New Orleans Publicly Funded Private School System: Unbelievable Claims, Undemocratic, Unmasked Inequity, Unaccountable Cash Cow Schools and Chronic Failure All Under the Guise of School Reform

Abstract

New Orleans Publicly Funded Private School System: Unbelievable Claims, Undemocratic, Unmasked Inequity, Unaccountable Cash Cow Schools and Chronic Failure all under the guise of School Reform identifies five major claims in the narrative of unprecedented success in the education reforms in New Orleans that is simply preposterous. This article concludes with how these senseless claims have led to the creation of a 21st-century acceptable school system, which promotes blatant inequitable and poor educational practices for mostly poor and minority students. The article also discusses the invaluable lesson the miracles education reforms in New Orleans has taught the nation.

Keywords::

• charter schools
• education reforms
• educational equity
• New Orleans education reforms
• privatizing public education

About the Author

Dr. Raynard Sanders earned his Doctorate of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York City and has almost forty years of experience in teaching, educational administration, and economic and community development. As a principal of a New Orleans high school, he was recognized by the Louisiana State Department of Education for guiding his high school through four consecutive years of improvement on the state graduate exit exam. He developed the first high school DNA lab in the state of Louisiana and created the Creole Cottage Project, an innovative program for his students to build and renovate houses in the school’s community.

Notes

Institute on Race and Poverty, The State of Public Schools in Post‐Katrina New Orleans: The Challenge of Creating Equal Opportunity University of Minnesota law School May 15, 2010.

ABC News, “Duncan: Katrina was the ‘Best Thing’ for New Orleans School System,” abcnews.com (accessed January 29, 2010).

American Federation of Teachers, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, United Teachers of New Orleans “National Model” of Flawed Approach? The Post Katrina New Orleans Public Schools, November 2006. Center for Popular Democracy and the Coalition for Community Schools, May 2015.

Andy Smarick, “Wave of the Future Why Charter Schools Should Replace Failing Urban Schools,” Education Next, 8, no. 1 (Winter 2008): 44–45.

Michael Deshotels, “The Louisiana ‘Turnaround Zone,” Louisiana Educator, February 19, 2011; Charles Hatfield, “National Model for Reform or District in Academic Crisis, Research on Reforms,” November 6, 2012, Center for Popular Democracy Coalition for Community Schools, Center for Popular Democracy Coalition for Community Schools, System Failure: Louisiana’s Broken Charter School Law Underinvestment in Oversight Leaves Louisiana’s Charter Schools Vulnerable to Financial Fraud and Academic Failures May 2015; Gary Rubenstein, “The Latest Miracle in New Orleans,” garyrubenstein.techforus.org, October 25, 2013; Raynard Sanders. “Legislative Audit Cites Fiscal Mismanagement of Recovery School District,” Research on Reforms, July 2, 2009.

Danielle Dreilinger, “Civil Right Complaint Target New Orleans Group Collegiate Academies,” Times Picayune, April 14, 2014; Danielle Dreilinger, “Civil Rights Complaint Alleges Unequal Treatment for New Orleans Black Schools,” Times Picayune May 13, 2014.

Kari Harden, “New Orleans Nearing a ‘Privatized’ Public School System,” Louisiana Weekly, June 2, 2014.

Michael Deshotels, “New Orleans RSD Compared to Tradition Schools,” Louisiana Educator May 21, 2015.

Michael Deshotels, “State Takeover Schools Produce Lowest ACT Scores,” Louisiana Educator May 16, 2013.

Dreilinger, “Civil Rights Complaint Targets New Orleans Charter Group Collegiate Academies.”

Jason France and John McDonogh, “Part 2 (Rebuilding a Culture of Corruption),” Crazycrawfish in Politics October 22, 2013.

Chef Ronnie interviewed by Raynard Sanders, The New Orleans Imperative February 2, 2015.

Brian Thevenot, “Lusher School Principal Earns more than $200,000 Yearly,” Times Picayune May 17, 2009.

Kari Harden, “Implementation of i3 Education Grant Being Questioned,” Louisiana Weekly October 28, 2013.

George Wood and Ted Sizer, “Charter Schools and the Values of Public Education, Keeping the Promise the Debate Over Charter Schools,” 2008.

Naison Mark interviewed by Sanders Raynard, The New Orleans Imperative September 29, 2014.