Higher LEAP Scores Add Fuel to Debate over Charter Schools

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From NOLA.com --

New Orleans community leaders are petitioning the state board of education, upset by the lack of a local voice in the major changes made to the city's school landscape. There are several concerns over the growing amount of state-controlled charter schools in New Orleans. This signals a huge backlash to the city's favor for autonomous public schools. But the latest round of LEAP test scores show vast improvements in New Orleans students. 

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Though the academic growth is indisputable, education officials, experts and community leaders disagree sharply about the scores' significance, yet another sign of mounting tensions over the direction of New Orleans school reforms.

Charter advocates contend the results prove that the radical decentralization of schools -- most students now attend charters -- has empowered educators, parents and students to achieve like never before.

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