Tulane University, one of the nation’s most prestigious research universities and the largest employer in New Orleans, is taking a leadership role in the process of transforming K-12 public education in the city. The Cowen Institute, which opened its doors in March 2007, is an action-oriented think tank that informs and advances solutions – through policies, programs, and partnerships – to eliminate the challenges impeding the success of K-12 education in New Orleans and beyond.  By leveraging Tulane’s human, intellectual, political, financial, and social capital, we are pioneering a new role for major research universities to interact with K-12 public education systems in their respective communities.  Our work is focused in the following areas: Applied Research, Public Policy, University-Based Initiatives, and College Readiness Programs.

The Latest from the Cowen Institute

The Cowen Institute Releases the State of Public Education in New Orleans: Five Years After Katrina (July 2010)

The Cowen Institute is pleased to release The State of Public Education in New Orleans: Five Years after Hurricane Katrina to provide journalists, policymakers, community leaders, and the public with information, context, and thoughtful analyses about the reform efforts that have taken place in the K-12 public education system in the five years since the storm devastated our city.  Click here to read more about the report and to download a copy.

The Cowen Institute Releases a Brief on the 2010 Charter Renewal Process (June 2010)

While BESE, one of the state’s charter school authorizers, has gone through the process of evaluating and renewing charter school contracts before, this year is the first in which the board will consider the renewal of Type 5 charter schools (the low-performing schools taken over by the Recovery School District and chartered by BESE).  It also marks the beginning of a number of upcoming years in which many Type 5 charter schools will come up for renewal. With these critical decisions approaching, the Cowen Institute has released a brief titled Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the Charter School Renewal Process in which we compare Louisiana’s laws and policies to what well-respected national organizations recommend as best practices.  We also describe the current year’s renewal policies and offer observations about how BESE’s policies have or have not been implemented.  Lastly, we make recommendations for how the process can be improved for schools that will be applying for charter renewals in the coming year.  Click here to read an excerpt or download the entire document.

The Cowen Institute and BGR Outline Options for Addressing School Governance Challenges (May 2010)

Currently, New Orleans is in the midst of a sweeping reform movement, the scale of which has been seen in few cities. Harnessing the potential of the reform movement and addressing the challenges created by the current complex system requires a new approach to education governance. How should the school system be structured to allow the reforms under way to succeed and prosper? To answer this question, the Cowen Institute and the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) recently released Managing Innovation: Models for Governing the System of Public Schools in New Orleans. The report presents five potential models for governing public schools in New Orleans and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each. To read more about and download the report, click here.

From President Scott Cowen

“From being ranked one of the worst school districts in the country, New Orleans has responded with a new philosophy that empowers schools to be the centerpiece for transformation and holds them accountable. Through the work of the Cowen Institute, Tulane’s commitment to improving the educational opportunities for every child in the city has become a reality.”