| before Hurricane Katrina New Orleans Schools | | | | a strong presence in the district. New Orleans Schools |
| suffered from a lack of teachers, run down facilities | | | | have 17 RSD authorized charter schools. There are |
| and failure to meet state and national guidelines. Since | | | | also charter schools run under the local school board |
| the devastating storm those problems are | | | | and 5 magnet schools. The world is watching to see |
| compounded. As students and families trickle back | | | | how these choices are monitored and to determine |
| into New Orleans Schools, those in leadership roles | | | | their effectiveness. Many school reformers hail |
| must provide all the necessities to educate the | | | | charters as the future of New Orleans Schools due |
| current 27,000 children, along with 100 more who are | | | | to their combination of independence and |
| enrolled each week. | | | | accountability. Failing schools are simply closed. |
| New Orleans Schools have a new leadership team in | | | | Vallas and Pastorek recently attended an education |
| place to guide the way. Paul Pastorek was recently | | | | summit hosted by the New Schools Venture Fund |
| named Louisiana Schools Chief, and Paul Vallas will | | | | and the New Leaders for New Schools. The |
| head the Recovery School District (RSD), which | | | | “two Pauls” outlined their plan for |
| includes most schools previously run by the state | | | | addressing issues like educator shortages and poor |
| board. Vallas, who has served as superintendent for | | | | classroom space. Some of the proposals include |
| both Philadelphia and Chicago Schools, appears very | | | | initiating a “welcome school” to screen |
| realistic about the troubles plaguing the New Orleans | | | | incoming children of New Orleans Schools for both |
| Schools. But he also claims that, “This will be | | | | academic and emotional needs. Post-Katrina teachers |
| the greatest experiment in choice, in charter, and in | | | | have seen a major increase in anxious and fearful |
| creating not only a school system, but also a system | | | | children unable to concentrate on academic tasks. |
| of schools.” | | | | The continued disruption and lack of routine in the |
| Vallas has said that the lack of usual limitations will | | | | lives of these children adds an emotional burden to |
| create opportunities, but that the limited finances will | | | | the already understaffed and overburdened New |
| remain challenging. New Orleans Schools currently | | | | Orleans Schools’ teachers. This leads to the |
| have a mix of 58 public schools, charter schools and | | | | problem of attracting teachers to this devastated |
| RSD schools open. 20 more New Orleans Schools are | | | | and struggling area. Vallas plans to draw on the |
| expected to open in fall of 2007. What will they look | | | | student-teacher populations to help prepare for the |
| like? | | | | need. New Orleans Schools will need to hire 800 more |
| Many hope that charter schools will continue to have | | | | teachers for the ’07-’08 school year. |