2015_HSGuide

Who’s running the Schools?
Comparing the Orleans Parish School Board
and the Recovery School District
Before Katrina, all public schools in New Orleans were under the authority of the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). In 2003,
the LA Legislature created an organization called the Recovery School District (RSD) to address the problem of failing schools in
Louisiana. Act 35 was passed Post Katrina to transition schools to the RSD. Since that time, the RSD, which is under the authority
of the LA Department of Education, took temporary control of the majority of schools in Orleans Parish, thus creating a new system of
schools under multiple governing authorities. Now 10 years later, the question remains: “What does school governance mean and how
does this impact my child’s education?”
Below are definitions of commonly used terms, to help you answer this question and in your discussions about education in our city.
RSD - The Recovery School District is administered by the Louisiana Department of Education under the governance of BESE (defined
below). RSD was designed to transform failing schools into successful places for children to learn. The RSD Superintendent makes
decisions, and they are approved by BESE the state’s board of education.
OPSB – The Orleans Parish School Board is the elected governing body for the local school district (Orleans Parish). It consists of
seven (7) members elected by the people of Orleans Parish. Although, it is bound by policies set by BESE, including mandatory state
standardized testing; OPSB sets policies for the local school district, is able to levy taxes to fund schools, and has the authority to grant
charters to schools in the district.
BESE – The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is the governing body for all schools in Louisiana. It consists of 11 members,
eight (8) of whom are elected from each district in the State and three (3) who are appointed by the Governor. BESE has the ability to
set criteria for teacher certification, student state testing requirements (i.e. LEAP), and operating standards for schools.
Charter School – A charter school is a public school that is free and open to all students. However, some charter schools have
admission requirements. Charter schools are managed by an independent organization under a multi-year contract (called a ‘charter’).
Charter schools receive the same amount of state funding per child as traditional schools, and are required to participate in the state
accountability programs and meet the same achievement goals. Charter schools have more autonomy than traditional schools in hiring
practices, curriculum, and budgeting choices.
Network Schools – Local school board (OPSB) directly run Network Schools, known as “traditional schools.” These schools are
non-charter schools and do not have their own governing board or management organization like charter schools do. They typically
use the same curriculum, codes and procedures, standardized hiring practices, and shared budgeting requirements.
School Performance Scores- Often abbreviated as “SPS,” these are school performance ratings based on standardized test
scores and ACT, dropout rates, and attendance as established by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE). The scores range from
zero (0) to approximately 150. As of October 2013, schools scoring below 50 are considered academically unacceptable by the State and
may be subject to “takeover.” Charter schools that do not meet renewal or extension standards according to SPS may be non-renewed.
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