Board members at the embattled Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans Charter School Monday closed the doors to “anybody who is not connected with the family” of the school as they met for two hours with parents in what they insisted was not a public meeting. The closed-door session involving three board members and about […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Letten lesson: Even the best officials need ‘terrible scrutiny’
Teddy Roosevelt aimed his elephant gun at elephants, not house flies. News stories have talked up the “irony” of U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s resignation, which is effective today. We’ve been reminded that in 2001 businessman Fred Heebe was the top candidate to replace then-interim U.S. Attorney Letten. But allegations of domestic abuse derailed Heebe’s candidacy, […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Agreement reached on consent decree to reform Orleans jail
The U.S. Department of Justice today released a much-anticipated, proposed consent decree to settle a lawsuit with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office over unconstitutional jail conditions identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Department of Justice. The civil rights group sued Sheriff Marlin Gusman in April over practices and conditions at the jail. […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Brookings report: RSD tops in nation on school choice
The Recovery School District ranks first among more than 100 school districts nationally for its school choice offerings, a report from the Brookings Institution said Tuesday. The state-run district was judged by The Brown Center on Education Policy, with results posted on Brookings’ Education Choice and Competition Index, a web application that ranks school districts […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Live blog recap: Jindal speaks on education policy at Brookings
Gov. Bobby Jindal is in Washington, D.C., today to deliver a keynote address at a Brookings Institution event on education. According to Brookings, Jindal will offer “his reflections on education reform in his state and the nation in the context of school choice and competition.” He will speak at 12:50 p.m. CST. Jindal will undoubtedly […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Choice Foundation investigated cheating accusation at Lafayette Academy
Officials at Lafayette Academy charter school, whose academic scores have more than doubled in the past five years, acknowledged investigating a cheating allegation on the state’s annual standardized test earlier this year, but decided it was unsubstantiated. It’s hard to know what happened, however, because the school board has refused to provide details. In response […]
Posted inInvestigations, Schools
Public in the dark about cheating accusation at Lafayette Academy
Officials at Lafayette Academy charter school, whose academic scores have more than doubled in the past five years, acknowledged investigating a cheating allegation on the state’s annual standardized test earlier this year, but decided it was unsubstantiated. It’s hard to know what happened, however, because the school board has refused to provide details. In response […]
Posted inLand Use
Company late on repairs to public housing damaged by Isaac
Three months after Hurricane Isaac drenched New Orleans, some rental units damaged by the storm remained unrepaired at The Estates, the housing development on the site of the old Desire housing project. All 425 units at The Estates suffered water and other storm damage. The Housing Authority of New Orleans gave the management company, Interstate […]
Posted inSchools
Walker community pleads for Orleans school board oversight
Let us go and leave us alone. That was the message employees and parents from O. Perry Walker High delivered to the Algiers Charter School Association board members in a contentious meeting Thursday night that drew a passionate crowd of onlookers more than 50 strong. The 900-student school is facing an uncertain future on two fronts. The Louisiana Recovery School […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Walker community to ACSA board: Let us go and leave us alone
Let us go and leave us alone. That was the message employees and parents from O. Perry Walker High delivered to the Algiers Charter School Association board members in a contentious meeting Thursday night that drew a passionate crowd of onlookers more than 50 strong. The 900-student school is facing an uncertain future on two fronts. The Louisiana Recovery School […]