History of IDEA
Jeannie Oakes, Founder and Former Director
Youth Voice in School Finance
NEW REPORT: Los Angeles' road to A-G for all
Without Dollars and Sense Powerpoint
Past Educational Opportunity Reports
New Orleans schools ‘miracle’ not so miraculous
- 04-14-2011
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Blog by Valerie Strauss/Washington Post
Education Secretary Arne Duncan was just in New Orleans, praising to practically the heavens the charter school-dominated school system that was rebuilt after Hurricane Katrina swept through in 2005 and left it in shambles. It wasn’t the first time he’s waxed poetic about the New Orleans schools; there was, for example, the unfortunate incident last year, when, confusing metaphor with reality, he said, “The best thing that happened to the education system in New Orleans was Hurricane Katrina. That education system was a disaster, and it took Hurricane Katrina to wake up the community to say that ‘we have to do better.’ ” Of course he apologized a few days later. The New Oreans Recovery School District -- where nearly 75 percent of the public schools are charter schools -- has become the focus of a lot of attention in school reform circles based on rising test scores, so it seems worthwhile looking at the success claims of the 38,000-student district. (more...)
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