New Orleans and the School Choice Experiment

The Libertarians over at Reason put together a video on the reform of the New Orleans public schools in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The city's public school system once languished, but a school choice-centered effort after the flood has lifted many boats, with 60 percent of the city's public school students attend charters.

The Reason report unsurprisingly puts a positive spin on school choice, but it is careful to point out that while there are some encouraging signs, the outcome of the choice experiment is far from clear. After all, a report from the University of Minnesota's Institute on Race and Poverty said that while there have been some improvements, the reforms aren't reaching all students, as opportunity still isn't as widespread as it could be.

---

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P12pgeV8ZQM