Early Childhood & School Governance
Unified governance is an issue of equity. Without a single governing body to actively track where students go when they exit schools, or one entity responsible for all pupils, vulnerable students fall through the cracks. OPEN continually works toward unified governance that gives the attention to oversight and compliance that is necessary to strengthen the district’s ability to meet the needs of all students.
Our most important step in changing life outcomes is ensuring that children are ready for school. High-quality early childhood education has been shown to significantly improve outcomes throughout students’ lives. OPEN is leveraging international data (the Early Development Instrument) to guide investment in building quality early childhood systems throughout the city.
Early Childhood & School Governance Fast Facts
• There are an estimated 25,810 children under the age of five living in the New Orleans area.
• There are only 145 licensed childcare centers and 24 home childcare centers in New Orleans to oversee these children.
• The average annual cost of full-time care for an infant in Louisiana is over $5,000, 31% of the median income for a single parent.
• Investment in early childhood care and education in Louisiana has decreased overall by 15% since fiscal year 2010, with a 9% ($26,400,000) in 2012 alone.
• The number of children served on child care assistance in Louisiana has been cut in half since 2008—from 40,000 to 18,000 children served, with about 75% of those ages birth through four.
• Act 3 creates an Early Childhood Care and Education Network. In July 2013, the Department of Education launched 13 pilot networks. Most recently, the Department announced that 16 additional parishes have joined the network as of April 2014. The total number of school districts within the pilot is 34.
• Each year, the education landscape changes as schools are closed and new charter schools authorized.
• In New Orleans, there are:
- 6 schools directly run by the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) | 14 OPSB charter schools | 4 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) charter schools | 57 Recovery School District (RSD) charter schools | 5 RSD direct-run schools | 1 independent school under Louisiana Legislature
• Providing a high quality education for children before they turn five yields significant long- term benefits:
- Individuals who were enrolled in a quality preschool program ultimately earned up to $2,000 more per month than those who were not young people in preschool programs are more likely to graduate from high school, to own homes, and have longer marriages
Sources: The State of Public Education In New Orleans 2014 (The Cowen Institute, 2014) and Lifetime Effects: The HighScope Perry Preschool Study Through Age 40 (HighScope, 2005)
OPEN’s Position and Action Steps
The complex and decentralized governance structure of public schools in New Orleans complicates efforts to ensure all students are treated equitably and fairly. The centralization or revised enrollment and discipline policies are important steps in addressing gaps in the system of schools. Nonetheless, without a single entity responsible for long-term planning, data management, and general oversight, challenges will remain and children will fall through the gaps.
Research shows that providing a high quality education for children before they turn five yields significant long-term benefits. One well-known study, the HighScope Perry Preschool Study, found that individuals who were enrolled in a quality preschool program ultimately earned up to $2,000 more per month than those who were not. Children in quality preschool programs are less likely to repeat grades, need special education, or get into future trouble with the law. Young people who were in preschool programs are more likely to graduate from high school, to own homes, and have longer marriages. Other studies, like The Abecedarian Project, show similar results.
OPEN plans to ensure implementation of Act 3 is aligned with appropriate development and receives appropriate funding and support to ensure increased access to quality early childhood settings.