February 15, 2016

Dear Superintendent Dobard,

As you are aware, public charter schools in New Orleans have been the driver of significant improvements in the
academic and life outcomes of our citys children. Over the last decade, we have seen unprecedented growth in
student achievement, including a rise in high school graduation rates, rates of college attendance, and more
students eligible for TOPS scholarships than ever before.
Together, we are leaders representing a diverse group of public charter schools in New Orleans. Educators in our
schools are committed public servants who take seriously the responsibility and privilege we have for educating
our citys youth.
Part of our responsibility as educators is to teach and model strong character and values, and support our children
to be successful citizens in our city and the world beyond. We are saddened to hear of the recent allegations of
improper conduct during state testing at two New Orleans schools. We know that the vast majority of the
teachers and leaders in our citys schools operate with the utmost integrity and accountability.
We appreciate the efforts the Recovery School District and LA Department of Education have made to protect the
integrity of the system of schools in New Orleans, as their routine testing protocols brought these allegations to
light. As school leaders, we feel it is our collective duty to take additional action to demonstrate publicly that our
testing practices are honest and above board, and that our students results are legitimate and meaningful
measures of progress.
We understand that the Department will be conducting test monitoring using a professional monitoring
organization in charter schools statewide during the schools extension or rewewal year. In the spirit of shared
accountability and transparency, several New Orleans charter school leaders have come together to offer
additional support to expand this monitoring to cover all schools operated by our organizations on an annual
basis. These voluntary additional activities would include:

Contracting with a third-party organization to conduct test security monitoring at all participating schools
for all state exams, on an annual basis
Continue annual training of our faculties on the states test security policies, and invite the third-party
monitor to observe and verify the quality of this training for inclusion in the final report
Publicly release a summary report of the monitors findings via our websites and via the RSD, LDE and
OPSB websites

We offer this support voluntarily in the interest of maximizing transparency and accountability to the public. As
public schools, there is nothing more important to us than maintaining the faith and trust of the families and
communities we serve every day.

As always, we do our work in partnership with the LDE, RSD and OPSB to ensure schools and students rise to the
highest standards of both academics and ethics.
Sincerely,
Jay Altman
CEO
FirstLine Schools

Rene Lewis-Carter
Interim CEO
Algiers Charter School Association

Kelly Batiste
CEO / Principal
Fannie C. Williams Charter School

Colleen Mackay
CEO
ReNEW Schools

Tracy Bennett-Joseph
CEO
Crescent Leadership Academy

Ben Marcovitz
CEO
Collegiate Academies

Sametta Brown
CEO
New Beginnings Schools Foundation

Kate Mehok
CEO
Crescent City Schools

Sharon Clark
Charter School Director
Sophie B. Wright Charter Schoool

Elizabeth Ostberg
Principal
The Net Charter High School

Niloy Gangopadhyay
Executive Director
Success Prepatory Academy

Patricia Perkins
Principal
Morris Jeff Community School

Aisha Jones
CEO
Mary D. Coghill Charter School

Gregory Phillips
President / CEO
Dryades YMCA
James Singleton Charter School

Rhonda Kalifey-Aluise
CEO
KIPP New Orleans Schools
Ben Kleban
President
New Orleans College Prep
Mickey Landry
Executive Director
Choice Foundation

Andrew Shahan
CEO
ARISE Schools
Eileen Williams
CEO / Principal
Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy