BESE Renews Three NOLA Charters

The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) today approved the charter renewals of three Eastbank Collaborative of Charter School members: the International High School of New Orleans (IHSNO), International School of Louisiana (ISL) and Morris Jeff Community School.  IHSNO and Morris Jeff were renewed for six years and ISL was the only school renewed for 10 years at the meeting.            

BESE followed the Louisiana Department of Education’s recommendations for the three schools released on November 22.              

“We are excited that BESE has renewed our charter and validated the important work we are doing here at IHSNO,” said CEO Sean Wilson. “As an open enrollment school offering a full college preparatory curriculum with the exclusive International Baccalaureate Programme (IBP), we understand and embrace the importance of a global education and offer a unique international curriculum that is vital to this city.”

Charter renewals are based on school’s academic progress. Renewal terms vary in length, with the maximum set by the school's letter grade.  If a charter school is not progressing appropriately, it can be shut down.            

“ISL is proud to have been renewed for the maximum ten year charter,” said Melanie Tennyson, ISL CEO. “As a French and Spanish language immersion school with an “A” grade, we will strive to continue to perform with academic excellence while stressing diversity and international awareness.”            

The International High School of New Orleans (9-12) and Morris Jeff Community School (PK-5) are World Schools of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO),  a recognized leader in the field of international education, encouraging students across the world to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners. IHSNO accepts students statewide and is located in downtown New Orleans. Morris Jeff is an RSD school that will relocate to a brand new state-of-the art school in January. The International School of Louisiana accepts students statewide and has three campuses offering French and Spanish Language immersion in grades K-8.           
“Morris Jeff Community School is dedicated to diversity, community and academic excellence.  We are happy to be able to offer children six more years of our IB curriculum and the opportunity to grow and thrive in our unique, nurturing environment,” said Principal Patricia Perkins.            

All three schools are authorized by BESE. Morris Jeff is a Type 5 charter and IHSNO and ISL are Type 2 charters.   


About ISL:  
ISL was Louisiana’s first language immersion charter school and is the only Louisiana school to be named a “Charter School of the Year” by the Center for Education Reform, the nation’s leading education advocacy organization. From their first day of school, students are taught core academic subjects in either French or Spanish.   At ISL children learn a second language naturally, through everyday conversation and classroom instruction and graduate fluent in their chosen language.  ISL was graded an “A” school this year.   The mission of the International School of Louisiana is to provide a challenging education emphasizing language immersion, international awareness, celebration of diversity and community responsibility.  

About Morris Jeff:  
In Fall 2010, Morris Jeff opened its doors as one of the most racially and economically diverse open-access public schools in the history of New Orleans. Morris Jeff Community School currently serves children in grades Pre-K to 5th, with a heavy focus on languages, the arts and the development of the whole child. MJCS will grow each year to serve children through 8th grade and will move to a brand new state-of-the art facility this year.  Morris Jeff is the only elementary school in Louisiana to be named a World School of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) after three hard years of training, writing, interviewing, and planning and implementing units of inquiry. The Primary Years Programme offers a rigorous curriculum that crosses disciplines and aligns with many of the Common Core State Standards for learning. Upon graduation, students will be able to communicate in at least two languages, English and Spanish, and be prepared for future academic excellence.    

About IHSNO:
The International High School (IHS) of New Orleans is an open enrollment public charter school open to students throughout Louisiana in grades 9-12. Located in the Central Business District of New Orleans in an historic art deco building, IHS is the first and only school in Orleans Parish to offer a full college preparatory curriculum with an exclusive International Baccalaureate Programme (IBP). IHS was founded in 2009.   IHS is dedicated to providing a diverse, engaging and multi- cultural education for its students, with French and Spanish language immersion education, Arabic and Mandarin Chinese as global languages, and international business education classes. IHS understands and embraces the importance of a global education in our students’ future and prepares them for a successful introduction into the international business world.