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, Civic Engagement, and College Readiness Programs.

The Latest from the Cowen Institute

Transforming Public Education in New Orleans: The Recovery School District, 2003-2011 (December 2011)

Public education in New Orleans has endured years of academic, political, and financial failure, and, more recently, faced the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina. The reformation of the city’s public education system has produced a unique structure comprised of a decentralized system of schools that is diverse in governance, ideology and opportunity. The impact of the Recovery School District (RSD) and the resulting school and district restructuring played an important role in this transformation.

In this comprehensive history of the RSD in New Orleans from its inception to the present, we provide an analysis of some of the issues and policies that have defined the RSD over the past eight years, as well as an examination of the interplay among the contextual conditions and the community’s ability to engage and restructure to ensure sustainable change in public education. The report concludes by discussing the continuing role of state intervention and highlighting the issues currently facing the RSD in New Orleans. Click here to  download the report, and here for the executive summary.

K-12 Public Education in the Public Eye: Parents’ Perceptions of School Choice (December 2011)

The Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives has released the results of its third annual public opinion poll, which surveyed parents of students in New Orleans public schools to asses their experiences in the open enrollment system and their perceptions of the availability of information on public schools and public school options. Giving a voice to parents on issues such as the availability of information and the ease of the enrollment process is crucial to creating structures and systems that ensure equitable access to high-quality public schools for all students in New Orleans. Click here to read a summary and analysis of the poll results.

Power in Numbers Data Request Initiative (September 2011)

A decentralized system of public schools, like that in New Orleans where over 70% of students attend independently operated charter schools, requires access to timely information about schools and districts for research, program and policy assessment, and stakeholder decision-making. Currently, getting access to data for program evaluation, overall assessment and research, and to inform parents during the school choice process is difficult. Given the current challenge of data access, the Cowen Institute has created a database that compiles data released by the Louisiana Department of Education.

If you have a question about public schools in Louisiana, or would like to access data on schools, please fill out the data request form by clicking here. A Cowen Institute staff member will contact you within two working days to assist you.

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.”