[CharterSchools] ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES TWO TYPE 1 CHARTER SCHOOL APPLICATIONS

[charterschools at LACharter.org]

For Immediate Release
Contact: Matthew Broussard
(504) 451-1657
mbroussard at opsb.us
 
Press Release: From Superintendent's Office May 22, 2015


ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES TWO TYPE 1 CHARTER SCHOOLAPPLICATIONS
 
(New Orleans)– TheOrleans Parish School Board (OPSB) unanimously approved two Type 1 charterschool applications during its May 2015 Board Meeting held at McDonogh 35Senior High School on Tuesday, May 19th. The School Board’s approvalof both charter schools completed its Request for Applications process thatbegan in December 2014.
 
FirstLineSchools, Inc. and Rooted School were both approved by the School Board to openType 1 charter schools as early as the 2016-17 school year. They will be thelatest additions to the growing list of charter schools authorized by OPSB. 
 “We are extremely excited to increasethe number of high quality school options for the families of New Orleans,”said Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr., Superintendent of the Orleans Parish Public SchoolBoard.  “As a nationally recognizedcharter authorizer, it is important that we consider schools that utilizeinnovation, best educational practices, and most of all, serve the needs of thecommunity.” 
FirstLineSchools has been approved to open an elementary school that focuses onnurturing students’ development in mind, body, and spirit.  The school plans to begin withapproximately 90 Kindergarten students and increase by a grade level each year,up to the 8th grade.  FirstLineproposes to work with national partners Summit Schools and New Classrooms toimplement a value-added blended learning program for students.
FirstLineSchools currently operates five Type 5 charter schools in New Orleans,including Arthur Ashe Elementary School, Phillis Wheatley Community School,Samuel J. Green Elementary School, Langston Hughes Academy, and Joseph S. ClarkPreparatory High School.  OPSBapproved FirstLine’s application to open an elementary charter school due tothe performance of the experienced operator’s existing elementary schools which,according to the administration recommendation, “indicates the capacity tosupport additional growth.”  
RootedSchool has been approved to operate a high school serving students in grades9-12.  The school expects to open inthe 2016 -2017 academic year with 60 ninth graders, and will grow by a grade leveleach year.  Rooted School willprepare students for college and /or a career, while filling a criticalworkforce pipeline for high-growth, high-wage industries in New Orleans,starting with creative digital media.Rooted has already secured commitments from nine companies in targetedindustries that have agreed to employ students, including Turbo Squid, GameLoft, The Trumpet Group and Google.
OPSBprioritized Rooted School's application due to its innovative model to enhancechoices for students and families. 
TheOrleans Parish School Board is a nationally recognized charter schoolauthorizer, having authorized nine charter schools since 2011. In 2014, OPSBreceived a nearly perfect rating by the National Association of Charter SchoolAuthorizers (NACSA) for adhering to its Index of Essential Practices amonglarge authorizers.  According toNACSA, the Principals and Standards for quality charter school authorizinginclude maintaining high standards for schools, upholding school autonomy,student and public interests, agency commitment and capacity, applicationprocess and decision making, performance contracting, ongoing oversight andevaluation, and revocation, renewal and decision making.
 
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Cheron Brylski
The Brylski Company
3418 Coliseum Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
www.brylskicompany.com
(504) 897-6110
FX (504) 897-0778
Cell (504) 460-1468

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