LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

 

May 19, 2017

James Watson, President
institute forAcademic Excellence Board of Directors

1426 Napoleon Ave
New Orleans, LA 70115

Dear Mr. Watson:

This letter represents a Notice of Breach of the charter School Performance Compact for failing to uphold the
requirements of the McKinneerento Homeless Assistance Act ("McKinnechentofl. McKinnechento
provides a broad mandate to schools to change policies that act as a barrier to the enrollment, attendance,
and school success of homeless children. Due to this violation by Sophie B. Wright charter School ("Wright")
staff, two students sat out of school for a month before they were allowed to begin attending school at
Wright.

- On February 2017, a parent of two Wright students contacted Recovery School District (RSD) staff
and stated that school staff said that her two children (DneApp iDs-- and_) could
not attend school until they had uniforms.

- Wright staff was subsequently informed by Recovery School District (RSD) staff that the students
were considered homeless under McKinneerento and should be accommodated accordingly.

- On February Wright staff were again contacted by Louisiana Department of Education (LDUE)
staff and informed that the two students in question were considered homeless and that a uniform
should be provided to them using Title setcaside funds.

Despite this communication from both RSD and LDOE staff, the students were not able to obtain
uniforms until early March, and were told on at least one occasion by Wright staffthat they could not
attend school until the uniforms were monogrammed.

- Due to the family's inability to obtain a uniform and the failure to abide by the requirements of
McKinney Vento, the students did not attend their first day of class at Wright until March 2017
and were out of school for a month while awaiting uniforms.

To address this Notice of Breach and return to good standing, please complete the following steps by close of
business on May 31, 2017:

- Provide this family, in writing, an opportunity to receive instruction ortutoring over the summer or at
the start of the next school year and make up assignments missed during the time out of school and
how specifically this will occur. Submit a copy of this documentation to the LDOE.

- Amend the uniform policy outlined in your student handbook ("handbook") to include language
exempting students classified as homeless under McKinneerento. Post an updated copy of your
handbook including this language to your school website.

Louisiana Believe;
E--

POST UFFICE Bax Mom I aAluN ROUGE. LA 7050479064 I 377 453 272i LuulslANAscHuan NET

All 
   documentation 
   of 
   the 
   above 
   steps 
   must 
   be 
   submitted 
   to 
   Olin 
   Parker 
   at 
   Olin.Parker@LA.gov 
   by 
   the 
  
specified 
  date. 
  Please 
  reach 
  out 
  to 
  myself 
  or 
  Olin 
  with 
  any 
  questions. 
  
 
  
Sincerely, 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
Laura 
  Hawkins 
  
 
  
Cc: 
  
Sharon 
  Clark, 
  Institute 
  for 
  Academic 
  Excellence 
  
Olin 
  Parker, 
  Louisiana 
  Department 
  of 
  Education 
  
Kunjan 
  Narechania, 
  Louisiana 
  Department 
  of 
  Education