GNOF was a founding funder of New Schools for New Orleans, the group working to transform New Orleans public schools.

Since March 2006—shortly after the Louisiana Legislature placed 107 of 128 New Orleans Public Schools under the control of the state-run Recovery School District—NSNO has been working to transform one of the country’s lowest performing school systems into one of the best. “New Schools for New Orleans is one of GNOF’s major strategic bets … we’re betting on their leadership and its ability to effectively support the teachers and school administrators who are re-envisioning a new New Orleans for our young people,” says Orlando Watkins, GNOF’s VP for Programs and NSNO board member. 

Securing the best people to work in the schools, cultivating the best practices of high performing schools, promoting academic and operational excellence, and developing sustainable governance, NSNO recruits high-quality human capital for the schools (teachers, principals, business manager, board members) and provides much-needed training and technical assistance to school leaders. Throughout 2007, as New Orleans rebuilds K-12 public education around student achievement and school accountability, NSNO will be providing high-impact support where it’s needed most. Though all public schools are eligible for NSNO support, NSNO places emphasis on assisting the charter schools, which now total 57% of public schools in Orleans Parish.

Investing in New Orleans public education is compelling for national interests, as well—it’s an unprecedented opportunity to create a new national model for reforming failed urban school districts.  “If New Orleans’ educational reforms are successful, American urban education will be changed forever,” says Usdin. Already NSNO initiatives are producing results:  dozens of top quality teachers have been recruited and placed; 6 board governance training workshops and 6 business operations workshops were held; a “How To” charter school handbook has been developed; pro bono legal assistance has been made available to every charter school; on-site technical assistance has been provided; and NSNO’s website was launched (www.nsno.org) with information clearinghouse capabilities.  While this work continues, new initiatives are being initiated in 2007, including a School Investment Fund to make grants to schools and assessment and academic achievement tracking programs.