Louisiana Department of Education

“I think the best thing to happen to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina. That education system was a disaster.”

Arne Duncan, US Secretary of Education

Source: The Experiment www.theexperimentfilm.com

Louisiana’s approach to improving failing public schools

Established in 2003 by the Louisiana Legislature

Governed by BESE (Board of Elementary and Secondary Education)

Administered by LDOE (Louisiana Department of Education)

Broken down into two geographical regions: RSD-New Orleans: 70 schools RSD-Louisiana: 35 schools

No previous performance audits

Many financial audits; many findings

Lack of Transparency/Information The process for taking over schools RSD’s progress in turning around failing schools The process for returning schools back to the local school districts

Increasing number of RSD schools 12 RSD schools in FY 2006 105 schools in FY 2011

Contentious Issues, Strong Personalities, Lack of Criteria Legislature/Local Officials/Public

“RSD schools are doing better only because they are receiving more money (e.g., hurricane-related) than other schools”“They stole our schools, including those that weren’t failing”“Our schools aren’t improving under the RSD”“When are we going to get our schools back?”

State Superintendent of Education“Experiment”“Nothing like this has ever been done before”

1. How does the LDOE transfer schools to the RSD?

2. How does the RSD reorganize, operate, and transfer out schools under its authority?

3. Is the RSD making progress toward its schools making an acceptable level of student performance?

4. Is LDOE/RSD effectively monitoring the charter schools under its authority?

1. R.S. 17:10.5 transfers individual failing schools into the RSD after they have been labeled academically unacceptable for 4 consecutive years.

Academically Unacceptable = School Performance Score (SPS) of 60 during FY 2010

Increased to SPS of less than 65 during FY 2011

SPS Range

Percent of Students Scoring Basic and Above on Standardized

Tests

Expected Average Graduation Rate

120.0-200 88-100% 91.9

105.0-119.9 76-87% 82.4

90.0-104.9 64-75% 76.9

65-89.9 39-63% 66.2

0-64.9 0-38% 51.6

2. La. R.S. 17:10.7 transfers schools whose SPS are below the state average, and are: from districts that have more than 30 academically

unacceptable schools, or From districts that have more than 50% of its students

attending academically unacceptable school.

Schools in New Orleans were transferred to the RSD under this law

After November 15, 2009, no new additional schools can be transferred to the RSD under this statute

How does RSD reorganize, operate, and transfer out schools under its authority?

RSD conducts comprehensive audit reviews

Makes recommendation to BESE reorganize the school under one of four operational structures: Memorandum of Understanding Management Agreement Direct Run School Type 5 Charter School

Direct Run & Charter Schools - required to stay in RSD for minimum of 5 years

The PGA (Previous Governing Authority) must meet certain conditions of get their schools back:

Failing Schools: The PGA can submit a proposal to get the school back Non-Failing Direct Run Schools: PGA must have an MOU with BESE Non-Failing Charter Schools: PGA must have a negotiated charter

agreement with the school

However, non-failing schools can choose to remain in the RSD

Is the RSD making progress towards its schools meeting an acceptable level of student performance?

Overall, the RSD is making progress towards improving student performance based on the following measures:

SPS: 60.3% of RSD schools are not academically unacceptable in FY2010 District Performance Scores (DPS): RSD-New Orleans increased by 17.9%

from FY 2008-10 Growth Performance Score (GPS): Increase of 6.2 points in FY 2010Data showed that the longer a school was in the RSD, the higher its GPS

Graduation Rate: Average Graduation Rate increased 19.5% (43.2% to 51.6%) from FY 2009 to 2010 Direct Run High Schools had the lowest graduation rate On average, students in Direct Run High Schools were 4.3 years

behind grade level

Overall, Charter Schools show the greatest amount of improvement of all RSD school-types (Direct Run, MA, MOU) based on SPS and GPS

Excluding one-time hurricane-related expenditures, RSD ranked 21st out of 57 school districts in expenditures

Does LDOE and RSD effectively monitor the Charter Schools under their authority?

Overall, LDOE and RSD did not effectively monitor Charter Schools in FY

2010 LDOE and RSD need to improve the process to annually collect,

review, and evaluate the performance of Charter Schools.

Specific Issues Student Performance: Statewide testing does not begin for

students until the 3rd grade Currently there are no alternative methods in place by which

to monitor/measure student performance

Financial Performance: Monitoring criteria does not sufficiently provide an accurate account of a Charter School’s overall financial health and sustainability Nationally, mismanagement and poor financial performance

are the top reasons why Charter Schools fail

Specific Issues (continued) Legal/Contractual Performance: LDOE/RSD only conducted

comprehensive reviews on Charter schools up for a contract extension/renewal As a result, problems with schools (e.g., admission policies,

special education, etc.) are not identified until year 3 or 5

Too early to know the long-term impact of the audit or the ultimate success of the RSD

LLA doing more in-depth work on the financial monitoring of Charter schools; LDOE claims they are making changes

The public and legislature still watching the RSD closely “The Experiment” – Documentary of Charter schools in New Orleans

(www.theexperimentfilm.com)

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