Mitch Landrieu will be a champion for our kids and our schools, so all children have the opportunity to reach their God-given potential. Mitch believes that the Mayor can use the bully pulpit of the office to improve education.
Mitch’s priorities for education:
- Provide quality schools for every child
- Work toward long-term governance solution
- Champion the continued growth of charter schools
- Help our schools become centers for neighborhood renewal
- Urge our high schools to build stronger alliances with higher education institutions and employers to create more opportunities for our children
- Partner with schools to reduce truancy and increase attendance
Provide quality schools for every child in New Orleans
Failing schools, whether traditional or chartered, cannot be tolerated. All of our children need and can have access to a good education. We must:
- Keep pressure on both the Recovery School District (RSD) and Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) to make certain every child has the option of attending a good school.
- Work with the OPSB and the RSD to help secure additional funding for school facilities.
- Make certain the facility master plan reflects updated demographic data and provides all schools with good school buildings, and that a long-term solution for facility management is put in place so our new schools and renovated schools are well maintained.
Work toward long-term governance solution
Mitch does not advocate for direct Mayoral control but is committed to impacting our schools in a positive, significant way. Together, we can determine what model makes the most sense for our kids and our community.
As mayor, he will work to return schools to local control during his term, in a manner that supports charter school growth, quality and autonomy, but demands and holds schools accountable for serving all children.
Champion the continued growth of charter schools
Since his time in the state legislature Mitch has supported charter schools because they provide accountability, choice, and have shown results. Ultimately, Mitch’s goal is to have a great school option in every neighborhood and the charter school movement will help make that goal a reality.
Help our schools become centers for neighborhood renewal
- Coordinate the city’s master plan to incorporate city agencies such as NOPD, NORD, the New Orleans Public Library and the City Health Department. We must use school facilities as community hubs for community policing, public health outreach, recreation programs and other initiatives that will benefit neighborhoods.
- Identify job-training, adult literacy or other education programs available for funding that can use school facilities.
Urge our high schools to build stronger alliances with higher education institutions and employers to create more opportunities for our children
- Urge high schools to take advantage of dual enrollment opportunities paid for by the state.
- Use Job One funds and urge local businesses to get involved in creating internships, job shadowing and summer employment opportunities for high school students.
Partner with schools to reduce truancy and increase attendance
- Increase truancy enforcement
- Enforce the curfew on school nights, making provisions for working students
