Orleans Parish School Board Announces Charter School Applicants
March 13, 2017
NEW ORLEANS – (March 13, 2017) – The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) is pleased to announce nine charter school applications for the 2017 school year have been received and are approved to move onto the next round of review.
“We are delighted in the number of qualified applications we’ve received and we are eager to continue this process and move through the next steps of the application,” commented OPSB Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr.
In total, 13 applications were received; however, four were found to be incomplete and were subsequently ineligible for review. Applications are currently available on the OPSB website.
The Orleans Parish School Board is working to ensure each school community continues to remain engaged and informed throughout the application process to convert existing district schools. Last week, the OPSB coordinated a series of meet and greets which allowed each network school community the opportunity the meet respective applicants, ask questions, and provide initial feedback. These meetings were held Tuesday, March 7 at Bethune Elementary School and McMain Secondary School; Wednesday, March 8 at Ben Franklin Elementary School; and Thursday, March 9 at Mahalia Jackson Elementary School and McDonogh 35 Senior High School.
Next Steps in Type 1 and Type 3 Application Process
There are several additional steps in the selection process before the Superintendent will present his final recommendations for Type 3 (conversion) and Type 1 (new start) this April and May, respectively. Immediately, an independent evaluation team and district administration will review all 11 eligible applications. Independent reports will be posted to the OPSB website along with applicant responses.
Public hearings will be held for Type 3 and Type 1 applications to provide an opportunity for those interested to learn more. A Public Hearing regarding the Type 1 Transformation application for McDonogh #42 will be held Thursday March 16 at 4:30 p.m. at the OPSB Central Office. A Public Hearing regarding the Type 3 conversion applications from ExCEED and InspireNOLA will be held Tuesday April 11 at 6 p.m. at McDonogh #35 High School. Public Hearings regarding all other Type 1 applications will be held in early May, with exact dates and times to be announced.
Applicants for Type 1 and Type 3 are as outlined below.
| Applicant | Type | Number of Schools and Grades Served |
| ASHA | 1 – New Start | · 1 School
· Yr 1: 9 Capacity: 9 –12 |
| Center for Resilience | 1 – New Start | · 1 School
· Yr 1: K,1 Capacity: PK–8 |
| Collegiate Academies | 1 – New Start | · 2 Schools
· Yr 1: 9 Capacity: 9–12 |
| French and Montessori Education | 1 – New Start | · 2 Schools
· Yr 1: K – 2, 6 Capacity: K–12 |
| Lyceum Schools | 1 – New Start | · 1 School
· Yr 1: 9 Capacity: 9–12 |
| United Scholars | 1 – New Start | · 1 School
· Yr 1: 9 Capacity: 9–12 |
| InspireNOLA Schools for McDonogh #42 | 1 – New Start | 1 School
· Yr 1: PK – 8 Capacity: PK–8 |
| InspireNOLA Schools | 3 – Replication | · 2 Schools
· Yr 1: 7 –12 Capacity: 9–12 |
| ExCEED Network Schools | 3 – Conversion | 5 Schools
· Yr 1: PK – 12 Capacity: PK–12 |