September 16, 2019
Dear Mary D. Coghill Charter School Families,
NOLA Public Schools is committed to transparency and communicating with families on school performance. I am writing to follow-up
on a message sent in May regarding the routine evaluation process your child’s school is undergoing, given it is the last year of the school‘s
charter contract.
As a part of our unique school system, all charter schools participate in a routine evaluation process during the last year of their charter
contract. As part of my commitment to communicating openly with families, I am writing to let you know Mary D. Coghill is going
through the charter school renewal process this fall.
When the school district reviews a school’s performance, it determines to what extent schools have met specific standards as described in
the Charter School Accountability Framework which focus primarily on student learning outcomes. We will also review how well schools
have complied with federal, state and local law and policy. You can learn more about our renewal standards on pages 58 at: https://opsb.us/schools/charter-school-performance-framework/.
If a school does not meet the standards, the school’s charter contract may not be renewed at the end of the school year that the school is
reviewed. At this time, Mary D. Coghill’s academic performance is anticipated to result in an “F” letter grade based upon last
year’s state assessment outcomes, which deems the school ineligible for renewal. Because of this, the charter contract with Better
Choice Foundation who manages this school may not be recommended for renewal. As a result, a new operator would be selected to
operate the school beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.
We recognize the incredibly hard work that students, parents and teachers have put into this school community and that this news may be
difficult to receive. In terms of what this means for both this community and your children, let me explain further:
1.

There is no action required of you at this time; your school will remain open for the duration of the 2019-2020 school year.

2.

Upon the release of the final Louisiana Department of Education School Performance Scores, a final decision will be made
regarding the renewal or non-renewal of Mary D. Coghill no later than December 18, 2019.

3.

If the school is recommended for non-renewal, the school district will meet with other operators who are eligible to transition into
operating the school upon the completion of the 2019-2020 school year. Additionally, we will host engagement sessions with
potential operator(s) so that students, staff and families can learn more about the organization(s) and have a chance to ask
questions.

Lastly, we will convene a family meeting at Mary D. Coghill on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 5:00pm to review the renewal process
with you.
The renewal process will officially be completed no later than December 19, 2019, after the Louisiana Department of Education issues its
final school accountability results for the 2019-2020 school year. You will hear again from the school district confirming the outcomes of
the review process.
There is no action needed on your part at this time. However, if you have any questions, you can reach NOLA Public Schools at 504-3043520. Otherwise, please continue to enjoy the school year and look for additional information later this year.
Thank you for your time.
In service,

Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr., Superintendent

Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr., Superintendent