John White appears poised to be named state schools superintendent this week

The state board of education has scheduled a special meeting tomorrow to vote on Louisiana's next superintendent, all but ensuring that John White, a former New York City schools official and Teach for America leader, will get the nod without any formal search process on the part of the board.

A board agenda posted online Tuesday does not name any specific candidate for the job.

But White, who arrived in New Orleans to lead the state's Recovery School District last year, has Gov. Bobby Jindal's backing and no serious rival.

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Getting friendlier streets in New Orleans: An editorial

New Orleans officials have made significant progress in adding bicycle lanes to many city streets in recent years, especially as many thoroughfares have been repaired after Hurricane Katrina. Now those efforts will be cemented into city policy with a new ordinance that requires the design of most future streets to consider more than just motorized vehicles.

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New Orleans public schools are better than before Hurricane Katrina, parents say in survey

About two-thirds of public school parents feel the city's post-Katrina school system is an improvement over what existed before, according to a new survey commissioned by Tulane University researchers.

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Florida Charter Schools Failing Disabled Students

Tres Whitlock is stuck in a public school where he feels ignored. He wants out.

The 17-year-old would-be video game designer researched his options online and found his perfect match – Pivot Charter School. "It's computer-based and I think I will do better," he says. But when Whitlock tried to enroll in the school, he found a series of barriers in his way.

The reason? He has cerebral palsy, and school officials say they don't have anyone to take Whitlock to the bathroom.

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City Council gets a bit more money to play with in 2012 budget

New Orleans City Council members hoping to add money for various departments when they adopt the city's 2012 budget Thursday got some good news today when the city's Revenue Estimating Conference decided to increase its 2012 revenue forecast by $1.8 million. That means the council can add the same amount to the $494.9 million general-fund operating budget that Mayor Mitch Landrieu proposed in October.

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All RSD students will be assigned through central office, ending fractured system

Working to fulfill a promise made months ago, the Recovery School District is taking over enrollment for each of its 50 charter schools in New Orleans. That means the officials running the independent schools will no longer have sole discretion in determining which students come to their schools.

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Mayor Landrieu, HUD Officials and Homeless Services Working Group Release 10-year plan to end homelessness in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LA— In June, Mayor Mitch Landrieu signed an executive order establishing the Homeless Services Working Group- an official Mayoral Advisory Committee - tasked with developing a strategic master plan to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in New Orleans. Today, Mayor Landrieu, along with the Working Group, and officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), unveiled the strategic plan.

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