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Lagniappe Academies Future In Question Amid Charges Of Special Education Violations

A New Orleans charter school violated the rights of special education students, then covered up those violations. That's according to a new report from the Louisiana Department of Education. Now the school's future is in question.

The report claims leaders at Lagniappe Academies didn't provide services to students with special needs, then arranged a cover up when the state came to investigate.

According to the report, administrators refused to screen students for special education services, discouraged students from enrolling in or returning to the school, and made teachers sign forms saying they'd provided services that they hadn't. The school also set up a "fake" special education room when state officials came to visit.

The state Board of Education decides this week whether to renew Lagniappe's charter. Recovery School District Superintendent Patrick Dobard says it shouldn't.

"They should not have the privilege of educating our kids further," Dobard says. "We're not gonna tolerate anything other than the proper services and the proper accommodations being made for all of our children."

Support for education reporting on WWNO comes from Baptist Community Ministries and Entergy Corporation.

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