Report examines Orleans schools progress, problems

A policy institute at Tulane University has released its annual look at the progress and problems of public education in New Orleans.

The Cowen Institute's report says the Louisiana Recovery School District, which governs most New Orleans public schools, has undertaken a much needed effort to transform chronically failing New Orleans high schools. It also credits the RSD with improving efforts at providing information to parents by opening Parent-Family Resource Centers. And it said a new centralized enrollment system that lets families use a single application to apply for their top three school choices is a much needed improvement.

The report also notes lingering problems in New Orleans schools, including uneven progress, the lack of a single data-collecting resource and budgets that are growing tighter.