As the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, empirical evidence is mounting. It’s harder than ever to deny the transformation of New Orleans’ school system after the storm produced unparalleled gains in student achievement.
It may be time to move beyond a narrow debate about whether the reforms “worked.” Some of the critiques, especially those coming from outsiders, can miss the mark, but legitimate issues remain.
Most importantly: What say do New Orleans residents have in the way their city’s schools are governed?
Howard Fuller recently summed it up this way: “If we’re going to build on those positive things, we have got to make sure that people feel more empowered in this process.” That lesson can apply beyond New Orleans as reformers look to replicate this success in other places.
Want a better feel for the broader social, political and cultural context? Give this a listen.
Meanwhile…
It took three years to double the number of charter schools in Baton Rouge, LA.
There’s a lot of noise in public opinion polling on school choice and education reform.
Low-cost private schools fill the education void in the developing world.
Could one Colorado school district bring down the Blaine Amendment in its state?
School choice is great for teachers, too.
Enrollment in Nevada’s education savings account program is now open. Regulations are still in the works.
ICYMI, this week on redefinED
Seth Rau talks about making Nevada’s ESA program work.
Matthew Ladner talks ESAs and equity.
Coming up: Howard Fuller.
Quote of the Week:
If you’re surrounded by a bunch of kids who are all behind, you stay behind. But if you’re in a classroom that has some kids behind and some kids advance, the kids who are behind tend to catch up. These kids in these classes in schools with concentrated poverty don’t have that.
They don’t have that effect of kids who can help boost them. Everyone’s behind. And then they’re getting the worst teacher.
So it’s not even like they’re getting the same quality teachers as kids who are advanced. They’re getting worse teachers. When you combine those two things, it is almost impossible to undo that harm. You have to break that up.
— Reporter Nikole Hannah, in a must-listen This American Life episode on racial integration and a St. Louis-area school transfer program. Part Two is now live.
Is this a school choice story? Kind of. Send your thoughts, along with tips, suggestions, comments and criticism, to [email protected]. Patrick Gibbons helped compile this report.
