New Orleans schools are making dramatic strides to improve a once-dismal record.
In the aftermath of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster the city’s schools were placed in a state-administered Recovery School District.
The percentage of students performing “basic” or better on a state standardized exam has since rocketed from 23 percent in 2007 to 48 percent this year.
Most schools in the district have become non-unionized charter schools. School reform proponents credit measures taken by the district.
Local news source nola.com speculates that the improving test scores will intensify school reform efforts in Louisiana.