New Orleans Public Schools have led a dramatic increase in the number of students meeting academic proficiency standards and the performance gap between students in Orleans Parish and Louisiana as a whole has dramatically decreased over the last 14 plus years.
Despite these gains, additional progress is needed. Every student in New Orleans deserves equal access to high quality schools where their interests will come first, where they and their families will have choice, and where educators will have the tools and support they need to be successful. The NOLA Public Schools Request For Applications will begin in January. If you are interested in applying, additional materials and information will be posted to this page in the fall of 2020. Please find the Spring 2020 Charter Application below as a reference, however, please note that the LDOE updates the application annually, and thus this application will change prior to applications being received by NOLA-PS.
District Authorizing Priorities
The Orleans Parish School Board regularly adopts a set of district authorizing priorities to guide its charter authorization process. These priorities outline what the district seeks in operators to expand high-quality options for families. Setting clear District Authorizing Priorities informs recruitment strategies for new operators and expansion of existing operators; provides transparency in the charter application process of the district’s objectives; and informs the Superintendent’s decision to approve new schools.
Spring 2021 RFA Cycle
For information on the Spring 2021 RFA Cycle, please review this presentation. Letter of Intent Louisiana Department of Education’s Charter Applicant Toolbox
School Development Overview - 2021
The Spring 2021 Charter RFA process began on January 8th, 2021. The window for submission of the Letters of Intent and Eligibility Determination documentation was from January 8th to February 12th. Any organization or individual may become eligible to submit an application by meeting specific eligibility requirements as outlined in the Eligibility Determination document and submitting a Letter of Intent. In order to be eligible to submit a full application in the NOLA Public Schools’ Spring 2021 Charter Request for Applications process all Eligibility Determination information and Letter of Intent were due by February 12th at 12:00pm CST.
Eligibility Determination
Edlusion Application Portal
Spring 2021 Charter Application
Spring 2021 RFA Evaluation Standards
Louisiana Department of Education Evaluation Standards
For assistance with the Edlusion Portal, please see this user guide.
The applicant training video from Edlusion can be found below or viewed here.
Additional Resources
Spring 2021 Submitted Applications
Initial Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Initial Memo
Factual Correction Memo from Independent Evaluator
Final Recommendation from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Final Recommendation
Algiers Charter School Application (ACSA-4) (Withdrew application June 9, 2021)
Factual Correction Memo from Independent Evaluator
Final Recommendation from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Final Recommendation
Algiers Charter School Application (ACSA-NOLA-3) (Withdrew application June 9, 2021)
Factual Correction Memo from Independent Evaluator
Final Recommendation from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Final Recommendation
Algiers Charter School Application (ACSA-NOLA-4) (Withdrew application June 9, 2021)
Initial Memo from Independent Evaluator
Factual Correction Memo from Independent Evaluator
Final Recommendation from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Final Recommendation
The Seed Sowing Group (Withdrew application April 26, 2021)
Spring 2020 RFA Cycle
Charter Applicant Eligibility Form Supplemental Materials:
Applicants who have approved Letters of Intent and Eligibility Documentation have been provided a link to the application on the EdLusion Portal.
Sample Letter of Intent
Spring 2020 Charter RFA Full Application
Spring 2020 RFA Evaluation Rubric and Evaluation Information
Spring 2020 Submitted Applications
Application (Without Attachments)
Attachments (Zipped)
Initial Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Initial Memo
Factual Clarification Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Factual Clarification Memo
Final Recommendation Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Final Recommendation Memo
Generation Success
Application (Without Attachments)
Attachments (Zipped)
Initial Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Initial Memo
Factual Clarification Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Factual Clarification Memo
Final Recommendation Memo from Independent Evaluator
Applicant Response to Final Recommendation Memo
Past RFA Cycles
Additional Cycles can be found in our archive website: previous.opsb.us – for additional information please consider filing a public records request.
Start a Charter School
The deadline to submit an application for the Spring 2021 cycle has passed. Information on the next application cycle will be posted to this page once available.
District Primary Contact
For any questions regarding opening a charter school in New Orleans, and/or the application process, please contact charterschools@nolapublicschools.com.
