Edclicking Keyword Cloud
By Dr. Harry Tennant
Friday, March 4, 2011 Trends: After Katrina Devastation, Schools In New Orleans May Now Offer Young People More Than Ever Hurricane Katrina was devastating in so many ways. The schools in New Orleans were basically destroyed. As tragic as this has been short-term, it has also provided a unique opportunity for the school system in this great city to fundamentally redevelop. The trend, as highlighted in the article quoted below, is one of parent/student choice from schools with increasingly unique cultures and specializations to cater to a greater range of family (student) preferences. This trend toward specialization and greater choice is a trend that we are seeing (in varying degrees) in other areas of the country, but in NOLA the storm's aftermath necessitated a more rapid pace of development than is likely to occur where the status quo tends to do until the next day. It seems that education in New Orleans is on a fruitful path! Geaux N.O.! From the (New Orleans) Times-Picayune story...or access the entire story by clicking the image below: "Since Hurricane Katrina, the menu of high school choices in New Orleans has dramatically expanded. Students can now go to almost any school in the city, regardless of where they live. Nearly three-quarters of public schools are charter schools free to develop their own curriculums, resulting in schools with distinct characters. Many of the high schools parents may know from before the storm are directly operated by the Recovery School District and have extremely low test scores. Educators sometimes delicately steer parents away from familiar names and toward newer schools like Sci Academy.".... ...."It's about fit," said Darcy McKinnon, high school transitions coordinator at FirstLine Schools, which operates four elementary schools and will open a high school next year. "I talk to parents and give them a portrait of the high school. High school X is wonderful and has loads of extracurriculars, but I also know that it only offers two APs (Advanced Placement courses). Is your child someone who needs structure and personal attention? There are definitely kids who need to go to Easton, Walker or Karr, because what keeps them in school is the purple and the gold, the football team and the band." McKinnon advised Tony Watkins, who goes to Samuel J. Green Charter School, to consider Benjamin Franklin. Though the elite selective admissions school is a bit of a reach academically, McKinnon believes Tony could thrive there."
Posted at 1:56 PM Keywords: Trends , New Orleans Schools , Katrina , Choice , School Choice , Reform , Charter Schools 2 Comments |
