PostK the public schools are engaged in a massive experiment. Powerful forces are arrayed on all sides. Some hope for failure and a return to the status quo, others see a future that's radically different.

The Charter Schools are the most fascinating aspect of the experiment. Fifty six publicly funded schools are theoretically open to all students but able to practice selective admissions. Twenty three different operators receiving public funding place the charter schools are  in a unique position to advance education goals. If they succeed they challenge the status quo.

New Orleans Public Schools, the old school district was not disbanded but was allowed to continue with its best performing schools. Seven schools that had been doing fine prior to the storm are all that NOPS has left. Failure with these schools should doom NOPS.

That leaves the rest. If you are unable to secure a spot in a charter school or a good NOPS school, the Recovery District is all you have left. These schools of last resort are in trouble. They were in trouble and still are. Improvement will not happen overnight, but the population expects to see progress.