Dobard: How 3 Key Forces — Regulators, Innovators & Collaborators — Are Driving Stronger Outcomes For New Orleans Students

Dobard: How 3 Key Forces — Regulators, Innovators & Collaborators — Are Driving Stronger Outcomes for New Orleans Students

The progress that education in New Orleans achieved in 2018 was significant and noteworthy.

Firstly, there was a substantial improvement in student performance. In the 2017-18 academic year, 80 percent of schools in New Orleans received an "A" or "B" rating in terms of progress index, which measures the growth of students from one year to the next. Additionally, we moved up eight positions in the statewide rankings for college enrollment rates, with 61 percent of our students choosing to enroll in two- or four- year colleges after graduation. This is a remarkable increase compared to the 37 percent college-going rate in 2004.

There were also important structural changes that took place. For the first time since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the Orleans Parish School Board became the sole authority responsible for authorizing the city’s schools. This shift places decision-making power in the hands of those who are closest to the students. The board also established higher standards for accountability, with a focus on student growth.

The progress made was the result of the collective efforts of many individuals and organizations, including board superintendent Henderson Lewis Jr., parents, teachers, school leaders, nonprofits, and local agencies. Ultimately, it was the students themselves who played a crucial role in this success.

Charter schools are often credited for the growth and setbacks in New Orleans, as they played a vital role in quickly reestablishing classes after Hurricane Katrina. Over the years, the district has embraced charter schools as the norm for public education in the city. Out of the 87 public schools in New Orleans, 79 are under the oversight of the school board, while the remaining eight are special schools that are open to all Louisiana residents and governed by the state.

The debate between public charter schools and traditional public schools has been ongoing, but in New Orleans, charter schools are simply considered as our schools. Furthermore, there are no for-profit schools in the city, and all schools are free and public.

It is time to move past this outdated conversation and focus on understanding the true drivers of local growth. While the autonomy and agency given to our schools are crucial to their success, another vital factor that has often been overlooked is the local ecosystem itself. We owe our improvement to the combined efforts of three key forces: regulators, innovators, and collaborators. These forces work together with families and the community to support the development of excellent public schools.

The Orleans Parish School Board serves as the primary regulator in New Orleans. As the sole authorizer of charter schools in the city, the board ensures quality and performance. If a school is not providing an adequate education, the board works to help it improve. In cases where improvement is not seen, the school may be closed or placed under new management. While these transitions can be challenging, they are essential for the board to fulfill its role in ensuring quality education for all students.

The innovators in New Orleans are the dedicated school leaders and teachers who work tirelessly in classrooms throughout the city. They combine established best practices with innovative methods and models in order to meet the unique needs of every student. Their innovations can range from entirely reimagining the classroom environment to making small adjustments to lesson plans or schedules.

These innovators include teachers like Ingrid Rachal, who incorporates theater into her eighth-grade English curriculum at Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary Charter School. By using theater, she helps students fully absorb literature and express themselves through performances. Innovators also include teachers like Juan Serrano, who took his social justice seminar students to the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. These leaders even extend to principals like Deanna Reddick, whose experience in the legal system inspired her to work as a school principal with unwavering belief in her students.

Collaborators are essential partners who work alongside the board and schools to provide necessary services and support to both the education system as a whole and individual students. New Schools for New Orleans, the organization I lead, is one such collaborator. We strategically invest resources, expertise, and time in high-impact organizations to help improve the city’s schools. We collaborate with the board, other nonprofits, charter organizations, and individual schools to create a supportive network for educational growth.

In conclusion, significant progress has been achieved in education in New Orleans, thanks to the collective efforts of various stakeholders. By focusing on the unique ecosystem of the city and combining the forces of regulators, innovators, and collaborators, we have been able to create a successful system that prioritizes student growth and achievement.

The collaborative effort of these regulators, innovators, and collaborators is instrumental in achieving better outcomes for students. Our joint endeavors bring about long-lasting change. United, we work diligently and take responsibility for our actions. In unity, we make decisions based on proven effectiveness and empower those who are closely involved in the classroom. Together, we move beyond past disputes and embrace new perspectives. In the year 2019, education in New Orleans transcends the comparison between district-operated schools and charter schools; instead, it focuses on creating the best possible schools. It emphasizes the strength of our combined forces rather than selecting one side or the other. Whether we are educators, non-profit organizations, parents, or board administrators, we promise our children that we will stand together every day, united and unstoppable. Our purpose is to help them develop into the leaders they are destined to become.

Patrick Dobard, former superintendent of the Recovery School District, currently serves as the CEO of New Schools for New Orleans.