Recovery School District
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Recovery School District (RSD) is a special statewide school district administered by the Louisiana Department of Education. Created by legislation passed in 2003, the RSD is designed to take underperforming schools and transform and make them effective in educating children. While the majority of RSD-supervised schools were within
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
and were largely under the administration of the Orleans Parish School Board pre- Katrina, the RSD has also taken over schools in East Baton Rouge,
Caddo The Caddo people comprise the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma, a federally recognized tribe headquartered in Binger, Oklahoma. They speak the Caddo language. The Caddo Confederacy was a network of Indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands, who ...
and Pointe Coupee
parishes A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one or ...
, reflecting its statewide authority and full name, the Recovery School District of Louisiana (RSDLA).''Recovery School District Frequently Asked Questions.''
/ref> As of 2012 it was the fifth largest school district in Louisiana by student population. Orleans parish schools returned the OPSB in 2018. The Recovery School District's supervisory board is Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). The RSD has two offices, the one in
New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
serves schools in
Greater New Orleans The New Orleans metropolitan area, designated the New Orleans–Metairie metropolitan statistical area by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, or simply Greater New Orleans (, ), is a metropolitan statistical area designated by the United ...
and the one in
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serves other areas.


History

During the 2003 regular legislative session, the
Louisiana Legislature The Louisiana State Legislature (; ) is the state legislature (United States), state legislature of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is a bicameral legislature, body, comprising the lower house, the Louisiana House of Representatives with 105 ...
passed Act 9 to create the Recovery School District (RSD) to take over the operations of failing schools, defined as schools that do not meet the minimum academic standards for at least four consecutive years. The legislation was signed into law in May of that year by
Governor of Louisiana The governor of Louisiana (; ) is the chief executive of the U.S. state government of Louisiana. The governor also serves as the commander in chief of the Louisiana National Guard. Republican Jeff Landry has held the office since January 8, ...
Kathleen Blanco. Pierre Capdau School in New Orleans became the state's first takeover school in 2004, and subsequently became Louisiana's first RSD charter school, known as a Type 5 charter school. In August 2004, the school opened as Pierre Capdau-UNO Charter School under the management of the New Beginnings Foundation and the
University of New Orleans The University of New Orleans (UNO) is a Public university, public research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. First opened in 1958 as Louisiana State University in New Orleans, it is the largest public university and one of t ...
. In the spring of 2005, four additional New Orleans schools were taken over by the state, and turned over to charter school operators: Medard Nelson, Samuel Green, Phillips, and Sophie B. Wright.
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
struck New Orleans on August 29, 2005, bringing near total devastation to the city and damaging or destroying more than 100 of the city's 128 school buildings. In the face of uncertainties about the future of schools in the city, the Louisiana Legislature acted by passing Act 35. Eventually, the Recovery School District (RSD) took over 102 out of 126 schools from the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) in late-November 2005. Of the remaining 24 schools, seven were uninhabitable, 12 became charters, and five remained directly managed by OPSB. In 2018, the RSD schools in New Orleans returned to the supervision of the OPSB.


RSD school data


Achievement, 2014–15

* RSD schools outpace the state with a 29 percentage point increase from 2008-2014 in the percent of students performing at basic and above, compared to a 9 percentage point increase across the state * In 4th and 8th grade (retention grades), proficiency citywide has more than doubled in both English language arts and math * More students are prepared for college and career with 39% of RSD 12th graders scoring 18+ on ACT in 2011 to 49% of students in 2014


Demographics, 2014–15

Though enrollment has been steadily increasing, student enrollment in New Orleans is still only about 70% of pre-katrina levels. * RSD serves 90% economically disadvantaged students * RSD serves over 11% special education students * RSD serves just over 95% African American students


New Orleans school governance, 2015–16

Source: * The Recovery School District governed 52 charter schools, under the direction of Superintendent Patrick Dobard. There are no longer any direct-run RSD schools * The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education governed 4 charter schools, under the direction of State Superintendent John White * The Louisiana Legislature governed 1 independent school, the
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, or NOCCA, is the regional, pre-professional arts training center for high school students in Louisiana. NOCCA opened in 1973 as a professional arts training center for secondary education, secondary schoo ...
* The Orleans Parish School Board governed 24 schools—6 district-run, 18 charters, under the direction of Superintendent Henderson Lewis, Jr.


Leadership

Since January 2012, the Recovery School District has been led by Patrick Dobard, former deputy superintendent for the Recovery School District. In his previous position, Dobard oversaw all community engagement and outreach activities, as well as establishing and implementing education policy for the Recovery School District (RSD).


See also

* New Orleans Public Schools * Firstline Schools * Collegiate Academies


References

{{Reflist


External links


Recovery School District
School districts in Louisiana Education in New Orleans 2003 establishments in Louisiana School districts established in 2003