73 percent) than RSD (56 percent).137 Nearly
half of RSD’s class of 2012 who enrolled in college chose
to attend a 2-year school as opposed to less than 30 percent
for OPSB.138
New Orleans high schools have begun to place greater emphasis on better preparing their students for post-secondary
success. Schools have reported the following initiatives:
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
completion rates are improving among city schools,
which ensures that students have the resources to
attend post-secondary schools.
• Fit and Match: high schools help their students find
colleges that fit students’ needs in areas such as academics, location, class sizes, and support services.
They also make sure that students are finding the best
schools possible that match the students’ academic
abilities.
• Robust college counseling services, which include supporting students in their first year of post-secondary
education to promote persistence.
School Capacity
by School
andSchools
School Letter
Students Prefer
High-Scoring
Figure 24: School Capacity by Letter Grade, 2013-14
Grade, 2013-2014
School at or Above Capacity
Elementary Schools
School Below Capacity*
High Schools
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
Achievement and
Choice
Students have shown their
preference for schools that have
higher school performance
scores. In both elementary
and high schools, schools with
lower school letter grades tend
to have enrollments below
capacity.139
NA
Excess capacity especially exists
at the high school-level where
half of the graded schools are
F
under enrolled. All but one of
Ungraded High Schools
the D and F schools are below
capacity.
NA
T
T
F
Ungraded Elementary Schools
*Below
capacityindicates indicates that
enrollment
was lessw
than
seats8provided
OneApp. capacity. *Below capacity that enrollment as l83%
ess of
than 3% of rineported **Some
schools
may
be
represented
in
both
Elem.
and
HS
if
they
serve
grades
for
both.grades for both. **Some schools may be represented in both Elem. and HS if they serve ***Capacity data were not available for six elementary schools and three high schools.
***Capacity data were not available for 6 elementary schools and 3 high schools ****School Letter Grades are from 2012-13 school year.
***School Letter Grades are from 2012-­‐2013 school year.
24
Source: Cowen Institute analysis based on
data received from RSD and OPSB.
2012-13 Attendance Rates
Attendance rates vary by school operator and grade level.
RSD students miss more days on average than other New
Orleans public school students and attendance rates tend
to decrease as students enter high school. Attendance
rates are important indicators of student engagement and
success.140
!
Figure 25:
2012-13 Average School Attendance Rates
BESE - 96%
OPSB - 95%
RSD-NOLA - 91%
Elementary - 94%
Combination - 93%
High School - 88%
Source: Louisiana Department of Education,
MFP Accountability Report, 2014
Youth Opportunity Center
As a result of the CEA between OPSB and RSD, the two
districts will use funds from Harrah’s Casino to expand
the Truancy Center into a proactive, preventative Youth
Opportunity Center (YOC).142 The YOC will provide
chronically absent students with comprehensive case
management designed to address the challenges facing the
youth and their families.143
The YOC will also serve students who are transitioning
out of secure and non-secure custody. Students who
are in the Judicial System and returning back to school
from prison are at an increased risk of dropping out of
school. In addition to providing support to students
and their families, the YOC will provide schools with a
research-based framework to respond to chronic absenteeism and re-entry from prison for effective intervention.
RSD will run the YOC during its first pilot year. The
YOC is expected to open its doors in August 2014.144
Chronic Absenteeism
While school-level attendance averages may seem high,
over a quarter of New Orleans students were classified as
chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism refers to students
who miss 10 percent or more of school days.141 Figure
26 below shows how much more serious the problem
of chronic absenteeism is for New Orleans high school
students.
Figure 26: Students Absent 10% or More of
School Year, 2012-13
28.2%
16.2%
15.9%
PK-4th
5th-8th
9th-12th
Source: OPSB and RSD, OPSB-RSD Collaboration: Truancy
and Chronic Absenteeism in New Orleans, 2014
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report 25
Successes and Challenges:
What’s Next in New Orleans School Reform?
Successes
OPSB and RSD Collaboration Formalized
The Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (CEA) represents a
breakthrough for the relationship between OPSB and RSD
that has been marked by a history of tension. Through
the CEA, OPSB and RSD formalized their collaborative
relationship. By defining responsibilities and expectations,
the CEA provides a structure for OPSB and RSD to
affirm their commitment to equitably serving the needs of
all public school students in New Orleans. Together the
districts pledge to support programming to effectively meet
the needs of their most at-risk students. A citywide exceptional needs fund was created to support schools with the
26
expenses associated with serving students with high-needs
disabilities. In addition, the districts committed to funding
a new therapeutic setting for students in need of intensive
mental health support. Students at risk of dropping out
due to chronic absenteeism and court-related activities
will also be better served through the newly created Youth
Opportunity Center, which will provide additional and
improved services to support youth. The CEA also outlines
processes for cooperation in facility improvement and
long-term maintenance.
Fair Accountability and Decision-Making
Increased Participation in OneApp
With the implementation of Jump Start Career Education,
BESE changed the public school accountability system to
acknowledge career credentialing in a high school’s performance score. In the graduation index, which accounts for
25 percent of a high school’s SPS, a school will be equally
rewarded for students who graduate in four years with an
advanced career-education credential or with a qualifying
score on the Advanced Placement exam. In addition, alternative high schools that target students who are over-aged
and under-credited will be evaluated for charter renewal or
closure based on a specific set of criteria that more closely relates to their mission. Lastly, both OPSB and RSD
outlined their expectations for schools by adopting performance metrics. These measures will help ensure that renewal and closure decisions are fair and transparent.
The inclusion of all public school options in a unified
application system is a critical step towards ensuring a fair,
transparent, and equitable public school system in New
Orleans. Of the 87 public schools in New Orleans, 77
schools participated in OneApp; nine OPSB charter schools
and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts managed
their own application and admissions process. The 2014
OneApp timeline changed from previous years to accommodate schools with selective admissions criteria. The
early deadline allowed time for students and families to
complete entrance requirements, such as academic testing,
prior to placement. In addition, 20 non-public schools in
Orleans Parish that receive public vouchers for tuition were
included in the unified application process.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report 27
Challenges
Costs of Decentralization
Continued Academic Growth
The complex and decentralized governance structure of
public schools in New Orleans results in unintended consequences. As a result of decentralization, no single entity
is responsible for data management and general oversight
of all schools. Without a central database, children may
not be accounted for, especially when transferring schools,
and schools may lack timely access to student records. The
decentralization of public school transportation also has
important implications. Citywide busing allows students
to attend schools in any neighborhood by eliminating the
transportation hardships their parents may face, but results
in additional costs for schools. On average, public schools
in New Orleans spent 21 percent more on transportation
than the average Louisiana public school. With multiple
bus route and stops, student safety is also at risk. School
and CMO leaders recognize this challenge and are working
together and with outside organizations and leaders, such
as City Councilwoman Cantrell to establish safe, cost-effective solutions.
Public school performance in New Orleans has shown
consistent improvement in recent years. Although research
has shown that test scores can plateau over time, it is not
inevitable. Continuing the trajectory of improvement
can be achieved with concerted effort. In Louisiana, the
transition to the more rigorous Common Core standards
is expected to cause an initial drop in student proficiency
rates and impact school performance scores. State Superintendent White has pledged to increase expectations for
students and has set Mastery, rather than Basic, as the new
expectation. By 2025, an “A” school will be a school where
the average student performs at Mastery or higher. This is a
lofty goal, considering only 24 percent of students statewide and 42 percent and 12 percent of students in OPSB
and RSD schools, respectively, scored Mastery or above
in 2013-14. However, it is important to establish high expectations that will adequately prepare students for success
after high school.
28
Diversity of School Choices
Political Pressures and Priorities
School choice allows parents to apply to enroll their student in any school in the city regardless of where they live.
Since Katrina, low-income families have had greater access
to higher performing schools. Yet the quality and diversity
of choices available to parents may be limited. Although
most students were matched to one of their top three
ranked choices on OneApp, the top two schools (Benjamin
Franklin Elementary School and Edna Karr High School)
received far more applications than they had seats available.
Furthermore only two public schools are demographically
representative of the youth population in New Orleans.
Attracting a diverse student population requires deliberate
effort through recruitment, admissions policies, and school
design.
Political divisions at both the local and state levels have had
a negative impact on public education in New Orleans.
The search for a permanent superintendent to lead OPSB
has stalled for a second year in a row; critics suggest that
unproductive infighting has limited the pool of highly
qualified applicants. The board’s failure to find a consensus
candidate limits the district’s ability to set strategic direction for the future. Although OPSB has the potential to
play the leadership role, as evidenced by its willingness to
authorize diverse school models and its collaboration with
RSD on the CEA, the lack of unity and purpose presents a
challenge for the system of public schools in New Orleans.
In New Orleans, the variation in school design is largely
limited to high-stakes standards-based teaching and strict
discipline policies. BESE’s policy of authorizing replications or charter schools with evidence of successful operation to takeover a school can potentially restrict the diversity of options available. While there is need and demand
for schools with proven track records, a greater array of
academic offerings could create more top choices for families. With the ability to authorize charter schools beginning
in 2012, OPSB has taken the lead in authorizing schools
that are willing to take other approaches to education. As
portfolio managers, RSD and OPSB have a responsibility
to provide families in New Orleans with ample highquality options.
Statewide, Governor Jindal’s insistence on dictating Common Core policy has stymied the progress schools have
made transitioning to the more rigorous standards. Governor Jindal’s political move to withdraw from the Common
Core and halt the purchase of the 2014-15 state assessments from PARCC has placed the state in educational
chaos. State Superintendent White has maintained that
the state will continue to implement the Common Core
standards. Jindal’s attempt to suspend the testing contract
for the Common Core-aligned tests resulted in a lawsuit;
teachers and students are preparing for a new school year
amid the uncertainty. Placing political aspirations above
the needs of students has dire consequences; thriving in
this environment will be a challenge in the upcoming year.
Looking Ahead
Educators in New Orleans should be proud of the gains
they have made in the classroom. While debates rightly
persist about particular aspects of the reform movement,
academic performance has improved and students have
better choices than they did before Hurricane Katrina. Ensuring continued academic growth and equal opportunities
for all students will not be a simple task. It will require
strong leadership and much coordination among the
diffuse leadership. Politicians will need to put the needs of
students ahead of their own political aims and school leaders must continue to focus on improving the achievement
of all students. Next year will mark the ten-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina; it is critical that momentum is not
lost and New Orleanians and Louisianans work together to
continue to progress.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report 29
Appendix
Visit www.speno2014.com for detailed interactive appendix.
School Name
BESE Charter/Independent Schools
International High School of New Orleans
International School of Louisiana
Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle-Orleans
New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
OPSB Direct-Run Schools
Benjamin Franklin Elem. Math and Science
Eleanor McMain Secondary School
Mahalia Jackson Elementary School
Mary Bethune Elementary Literature/Technology
McDonogh #35 Academy
McDonogh #35 College Preparatory School
OPSB Charter Schools
Alice M. Harte Elementary Charter School
Audubon Charter School
Benjamin Franklin High School
Bricolage Academy
Edna Karr High School
Edward Hynes Charter School
Einstein Charter School
ENCORE Academy
Homer A. Plessy Community School
Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
Lusher Charter School
New Orleans Charter Science and Mathematics HS
Robert Russa Moton Charter School
Warren Easton Senior High School
RSD Direct-Run Schools
A.P. Tureaud Elementary School
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
F.W. Gregory Elementary School
G.W. Carver High School
Sarah Towles Reed Senior High School
Walter L. Cohen High School
30
Grades Served
2013-14
Total Students % Free and
Reported
Reduced Lunch
2013 School
Letter Grade
9-12
K-8
PK-3
9-11
9-11
461
819
398
357
175
74
56
29
66
31
D
A
N/A
B
A
PK-8
7-12
PK-2
PK-6
7-8
9-12
753
815
141
395
187
674
83
87
≥95
≥95
≥95
90
B
B
B
B
D
C
K-8
PK-8
9-12
K
9-12
K-8
PK-8
PK-6
PK-2
K-8
K-12
9-12
PK-7
9-12
696
799
864
75
1021
646
908
318
115
513
1698
384
361
944
81
44
28
41
83
47
91
89
60
80
19
83
≥95
84
B
A
A
N/A
B
A
B
D
N/A
A
A
C
D
B
PK-6
PK-8
PK
11-12
11-12
12
202
400
112
83
148
43
≥95
≥95
≥95
88
90
≥95
D
D
N/A
D
D
F
Grades Served Total Students
2013-14
Reported
% Free and
Reduced Lunch
2013 School
Letter Grade
School Name
RSD Charter Schools
Akili Academy of New Orleans
Algiers Technology Academy
Andrew H. Wilson Charter School
Arise Academy
Arthur Ashe Charter School
Cohen College Prep
Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School for Sci/Tech
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School
Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy
Esperanza Charter School
Fannie C. Williams Charter School
G. W. Carver Collegiate Academy
G. W. Carver Preparatory Academy
Gentilly Terrace Elementary School
Harriet Tubman Charter School
James M. Singleton Charter School
K-6
9-12
PK-8
PK-6
K-8
6-12
PK-12
PK-8
K-8
K-8
K-8
9-10
9-10
PK-8
K-8
PK-8
482
234
652
484
583
493
813
796
371
484
576
202
186
467
521
549
≥95
92
≥95
≥95
≥95
≥95
86
93
≥95
≥95
≥95
91
91
91
≥95
≥95
C
D
D
C
B
D
C
C
D
C
T
N/A
N/A
C
T
D
John Dibert Community School
John McDonogh High School
Joseph A. Craig Charter School
Joseph S. Clark Preparatory High School
KIPP Believe College Prep (Phillips)
KIPP Central City Academy
KIPP Central City Primary
KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts
KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy
KIPP Renaissance High School
Lafayette Academy
Lagniappe Academy of New Orleans
Lake Area New Tech Early College High School
Langston Hughes Charter Academy
Lawrence D. Crocker College Prep
Lord Beaconsfield Landry-Oliver Perry Walker High
Martin Behrman Elementary School
PK-8
9-12
PK-8
9-12
K-8
5-8
K-4
K-8
K-8
9-12
PK-8
K-8
9-12
PK-8
PK-5
9-12
PK-8
516
302
406
379
714
430
524
878
770
418
920
164
660
817
314
1172
707
≥95
≥95
≥95
93
94
≥95
≥95
94
≥95
94
≥95
≥95
82
≥95
≥95
92
≥95
B
T
T
T
C
B
C
B
C
D
C
B
C
C
N/A
N/A
B
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report
31
School Name
RSD Charter Schools (continued)
Mary D. Coghill Charter School
McDonogh #32 Elementary School
McDonogh 42 Charter School
McDonogh City Park Academy
Mildred Osborne Charter School
Miller-McCoy Academy for Mathematics and Business
Morris Jeff Community School
Nelson Elementary School
Paul Habans Charter School
Pierre A. Capdau Learning Academy
ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy at Live Oak
ReNEW Dolores T. Aaron Elementary
ReNEW Schaumburg Elementary
ReNEW SciTech Academy at Laurel
Samuel J. Green Charter School
Sci Academy
Sophie B. Wright Learning Academy
Success Preparatory Academy
Sylvanie Williams College Prep
William J. Fischer Elementary School
RSD Alternative Charter Schools
Crescent Leadership Academy
The NET Charter High School
ReNEW Accelerated High School #1
ReNEW Accelerated High School #2
Grades Served
2013-14
Total Students
Reported
% Free and
Reduced Lunch
PK-8
PK-8
PK-8
K-8
PK-6
5-12
PK-5
PK-8
PK-6
K-8
PK-8
PK-8
PK-8
PK-8
K-8
9-12
6-12
K-7
PK-5
PK-8
607
603
475
449
410
326
401
532
428
376
617
776
825
750
482
433
447
467
344
647
≥95
≥95
≥95
≥95
≥95
89
59
≥95
≥95
92
≥95
≥95
≥95
≥95
≥95
91
≥95
93
≥95
≥95
C
C
T
C
N/A
D
C
C
B
F
D
N/A
N/A
C
C
B
B
C
C
C
7-12
9-12
234
145
63
92
T
F
9-12
9-12
175
177
79
79
F
F
Source: Louisiana Department of Education, Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School Students - October 2013.
32
2013 School
Letter Grade
End Notes
1. Hill, Paul, Ashley Jochim, and Christine Campbell. (2013, February). “Portfolio Strategies, Relinquishment, the Urban School
System of the Future, and Smart Districts.” Seattle: Center on
Reinventing Public Education.
2. Dreilinger, Danielle (2014, March 13). “In move toward cooperation, New Orleans’ two school systems consider agreement
with millions for trouble youth.” The Times-Picayune.
3. Change, Cindy. (2010, December 9). “BESE approves Pastorek’s plan.” The Times-Picayune.
4. Williams, Jessica. (2013, December 30). “Refusal to return to
Orleans Parish School Board, a sign of distrust of locally elected
boards?” The Lens.
5. H.B. 661, LA Regular Session, 2013.
6. Williams, Jessica. (2013, December 30). “Refusal to return to
Orleans Parish School Board, a sign of distrust of locally elected
boards?” The Lens.
7. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, December 13). “The permanent,
dwindling Recovery School District.” The Times-Picayune.
8. Louisiana Administrative Code. Title 28, Education, Part
CXXXXIX, Bulletin 126 - Charter Schools.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, December 13). “The permanent,
dwindling Recovery School District.” The Times-Picayune.
14. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, September 20). “Orleans superintendent search firm says it will take the School Board’s
contract.” The Times-Picayune.
15. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, January 21). “Orleans Parish
School Board elects Nolan Marshall Jr. president in bid for
unity.” The Times-Picayune.
16. OPSB. (2013, July 3.) Executed Operating Agreement for
Harte and Karr between InspireNOLA and OPSB.
17. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, February 10). “Orleans Parish
School Board narrows priorities for new superintendent.” The
Times-Picayune.
18. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, June 16). “Orleans Parish School
Board to pick superintendent finalists to meet the public.” The
Times-Picayune.
19. Ibid.
20. Louisiana Department of Education. (2013, October).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
21. Khadaroo, Stacy Teicher (2014, March 1). “New Orleans goes
all in on charter schools. Is it showing the way?” The Christian
Science Monitor.
22. Fountain, Edmund. (2014, May 28). “In New Orleans, major
school district closes traditional public schools.” The Washington
Post.
23. Dreillinger, Danielle. (2014, April 25). “Students at failing John McDonogh assigned to mostly B, C schools.” The
Times-Picayune..
24. Louisiana Department of Education. (2013, October).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
25. Louisiana Department of Education. (2004 and 2006, October). “Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary
School Students.”
26. Louisiana Department of Education. (2006-08, October).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
27. Louisiana Department of Education. (2004-13, October).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
28. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, August 30). “New Orleans’
summer of school change: Where did the students go?” The
Times-Picayune.
29. Ibid.
30. OPSB. (2013, July 3). Executed Operating Agreement for
Harte and Karr between InspireNOLA and OPSB.
31. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, April 17). “2 New Orleans Parish
charter schools find homes.” The Times-Picayune.
32. Ibid.
33. U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey, Table
B14002.
34. Louisiana Department of Education. (2014, February).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
35. Ibid.
36. Louisiana Department of Education. (2013, October).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
37. U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights. (201112). “2011-12 District or School Reports.”
38. Harden, Kari (2013, December 3). “N.O. struggles to provide
adequate education for special-needs students.” The Louisiana
Weekly.
39. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, August 2). “Unrelenting New Orleans special education problems alleged in new court filings.” The
Times-Picayune.
40. Educate Now! (2013, May 21). “Special Education - OPSB Not
Serving its Share.”
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid.
44. U.S. Department of Education. (2014). “IDEA State Determinations Under Results Driven Accountability: 2014.” 2014
Charts 1-7.
45. Whitehurst, Grover J. & Whitfield, Sarah. (2014, January).
“The Education Choice and Competition Index Background
and Results 2013.”
46. Louisiana Department of Education (n.d.). Louisiana Scholarship Program: http://www.louisianabelieves.com/schools/louisiana-scholarship-program.
47. Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). ”Louisiana Scholarship Program: 2014-15 Scholarship Schools Frequently Asked
Questions.”
48. Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). ”Projected 2013
MFP District Allocations.”
49. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, October 21). “School voucher
enrollment goes up 38 percent despite lawsuit, budget fight.”
The Times-Picayune.
50. Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). ”Louisiana Scholarship Program: 2014-15 Scholarship Schools Frequently Asked
Questions.”
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report 33
51. Louisiana Department of Education. (2013). ”Scholarship
Annual Report Index.”
52. Ibid.
53. Ibid.
54. Ibid.
55. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, May 7). “Louisiana Supreme Court
rules voucher funding violates the state Constitution.” The
Times-Picayune.
56. Louisiana Administrative Code. State Budget, Fiscal Year 201314.
57. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, August 24). “U.S. government
sues to block vouchers in some Louisiana school systems.” The
Times-Picayune.
58. Vanacore, Andrew. (2013, December 1). “Judge opens door
for greater federal scrutiny of Jindal’s voucher program.” The
Advocate.
59. H.B. 1271, LA Regular Session, 2014.
60. Louisiana Department of Education. (2012). “School-bySchool Financial Data Reports for the 2011-12 School Year.”
61. Ibid.
62. Ibid.
63. Ibid.
64. Daley, Ken. (2014, February 3). “Child killed in Gentilly hitand-run identified as Akili Academy first grader.” The Times
Picayune.
65. Louisiana Department of Education. (2012). “School-bySchool Financial Data Reports for the 2011-12 School Year.”
66. Ibid.
67. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, March 18). “New Orleans’ two
school systems approve landmark agreement.” The Times-Picayune.
68. Tan, Sarah. (2014, March 11). “New public school funding
formula proposes to give on average an extra $232 per student.”
The Times-Picayune.
69. Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). “High Cost Services Allocation School Year 2014-2015.”
70. Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education document, “High Risk Pool, CFDA # (if applicable), FY
2013-2014 Allocations”, provided by Louisiana Department of
Education on July 30, 2014.
71. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, March 19). “Recovery School
District charters to have new special education funding rules.”
The Times-Picayune.
72. Ibid.
73. Chang, Cindy. (2010, August 25). “FEMA awards $1.8 billion
to New Orleans schools for construction, renovation projects.”
The Times-Picayune.
74. Vanacore, Andrew. (2011, October 19). “Louisiana education
board approves changes to new Orleans’ master plan for school
construction.” The Advocate.
75. Jacobs CSRS Program Management. (2010, 2014). “Quarterly
Reports” and (2011) “School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans
Parish: Revised Amendments.”
34
76. Jacobs CSRS Program Management. (2010, 2014). “Quarterly
Reports” and (2011) “School Facilities Master Plan for Orleans
Parish: Revised Amendments.”
77. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, July 7). “State report confirms
financial shortfall in New Orleans school rebuilding plan.” The
Times-Picayune.
78. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, July 14). “Property tax for New Orleans school buildings to be discussed Tuesday.” The Times-Picayune.
79. RSD/OPSB Joint Publication. (2014, April). Schools Rebuilding
DBE Newsletter, Vol.1, Issue 4.
80. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, January 16). “7,000 New Orleans
teachers, laid off after Katrina, win court ruling.” The Times-Picayune.
81. Ibid.
82. Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, May 17). “Louisiana’s first charter
school union is formed at Morris Jeff.” The Times-Picayune.
83. Williams, Jessica. (2014, April 2). “Franklin High School
teachers hope to unionize; some teachers cite pay concerns.” The
Lens.
84. Vanacore, Andrew. (2014, June 12). “Ben Franklin becomes 2nd
N.O. charter with a union.” The Advocate.
85. Broach, Drew. (2014, May 19). “Ben Franklin High board lets
faculty join labor union, website says.” The Times-Picayune.
86. Williams, Jessica. (2013, May 17). “Morris Jeff charter school
board embraces new teachers union.” The Lens.
87. Ibid.
88. Vanacore, Andrew. (2011, December 8). “Recovery School
District officials describe new central enrollment system.” The
Times-Picayune.
89. Morris, Robert. (2012, August). “International School leaders
have no interest in joining RSD OneApp process this year – if
they have a choice.” Uptown Messenger.
90. Vanacore, Andrew. (2012, May 9). “Recovery School District
says new pupil enrollment system is getting the job done.” The
Times-Picayune.
91. Vanacore, Andrew. (2012, November 15). “New Orleans school
officials edge city closer to a single enrollment system.” The
Times-Picayune.
92. Dreillinger, Danielle. (2013, April 26). “Ben Franklin, McMain
top OneApp choices for 2013-14.” The Times-Picayune.
93. Recovery School District. OneApp K-12 Application Packet for
the 2014-2015 School Year.
94. Dreillinger, Danielle. (2014, April 23). “Top New Orleans
public school choices in OneApp are Edna Karr, Baby Ben.” The
Times-Picayune.
95. Recovery School District. OneApp K-12 Application Packet for
the 2014-2015 School Year.
96. Ibid.
97. Ibid.
98. Dreillinger, Danielle. (2014, April 24). “Students at failing
John McDonogh High assigned to mostly B, C schools.” The
Times-Picayune.
99. Torres, Manuel. (2008, November 18). “Union contract for
New Orleans schools is a bad move.” The Times-Picayune.
100.Louisiana Department of Education. (2011 and 2014). ”MFP
Accountability Report.”
101.Louisiana Department of Education. (2011 and 2014). ”MFP
Accountability Report.”
102.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, January 15). “Teacher evaluation
revision is pitched as professional development tool, not punitive measure.” The Times-Picayune.
103.Louisiana Department of Education. (2013). ”Compass Final
Report.”
104.H.B. 974, LA Regular Session, 2012.
105.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2013, August 29). “Louisiana teachers
union beefs up arguments in tenure lawsuit.” The Times-Picayune.
106.McGaughy, Lauren. (2014, January 8). “Jindal teacher tenure
law struck down again, heads back to state Supreme Court.”
The Times-Picayune.
107.Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
Bulletin 11, §1101.
108.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). “District Report State-District Comparison Spring 2010-2014 (Basic & Above).”
109.Ibid.
110.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, May 27). “LEAP, iLEAP scores
stable, but are the tests tougher?” The Times-Picayune.
111.Ibid.
112.Ibid.
113.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). “District Percentile Ranking Comparison 2013 to 2014 (Mastery & Above).”
114.Achieve. (2011, September). “From Ideas to Reality: A Recap of
the Common Core State Standards in 2010-11.”
115.State of Louisiana, Executive Department. (2014, June 18).
Executive Order No. BJ 2014 – 7.
116.Associated Press. (2014, June 19). “Jindal outlines actions
against Common Core.” New Orleans City Business.
117.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, July 29). “BESE votes to join
Common Core lawsuit against Gov. Bobby Jindal” The TimesPicayune.
118.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). “2013-2014
LEAP and iLEAP Results PowerPoint.”
119.Ibid.
120.Louisiana Department of Education. (n.d.). “School Performance Scores.” https://www.louisianabelieves.com/accountability/
school-performance-scores.
121.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). “2009-2014
State-District Comparison.”
122.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, June 26). “Louisiana’s ACT numbers are up, more students achieving college-going scores.” The
Times-Picayune.
123.Louisiana Department of Education. (2013). “ACT Scores –
Class of 2013 (District & School Level Results).”
124.Ibid.
125.Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. (2013, September). “LOSFA TOPS Scholarship.”
126.Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance. (2013, September). “LOSFA TOPS Scholarship.”
127.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, May 1). “New Orleans public
school seniors celebrate acceptances to college.” The Times-Picayune.
128.Louisiana Department of Education. (2013, October).
“Multiple Statistics by Site for Elementary/Secondary School
Students.”
129.Keaton, Patrick. (2012, October). “Numbers and Types of Public Elementary and Secondary Schools From the Common Core
of Data: School Year 2010–11.” National Center for Education
Statistics.
130.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014, February 26).
“Jump Start: Expanding Opportunities for Louisiana Students.”
131.Ibid.
132.Ibid.
133.Ibid.
134.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014, February 26).
“Jump Start: Expanding Opportunities for Louisiana Students,
Appendix 6.”
135.Louisiana Department of Education (2011-12). “2011-2012
College Enrollment and Persistence Data.”
136.Ibid.
137.Ibid.
138.Ibid.
139.Data from Cowen Institute analysis based on data received from
RSD and OPSB.
140.Louisiana Department of Education. (2014). ”MFP Accountability Report.”
141.Balfanz, Robert and Byrnes, Vaughan. (2012, May). “The Importance of Being in School: A Report on Absenteeism in the
Nation’s Public Schools.” Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Center for Social Organization of Schools.
142.Dreilinger, Danielle. (2014, March 13). “In move toward cooperation, New Orleans’ two school systems consider agreement
with millions for troubled youth.” The Times-Picayune.
143.Ibid.
144.Ibid.
The State of Public Education in New Orleans: 2014 Report 35
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