Usually school districts see themselves as competing with charter schools for students. Not the Recovery School District. Superintendent Paul Vallas plans on increasing the market share of charters in New Orleans by converting more schools to charter schools. The schools under consideration for the switch are mostly low performing--and Vallas hopes that their new found charter status under private leadership might be the ticket to seeing test scores rise. Higher performing and career schools are also under consideration. The plan has the support of State Superintendent Paul Pastorek, too, which is key since all charter switches will require state approval. Vallas explains:
"This is the tide. You're swimming against the tide if you don't embrace this approach. That's why I came down here," Vallas said. "If you create a district of charters and independent schools, you insulate the district from the adverse effects of having a monopolistic education system."
The next step is figuring out an accountability system for schools serving K-2. Since students don't take the LA test, iLEAP, until third grade, there's little way to evaluate charter schools serving younger students.
I like the sound of this plan, if only because of Vallas' attitude about it. It's nice to hear a superintendent not being defensive about declining district enrollment and willing to actually put students' interests first. We'll have to wait and see if private supervision will turn these lagging charter-converts into academic successes.
