A national philanthropic organization is donating $15 million to support continued changes to the educational landscape in New Orleans.
The Laura and John Arnold Foundation, created by retired billionaire energy trader John Arnold, is giving the cash to organizations that support New Orleans’ charter schools, such as the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools; school-choice advocates such as the Black Alliance for Educational Options; and teacher recruitment groups such as the local branch of Teach For America. In total, 10 organizations will receive portions of the grant.
Foundation officers hope their investment will help New Orleans organizations offer better choices for parents and develop a local supply of talented teachers, and said that they hope to be able to provide long-term funding.
“This is very much the start of a relationship,” Caprice Young, the foundation’s vice president of education, said in an interview. Young said the foundation selected these organizations because of their “proven track record of success.” The foundation’s desire to foster local teaching talent led to them support both Teach NOLA and Teach For America, she said.
Here’s the full list of organizations that will benefit:
- Black Alliance for Educational Options
- Leading Educators
- New Schools for New Orleans
- Partners for Developing Futures
- Teach for America – Greater New Orleans-Louisiana Delta
- teach NOLA/TNTP Academy
- Alliance for School Choice
- Students for Education Reform
- Relay Graduate School of Education
- Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
New Schools for New Orleans head Neerav Kingsland said in a news release that the effort is a way to “ensure that all of our students have high-quality public school options.”