Last month the Southern Poverty Law Center, Louisiana Department of Education, State School Board, and Orleans Parish School Board reached a settlement on a four-year-old lawsuit. The suit claimed New Orleans schools weren't effectively serving students with disabilities — something that's harder to monitor and track in the charter school landscape.
Karran Harper Royal is an education advocate and parent of two children with disabilities. She's been watching the case closely. She sat down with WWNO Education Reporter Mallory Falk to talk about the settlement and resulting consent decree.
Harper Royal started by describing some of the challenges students with disabilities, and their families, face in finding and staying in a school.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is hosting an information session for families to learn more about the settlement agreement on January 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Ashé Cultural Arts Center. The settlement still awaits final approval.
Support for education reporting on WWNO comes from Baptist Community Ministries and Entergy Corporation.