October  4,  2017  
  
Drew  Marsh  
KIPP  New  Orleans  Schools  
1307  Oretha  Castle  Haley  Blvd.,  #302  
New  Orleans,  LA  70113  
  
  
Dear  Mr.  Marsh,  
  
This  letter  serves  as  Notice  of  Breach  for  KIPP  New  Orleans  Leadership  Academy  for  falsifying  student  records  
provided  to  the  Recovery  School  District,  EnrollNOLA,  and  the  Louisiana  Department  of  Education  and  enrolling  
students  in  kindergarten  before  the  age  of  five,  in  violation  of  law  and  BESE  policy.    According  to  evidence  outlined  
in   the   enclosed   letter   from   by   RSD   Assistant   Superintendent   Gabriela   Fighetti,   KIPP   New   Orleans   Leadership  
Academy  staff  altered  the  birth  dates  of  five  students  in  SchoolForce  in  order  to  make  them  eligible  for  enrollment  
in  kindergarten.  
  
La.  R.S.  17:151  maintains  that  the  year  that  a  child  is  eligible  to  enter  kindergarten  “shall  be  one  year  younger  than  
the  age  required  for  that  child  to  enter  first  grade  as  provided  by  R.S.  17:222(A).”  Per  R.S.  17:222(A),  “the  age  at  
which  a  child  may  enter  the  first  grade  of  any  public  school  at  the  beginning  of  the  public  school  session  shall  be  
six  years  on  or  before  September  thirtieth  of  the  calendar  year  in  which  the  school  year  begins.”  
  
In   order   to   cure   this   Notice   of   Breach   and   return   to   Good   Standing,   KIPP   New   Orleans   must   take   the   following  
actions  no  later  than  October  21,  2017:  
  
1.   Submit  a  letter  signed  by  the  board  president  attesting  to  the  organization’s  understanding  of  the  above  
laws  and  agreement  to  abide  by  them;;  and  
2.   Submit  to  an  unannounced  on-­site  audit  of  student  birthdate  data  and  supporting  documentation  conducted  
by  Department  staff.    
    
Should  you  have  any  questions  about  these  requirements,  please  contact  me  at  laura.hawkins@la.gov.    
  
Sincerely,  
  
  
Laura  Hawkins