Unification of Schools
What is the Unification of public schools in Orleans Parish?
Over the past decade,聽significant聽changes have occurred across the New Orleans public education landscape. Today, a system of diverse and autonomous public schools are rising to the challenge of serving all of New Orleans鈥� students and families. As a system of schools focused on parental choice and school accountability, we have forged new pathways to ensure equitable enrollment of students, address expulsions and protect student rights, and to provide additional resources and settings to support the individual needs of all students.
On May 10, 2016, the La. Legislature adopted Senate Bill 432, sponsored by Senator Karen Carter Peterson, with co-sponsorship from Representative Walt Leger and most members of the Orleans legislative delegation. On May 12, 2016, Governor John Bel Edwards signed SB 432 into law, which is now聽. 聽Act 91聽provides for the unification of public schools in Orleans Parish under oversight by聽the 91快活林 and its Superintendent, which will occur by July 1st, 2018.
Act 91:聽
- 听() ()
Unification Advisory Committee
Act 91 also calls for the development of a聽Unification Advisory Committee to assist in the transition plan development process. 聽The Unification Advisory Committee is comprised of representatives of charter operators and key education advocacy organizations. Those members are:
- Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr., 91快活林 Superintendent
- Kunjan Narechania, RSD State Superintendent
- Sharon Clark, Charter Director for Sophie B. Wright Charter School
- Jay Altman, CEO of FirstLine Schools
- Kelly Batiste, CEO/Principal of Fannie C. Williams Charter School
- Rene Lewis-Carter, CEO of Algiers Charter School Association
- Jamar McKneely, CEO of InspireNOLA Charter Schools
- Alexina Medley, Principal of Warren Easton Charter High School
- Erika McConduit, President/CEO of Urban League of Greater New Orleans
- Deidre Johnson Burel, former Executive Director of Orleans Parish Education Network
- Rhonda Kalifey-Aluise, CEO of KIPP New Orleans Schools
- Dr. Doris Roche-Hicks, CEO/Principal of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School
- Dr. Armand B. Devezin, Deputy Chief of Administration & Diversity, 91快活林
The transition plan for unifying public schools in Orleans Parish was initiated聽with four (4) Unification Advisory Committee meetings between June 1- August 25, 2016. Upcoming UAC meetings to present聽the milestones outlined聽in the unification plan are scheduled below. All meetings are open to the public.
Unification Advisory Committee Meetings (Implementation Phase):
- March 8, 2018 at 5PM at 91快活林 3520 General DeGaulle Drive, Suite 1050 – 1st Floor
- February 27, 2018聽at 5pm at 91快活林’s聽1st Floor Conference Room听(Agenda)听(Power Point) (Unification Milestone Report) MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR THE RESCHEDULED DATE & TIME.
- November 28, 2017聽at 5pm at 91快活林’s聽1st Floor Conference Room听()听() (Unification Milestone Report)
- August 28, 2017 at 5pm at 91快活林’s聽1st Floor Conference Room听()听() () MEETING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED for September 6, 2017 at 5pm at 91快活林’s 1st Floor Conference Room.
- June 6, 2017, 5pm at 91快活林’s 1st Floor Conference Room ()听() ()
- February 21, 2017, 5pm at 91快活林’s 1st Floor Conference Room ()聽 () ()
- November 28, 2016, 5pm at 91快活林’s 1st Floor Conference Room () ()
Unification Task Force Members ()
To assist in the work required as part of unifying the public schools in New Orleans, Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr., Superintendent, has organized over 100 citywide education stakeholders to provide input and develop strategies for the successful unification effort. The Task Forces are:
- Authorization, Accountability & Planning
- Systemwide Services & Resources
- Facilities
- Transparency & Community Responsiveness
Share Your Thoughts
If you have additional comments or suggestions related to the unification of public schools in New Orleans, we encourage you to email us at unification@opsb.us or contact us via one of the options.
- o: 504-359-8167聽聽聽 f:聽 504-379-8167聽聽 c:聽 504-214-6876
- Anh Vietquynh Pham
- o: 504-304-3559聽c:聽 504-256-2774聽聽 f:聽 504-379-3559
- vpham@opsb.us