Baton Rouge Turns Down Three New Charter Schools: What’s Next for Education as Superintendent Considers Alternatives?

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has turned down applications from GEO Academies and Collegiate Academy, both looking to open three new charter schools. These groups plan to appeal to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), which will make a decision on December 9.

This was the first set of charter school proposals since Superintendent LaMont Cole took his position last summer. Cole has a background in charter schools, so his input was crucial in this decision. He backed the rejection based on the assessment of Mary “Katie” Blunschi, a retired school administrator who previously employed Cole. She evaluated the charter applications before the board’s decision.

Charter schools are a type of public school that operate under a private contract. In East Baton Rouge, Type 1 charters only accept students from within district boundaries, while more sought-after Type 2 charters can accept students from anywhere in Louisiana. The board members were particularly surprised that GEO Academies requested a Type 2 charter.

High-performing charter schools, like those currently run by GEO in Baton Rouge, have a positive impact on overall district performance. In contrast, low-performing schools, such as the recently closed IDEA campuses, can hurt the district’s academic standing and risk sanctions from the state.

Board member Mike Gaudet noted the success of GEO’s existing Baton Rouge schools, which have B letter grades. He expressed disappointment that GEO aimed for expansion while not establishing a Type 1 charter in the district, which would align better with their current academic performance.

In total, East Baton Rouge has 13 Type 1 charters serving around 6,900 students. While Gaudet appreciated GEO’s performance, he and others were critical of Collegiate Academy. Their Baton Rouge school has a D grade and doesn’t offer career-driven programs, despite the applicant having better-performing schools in New Orleans.

During the meeting, Gaudet questioned Collegiate Academy’s logic in seeking expansion when their existing school is struggling. He highlighted concerns about their commitment to improving current educational outcomes. Meanwhile, the lack of representatives from both charter groups during the meeting raised eyebrows.

Blunschi recommended denying GEO’s applications to allow them to focus on obtaining a Type 2 charter instead. If approved, their proposed schools could serve up to 1,290 students in total. As for Collegiate Academy, Blunschi suggested denial due to their Baton Rouge school’s performance and lack of career-oriented classes.

After the board’s discussions, the focus turned to renewing other Type 1 charters within the district, ensuring quality education remains a top priority.

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