What is the Recovery School District?
The Recovery School District (RSD), which is operated by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE), is an organization dedicated to turning underperforming schools into successful schools. As a result of legislation passed in 2005, authority over 102 public schools in Orleans Parish was transferred to the RSD.

How will the RSD make public schools in New Orleans better?
We are committed to laying the groundwork for a world-class public education system in Orleans Parish and are committed to the following principles:
Student Achievement: Promoting success for every student.
Quality Leadership: Providing quality leadership at all levels.
Working Together: Developing a strong model of parental and community collaboration and creating a new public image of education in Orleans Parish.
Transparency and Accountability: Ensuring transparency regarding RSD processes and practices and accountability at all levels.
Equal Access and Equity: Ensuring equal access to resources for all schools and students and equity in the provision of all course offerings, programs, and services.
RSD Charter Schools: Ensuring that charter schools in the district are of the highest possible quality by ensuring both support and autonomy for the schools.
Relationship with New Orleans Public Schools and the Orleans Parish School Board: Developing a collaborative relationship with the Orleans Parish School Board to ensure the provision of high-quality educational opportunities for all students in Orleans Parish.

Will the public schools be able to accommodate all returning students?
Yes, we will accommodate all students who return to public schools in Orleans Parish. We will ensure that all schools have the staff and resources to serve children with all learning needs (especially children who require special education).

What are some RSD achievements over the past school year?
- Shakespeare's Macbeth at Clark High School
- Four RSD high school basketball teams made the playoffs
- Jazz workshop with Irvin Mayfield, New Orleans jazz trumpeter
- Danny Glover announced the partnership between The Algebra Project, The Vanguard Foundation, the RSD, and Xavier University to develop a math initiative to prepare students in lower grades for advanced math
- Celebration of Black History Month with songs and dance

Why was the Recovery School District created?
The Recovery School District provides an opportunity for the state to gain national resources and support in developing a strong infrastructure for the rebuilding of New Orleans' schools. These schools can then be returned to the local community once the reforms have been well established in the schools and the community has had the opportunity to rebuild.

What will be different about schools in the Recovery School District?
These schools will be designed specifically for the student population they will serve. The curriculum and other facets of each school will be developed to specifically address the needs of the students served in the school. They will use the most current research and practice on successful schools to provide a strong basis for success. The planning process for the development of these schools will encourage the involvement of community members in the design of each school to ensure that the school is the center of community life.

How long will these schools be part of the Recovery School District?
Schools are placed in the Recovery School District for a minimum of five years. This length of time will allow the schools to fully establish the instructional practices and expectations necessary for success prior to re-entry into the New Orleans school system. National research shows that it takes about five years to turn around a failing school.

What about hurricanes and tropical weather?
Tropical weather is a concern in New Orleans, and preparing for hurricanes is a top priority of emergency management officials. There are extensive plans in place for evacuation routes, emergency shelters and cleanup.

What percentage of students have returned to school post-Katrina?
At the end of the 2006-2007 school year, public school enrollment in New Orleans had returned to about half its pre-Katrina levels. As students continue to return to the city with their families, the RSD is repairing old schools and building and opening additional schools.

Are there any state-administered achievement tests and/or standardized tests that the students prepare for during the year?
Students participate in the Louisiana Education Assessment Program (LEAP). Students are tested in grades 4 and 8 and are then required to pass the Graduation Exit Examination (GEE) to graduate from high school.

Is it difficult to get flights to and from New Orleans?
No. The Louis Armstrong International Airport continues to work with national airlines, and traveling to and from the city is timely and convenient.

What is safety like in New Orleans today?
According to the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc. the ratio of police to citizens in New Orleans is actually higher today than it was before Katrina. Since New Orleans is still under a media spotlight, much of the crime that occurs is sensationalized. Law enforcement, the government, and the citizens of New Orleans are all working hard to address crime.

Is there public transportation?
Yes. Amtrak, buses, taxis, and partial streetcar service are available.