The District Digest

A Message from Interim Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore

Dear NOLA Public Schools Family and Community,

Recently, the Orleans Parish School Board passed a resolution to address $25,000,000.00 of the financial over-projection that impacts the District Level Funding Allocation (DLFA). Our plan reflects a balanced approach, with $18 million allocated from our General Fund Balance system-wide reserves and $7 million from our Operating Budget, bringing the total allocation to $25 million. Our goal is to help maintain educational continuity across our district while upholding our commitment to being good stewards of our district’s financial resources. 

I care deeply about the challenges our schools are facing, and while this step doesn’t solve all the present and future financial hurdles to overcome, it is a positive step in the right direction. Under CFO Nyesha Veal’s leadership, our finance team has worked tirelessly to ensure a comprehensive and equitable solution. While this is meaningful progress, we still have more to do. We remain committed to exploring options for a fiscally responsible plan that addresses deferred revenue to the best of our ability.

I want to acknowledge that this was a collective effort. My leadership throughout this process was alongside the dedication and expertise of our finance team, the ongoing collaboration with our charter leaders, and the support of the Orleans Parish School Board. The Orleans Parish School Board’s thoughtful consideration and approval of the resolution demonstrate our steadfast commitment to prioritizing the needs of students, families, staff, and our schools.

We appreciate the thoughtful perspectives shared by many of our partners and stakeholders. Whether your comments were public or private, your feedback and insights were invaluable. Furthermore, I want to personally acknowledge the efforts of NOLA-PS’s executive leadership team in managing the internal effects of this financial situation, ensuring that the central office remains focused on supporting our students, staff, families, schools, and community. We are all in for our children and thank you for being part of the village moving us forward in excellence.

Dr. Fateama S. Fulmore

Interim Superintendent

NOLA Public Schools

NOLA Public Schools and the Revised Accountability System for 2026

NOLA-PS is introducing upcoming changes to the Louisiana Department of Education's school accountability letter grade system. The revised system, called "Grow. Achieve. Thrive." aims to improve student achievement and provide a clear assessment of school and district performance.

Unlike the current complex and unclear system, the new system is simple, transparent, and based on a 100-point scale with rigorous standards and provides an enhanced focus on college and career readiness. It emphasizes equally weighted components grouped into three categories—Grow, Achieve, and Thrive—focusing on student improvement, proficiency, and readiness for life after high school. The new accountability system is set to launch in Fall 2026 using 2025-2026 data, this shift may result in some schools dropping by at least two letter grades.

Watch the video below to see NOLA Public Schools is proactively preparing for this change and join us for our next in-person Community Meeting on Accountability Tuesday, April 8 at The Leah Chase School at 6 PM, in conjunction with State Representative Shaun Mena of District 23. Following the accountability presentation, Representative Mena will provide legislative updates to his constituents.

Get all the details on the state's new accountability system here.

NOLA-PS Shares Test Prep Tips for Families Ahead of LEAP 2025 Assessments

With LEAP 2025 testing set for April 2 - May 14, 2025, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is providing families with tools to support students in grades 3 through high school. These assessments in ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies, and high school subjects like Algebra I, Biology, and Civics measure readiness and impact School Performance Scores (SPS).

Here are some tips from the LDOE’s Parent Guide to help students succeed:

• -Understand What Your Child Is Learning: Explore Louisiana’s Student Standards on the LDOE website to align home support with classroom goals.

• -Review Classroom Work Together: Go over homework to reinforce skills like reading comprehension or problem-solving and spot areas needing practice.

• -Engage with Your School Community: Attend NOLA-PS family events to connect with teachers and learn more about test expectations.

LEAP 2025 Testing Snapshot:

• -Grades 4-High School: Online tests from April 2-May 14, covering core subjects and high school courses like Geometry and U.S. History.

• -Grade 3: Online or paper tests, with paper testing set for April 2-8.

• -Timing & Results: Tests are timed (with accommodations available); high school scores arrive by mid-May, grades 3-8 in July, and new Social Studies/Civics scores post-summer.

NOLA-PS encourages families to contact teachers or email assessment@la.gov for more support. Click the image below to learn more.

Together, we can ensure every student shines on this vital academic milestone!

Celebrating National Social Work Month: Compassion in Action

Last month, we celebrated National Social Work Month! This year’s theme, Compassion Plus Action, is what NOLA-PS lives every day at Mahalia Jackson Elementary. Compassion fuels resilience—for our families, teams, and ourselves. It’s more than empathy; it’s action with heart.

Our Basic Needs Closet is a shining example of compassion in motion from the district' social workers to a myriad of other staff members. What started with team members bringing in bags of clothes has grown into 20 racks of donations, thanks to staff contributions from NOLA-PS' Mahalia Jackson Elementary, Exceptional Children’s Services, Federal Programs, and the Superintendent’s office. It’s there for families who may be in need of clothes, shoes, diapers, hygiene items, other resources, etc. It's all about breaking down barriers and helping students and their families obtain the tools and resources they need to attend school every day.

Thank you to our social workers district-wide and the Office of Student Support and Attendance (OSSA) for going above and beyond!

NOLA Public Schools Releases K-12 Main Round NCAP Results for 2025-2026 School Year

Last year, we made a promise to schools and families to release NCAP match results earlier. We are excited to announce that K-12 Main Round NCAP results for the 2025-2026 school year are now available, fulfilling our commitment to providing match results sooner than ever before! Families can log-in and review placement results for K-12 by visiting nola.ps/apply.

Read more here.

Quick Reminder: NOLA-PS Data Tools Are Live!

Hey NOLA-PS schools and families! The NOLA-PS Data Dashboard and NSNO School Sustainability Analysis are here to help. Launched with New Schools for New Orleans, they offer insights into academics, enrollment, teacher retention, and financial health, plus how demographics affect school planning.

Part of NOLA-PS’s Five-Year Portfolio Plan, these tools keep equity and progress on track. Check them out at

data.nolapublicschools.com or via the NOLA Public Schools website.

Let’s keep using these resources to strengthen our schools together!

Lake Forest Elementary School Visit

A recent visit to Lake Forest Elementary Charter School (LFC) makes it clear why it's an award winning school!

Head of School, Mrs. Mardele Early, and the Interim Superintendent Dr. Fulmore enjoyed a wonderful tour of the school. They explored classrooms across all grade levels, observing high expectations, strong student interventions, and dedicated support for new teachers. Mrs. Early also shared her vision for expanding the campus with innovative learning spaces.

Recently, Lake Forest—the top K-8 charter in Orleans Parish and second in Louisiana—was named a 2024 National Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Distinguished School, its third time receiving this honor (2009, 2016, 2024), adding to its National Blue Ribbon School titles (2013, 2021).

LFC also recently excelled at the 2025 Greater New Orleans Science and Engineering Fair (GNOSEF), with 33 of its 45 participants placing in various categories. Fifteen students, including top winners like Ja’Nyah Anderson and Rachael Ayler, advanced to the Louisiana State Science Fair. Many also earned special STEM awards from groups like the U.S. Air Force, and seven won first in the Thermo Fisher Junior Innovator’s Challenge. LFC received the GNOSEF Middle School Award for the fourth year, while teachers Allison Rafferty and Marla Watts were recognized with the Junior Division Star Teacher Award, with Watts also earning the Brown Foundation Teacher Award.

Congratulations to Mrs. Early and the Lake Forest family for all these achievement and their commitment to student success!

Important Upcoming Dates

April - Autism Awareness Month, National Volunteer Month, and Volunteer Appreciation Month

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• April 1 - Superintendent Search Meet & Greet
• April 2 - Paraprofessional Appreciation Day
• April 2 - OPSB Special Board Meeting
• April 4 - National School Librarian Day
• April 6 - 12 National Library Week
• April 7 - 11 National Assistant Principals Appreciation Week
• April 10 - 13 French Quarter Fest
• April 15 - OPSB Committee of the Whole Meeting
• April 17 - OPSB Business Meeting
• April 18 - 21 Central Office - Spring Break
• April 20 - Easter Monday
• April 22 - Earth Day
• April 22 - School Bus Driver Appreciation Day
• April 23 - Administrative Professionals' Day
• April 24 - 27 First Weekend of Jazz Fest
• April 30 - International Jazz Day