Education

Investigative journalism site The Lens features a story by Sarah Carr today. Carr looks at a Louisiana program that uses student test scores to evaluate teacher training programs. The education reporter sat down with WWNO's Eve Troeh to talk about her latest work, which Carr says could transform teacher training in Louisiana and across the nation.

In a report out today, New Orleans students from Vietnamese and Latino families say they are not getting the resources they need at school. The Vietnamese American Young Leaders Association (VAYLA) surveyed 100 students across six schools and collected stories from students and their families. It found a lack of services for Limited-English speakers.

Teachers have taken a by any means necessary approach to closing the achievement gap even at the expense of student learning. Georgia’s Fulton County District Court indicted 35 educators, including former Superintendent Beverly Hall, for a cheating scheme that ultimately produced the wrong kind of results. Dozens of Atlanta public schools teachers, leaders and other personnel are turning themselves in to authorities.

However, are teachers completely at fault? An accountability system predicated on achievement test growth may be a co-conspirator.

Public institutions of higher learning in Louisiana have been facing many physical and financial challenges in recent years.

However, an innovation at the University of New Orleans attempts to attract and support highly qualified students whose fields of study will benefit both the institution and the city. Jack Hopke spoke about these initiatives with Adam Norris, UNO's Director of Public Relations.