NEW ORLEANS CITIZENS SPEAK OUT AGAINST SCHOOL TAKE-OVER

New Orleans citizens speak out against the state take-over of schools and the divisions in the black community caused by the chartering of 60% of the schools. These are excerpts of a heated and divisive hearing by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to consider a proposal by state Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek that would delay the return of most schools to the elected Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) and allow charters schools to decide if they want to return to public control (Charter schools in New Orleans are run by private self-selected, self-electing boards). At least 1,000 people turned out for the hearing on October 14, evenly divided by charter school advocates/parents and advocates of return to local democratic control. The state take-over schools are administered by the Recover School District (RSD). When speakers refer to the RSD schools, they are speaking of state-run, non-charter schools. Since charters are run by autonomous boards, New Orleans schools now have 43 separate boards managing 88 schools. When the public schools are chartered, all the teachers are fired (surplused) and a significant number are replaced by Teach For America teachers. This clip features speakers who supported returning the schools to local control. Charter advocates wore red shirts that said "My Child, My School, My Choice."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• BESE BOARD
• NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
• CHARTER SCHOOLS
• PAUL PASTOREK
• PAUL VALLAS
• NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
• PUBLIC EDUCATION
• EDUCATION