Dr. King Charter School will not be rejoining the Orleans Parish School District. Its governing board, Friends of King, last week decided against sending a letter of intent to leave the Recovery School District and rejoin the local school district as its improved academic performance allows. Principal Doris Hicks told the board during its Dec. […]
Author Archives: Joshua Johnston
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Exceptional emphasis on extra-curriculars, community involvement
In her monthly “School Culture and Climate” updates, Principal Early showcases the numerous clubs and events that students are engaged in, on top of their already rigorous studies. She sees this as a necessary part of shaping well-rounded students. “They understand that you, as a productive citizen, have to support your community,” Mrs. Early said […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Big jump in school scores lifts NOCPA into top third; special-ed students discussed
Director Ben Kleban kicked off the Nov. 13 board meeting with a highly encouraging academic update on the three schools run by New Orleans College Prep Academies. In the 2011-12 school year, New Orleans College Prep, Sylvanie Williams Elementary and Walter L. Cohen High improved by 14 points, for an aggregate performance score of 82, […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Special-ed classifications draw fire; decision looms on return to OPSB
Accusations that the Recovery School District overloaded Joseph Craig Elementary School with special-needs students was a focus of the Nov. 13 meeting of Friends of King Schools, the board responsible for Craig as well as for Martin Luther King Science and Technology Charter School. Officials estimate close to 100 Craig students have special needs and […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Teachers face new curriculum and evaluation challenges; color codes track classroom progress
The October 17th meeting of Lake Forest Elementary Charter School Board focused on the array of changes teachers face this year. Teachers have a new curriculum to implement, a new evaluation system, a slew of education bills in the legislature that might effect them and — according to Principal Mardele Early — a lot of […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Enrollment surge brightens finances; Hurricane Isaac make-up days slated
“We are at the magic number,” principal Mardele Early told directors of Lake Forest Elementary Charter School at their monthly meeting, Sept. 19. She referred to the current enrollment of 501 students and went on to discuss upcoming changes in curriculum. Early said the school lost some students but that the vast majority were from […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Student demographics outlined; financing strategy for new school adjusted
The monthly meeting of the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy’s board of directors, on Sept. 19, began with an update from Commandant Col. Bill Davis on who’s enrolled for the 2012-12 year. The school now has 214 students, with males outnumbering females by a ratio of seven to three, Davis said. The student body […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
New basis for school rankings detailed; enrollment slide prompts staff cuts
Chief executive officer Ben Kleban began the Sept. 11 meeting of the board of New Orleans College Prep Academies with a detailed explanation of the new system by which Louisiana schools will be evaluated and ranked. Under the new system, English language and math classes in grades three through eight will be double-weighted. A quarter […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Board moves toward private retirement plan; enrollment drop threatens funding
The 403b faculty retirement plan was a focus of discussion at the monthly board meeting of the Friends of King School, Sept. 11. Under the plan approved by the board, the administration will contribute a sum equal to 4 percent of a teacher’s annual salary and will match 50 percent of teacher contributions up to […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Charter board OK's sale of $11M in bonds for construction of new school building
At its monthly meeting, Aug. 23, the board of the New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy approved plans to sell $11 million in bonds for the construction of its future home within Algiers’ Federal City development. Though negotiations and lawsuits are still underway between some of the key parties involved in Federal City, NOMMA faced […]