FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2019
LAPCS Calls for a Clear Policy for East Baton Rouge Charter Renewals
NEW ORLEANS — Today the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board granted a 3-year charter renewal for South Baton Rouge Charter Academy. The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools released the following statement from Executive Director, Caroline Roemer.
“The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) is grateful for the charter renewal of South Baton Rouge Charter Academy. However, LAPCS believes it is vital that the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board provide charter school operators and boards with clear expectations and fact-based oversight through an accountability framework regarding charter school contract renewals.
Currently, there is no formal policy, which has contributed to a confusing and challenging renewal process for South Baton Rouge Charter Academy. Our charter schools need a clear roadmap for renewal decisions and a process that respects the operator autonomy.
While the board pledged to study the need for policy in committee; more is needed. The EBR Schools board should not delay and move quickly to adopt a policy that will allow for a transparent, consistent and predictable oversight process.
Currently, the board has indicated it follows BESE’s Model District-Charter Compact for its school renewal policy. We believe the board should move quickly to formally adopt the BESE framework then work to create a thoughtful policy of its own over the next year tailored for the district. If not, schools will be muddled in ambiguity and susceptible to the political winds.
A formalized policy would provide maximum transparency to ensure that all stakeholders understand the areas in which charter schools are succeeding as well as those in which performance must be improved.
LAPCS looks forward to working with the East Baton Rouge Parish School board to create a framework for a collaborative effort with the common objective of providing its students with a high-quality education.”
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Contact: rchavez@lacharterschools.org
About Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to support, promote, and advocate for the Louisiana charter school movement, increasing student access to high-quality public schools statewide. Learn more about LAPCS at https://lacharterschools.org.