New Schools for Baton Rouge aims to open three charters by 2014

Published Oct 9, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Oct 9, 2012)

Within 18 months, New Schools for Baton Rouge hopes to have three new charter schools operating in the Baton Rouge Achievement Zone, where city leaders say 65% of students are performing below grade level. John Spain, executive vice president of BRAF, which helped launch the NSBR, says a mix of private and public investments will fund the schools. "That was the model in New Orleans," says Spain, who this morning gave a presentation on CityStats at the Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center. "And when you look at the lessons learned there, the best charter operators are being asked to go to cities across the country. And in order to attract those operators, they are going to ask for resources: What do you have to help me be successful?" New Schools for New Orleans, Spain says, worked with the state and local school board to grow the charter system. "Can we help local institutions and individuals who are wanting to start charters and provide resources for them?" Spain says. "So at the end of the day, it will be a combination of national, well-established charters, it will be regional charters with successful models that were in New Orleans, and in some cases it will be homegrown." The goal is to attract KIPP, a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools in underserved communities, Spain says. After 2014, NSBR hopes to open three to five charter schools a year for a goal of 25 new schools, Spain says. —Adam Pearson