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Charter Schools Remedy Education Woes in New Orleans
by
Jen O'Neill
In New Orleans, the tragedy of Katrina has become an opportunity to reform an ailing school system, and charter schools are at the heart of the solution.
30-Second Summary
New Orleans has become and incubator and testing ground for charter schools, which are publicly funded schools administered by private groups. Charter schools are granted autonomy under the condition that they achieve the goals and standards specified in their individual charters.
Before Hurricane Katrina, over two-thirds of students in New Orleans were failing to meet state standards, and corruption was rampant within the administration. Thus, the storm’s aftermath was seen as an opportunity for schools to start over.
In early 2006, the Bring New Orleans Back Education Committee laid out a reform plan in response to the city’s need for a decentralized system of schools that could operate independently and effectively.
The initial recommendation, that the city of New Orleans consider creating a cluster of charter schools, was met with skepticism because it would make New Orleans an experiment in the United States’ charter school movement.
Many within the system are optimistic, and view the project as already yielding results. Adam Nossiter for the International Herald Tribune had this to say: “Only in the last year, with the marshaling of new forces, has anything like a coherent poststorm strategy for the shaky schools here emerged. It is too early for results—standardized-test scores are out in May—but educators here insist that there are some promising signs. At the very least, early shortages of teachers and space for students have been overcome.”
A recent poll conducted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools indicates that although many voters want to have more public school options, they remain “unsure” of charter schools. Many don’t realize that charter schools are a type of public school.
Before Hurricane Katrina, over two-thirds of students in New Orleans were failing to meet state standards, and corruption was rampant within the administration. Thus, the storm’s aftermath was seen as an opportunity for schools to start over.
In early 2006, the Bring New Orleans Back Education Committee laid out a reform plan in response to the city’s need for a decentralized system of schools that could operate independently and effectively.
The initial recommendation, that the city of New Orleans consider creating a cluster of charter schools, was met with skepticism because it would make New Orleans an experiment in the United States’ charter school movement.
Many within the system are optimistic, and view the project as already yielding results. Adam Nossiter for the International Herald Tribune had this to say: “Only in the last year, with the marshaling of new forces, has anything like a coherent poststorm strategy for the shaky schools here emerged. It is too early for results—standardized-test scores are out in May—but educators here insist that there are some promising signs. At the very least, early shortages of teachers and space for students have been overcome.”
A recent poll conducted by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools indicates that although many voters want to have more public school options, they remain “unsure” of charter schools. Many don’t realize that charter schools are a type of public school.
Headline Link: Against odds, New Orleans schools fight back
Since 2005, New Orleans has come to have the highest percentage of students in charter schools among U.S. cities. This happened partly due to the need to redeploy a shattered education system, but also in hopes of improving historically low test scores and high dropout and expulsion rates.
Source: International Herald Tribune
Opinion & Analysis: Effectiveness of charter schools
Charter schools remain controversial, as some believe they take funding away from other public schools. And despite the praise many charter schools receive, there are still questions as to whether or not they actually work.
Source: U.S. News Blog
One question that continues to get asked is this: does the charter school movement actually help students? “The academic performance of charter schools is the subject of intense debate. Advocates cite studies and perform evaluations suggesting charters are marginally superior to traditional public schools. Opponents cite studies and perform evaluations that suggest the opposite,” an article in Converge Magazine stresses.
Source: Converge Magazine
Background: Response to an education crisis
Five months after Katrina, the government in New Orleans sought the best way to reform the school system. It decided upon a decentralized model based around clusters of charter schools. “One reason for the reliance on charter schools, is the desire to restart the school system quickly. It’s widely believed that charters—many run by experienced charter groups—are more capable of operating independently of what the local Times-Picayune called the district’s ‘now largely dismantled central office,’” asserted Scott Cowan, Tulane University’s President.
Source: National School Boards Association
Before the hurricane, the New Orleans school district was failing in every way. The school district ranked second to the last in the state and suffered from massive, endemic corruption, including 26 indictments.
Source: USA Today
Nine New Orleans charter schools have joined a movement called the Louisiana Charter School Alliance, which emerged immediately after Katrina. Community-based organizations and the charter school alliance set out to rebuild the New Orleans education system. They share everything from best practices to supplies, and serve as a support system to one another. “What’s important to us is the long-term survival and success of charter schools as a permanent independent element in education offerings here in the New Orleans region,” the Alliance President said. “This alliance is certainly part of that overall effort for all charters.”
Source: redOrbit
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