Crescent City Schools getting ready for new term
Akili moving into new building; Habans getting a make-over.
Author: Jessica Williams
- About Jessica Williams
- Jessica Williams stays on top of the city's loosely organized collection of public schools, with a special emphasis on charter schools. In 2011 she was recognized by the Press Club of New Orleans for her reporting on charter school transparency and governance. In 2012, she was part of a team that received a National Edward R. Murrow Award for their work following a New Orleans family's recovery after Hurricane Katrina. She graduated from Edna Karr Secondary School in Algiers, and she obtained her bachelor
State documents detail standardized test cheating, irregularities at New Orleans schools
In three recent testing years, 33 public schools have been flagged for problems and possible cheating on standardized tests — 12 more than once. A testing expert says these irregularities indicate cheating by teachers and administrators, who have a lot riding on their students' performance.
How The Lens investigated standardized testing problems
Which documents we used, what they told us, and what's missing.
Crescent City Schools budget expands to nearly $18 million as network grows to three schools
Harriet Tubman Charter School plans a move into the empty O. Perry Walker High School building in January.
Most students leaving RSD’s 4 closed, failing schools are headed to other substandard schools
Four of the Recovery School District's failing schools will not reopen next year. In most cases, those students will be at other substandard schools. About three-quarters of students leaving Abramson Elementary James Weldon Johnson Elementary are headed to schools graded F or T, which are failing schools that are under new operators. The exception: Benjamin E. Mays Preparatory School students, who were offered preference in RSD's enrollment process.
Closure of unneeded, failing schools causes disruption for students and teachers
For students at four New Orleans schools, the end of the school year means the end of their school. Such closures are part of a plan to pare down the number of schools in a smaller city. Critics say the lack of stability hurt students; accountability advocates say it's better than letting them languish.
Landry supporters speak out against Walker merger at BESE meeting
Landry supporters claim that merging the schools will incite violence among students.
State Supreme Court ruling against vouchers means more money for Orleans Parish schools
The change more than makes up for a budget cut announced in March.
Bill would forbid suspension of students for violating school-uniform rules
A second bill seeks to preserve the autonomy of charter schools that opt to return to OPSB control.
EPA’s inspector general now investigating Operation REACH’s use of $50,000 grant
The troubled nonprofit got the money last year to train students in converting cooking oil to diesel fuel.
