NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — It’s a symbolic end to the post-Katrina education revitalization in New Orleans, as dozens of area schools are now shifting back to OPSB control.
The Louisiana Legislature voted to reverse the 2005 state takeover of most of the city’s public schools, returning publicly-funded schools in Orleans Parish to the Orleans Parish School Board by July 1, 2018.
That bill now awaits Governor John Bel Edwards’ approval.
During the past decade, transformative changes have occurred across the New Orleans public education landscape, centered on the conversion of all RSD and most OPSB schools to independent, self-governing public charter schools.
Today, more than 90% of New Orleans public school students, including more than 75% of OPSB students, are served by charter schools.
However, education leaders and the state believe it’s time to bring those schools together and return to unified, locally elected and locally accountable governance.
With the passage of SB 432, 50 Recovery School District Charters will return to OPSB oversight, unifying the school system and symbolically healing a major wound from the storm.
Thursday morning, OPSB and RSD will discuss the move and introduce a Unification Advisory Committee to oversee the process.
The event will be hosted by OPSB Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. and RSD Superintendent Patrick Dobard and feature OPSB President Seth Bloom, among other school unification advocates.
The independent charter schools that dominate the RSD will continue to operate as such after the transition, but will now be required to meet OPSB benchmarks.
Leaders say the move must be made in a fashion that protects the gains in student outcomes achieved over the past decade.
It remains to be seen just how much the unification will affect students and families.
To learn more, visit the OPSB website.