Innovative Policies at Work: Achievement School District

Proven Results: Texas Schools Can Win by Implementing District-led Turnaround Approaches

Successful school reform hinges on improving school districts.

For too long, education reform has been driven by simple, isolated reform elements – usually directed by experts at the federal and state levels.  A district-area approach to reform yields far greater outcomes, as we’ve seen in areas like New Orleans.

Following Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Legislature transferred 100 plus low performing schools, concentrated in the New Orleans-area over to the Recovery School District.  Since that time, New Orleans RSD is among the most–improved districts, going from a graduation rate of 58.8 percent in 2011 to 67.7 percent in 2012.  And now more than ever, New Orleans graduates are college and career ready.

Our Texas schoolchildren deserve the same opportunities to obtain a quality education and prepare them for our state’s workforce. Let’s learn from our neighbors – Achievement School Districts work. This Texans Deserve Great Schools policy recommendation is being considered in the Texas Legislature this week (May 14).