re: Interesting lawsuit in Orleans that could affect magnet and academy schools statewide.

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Why does it feel like these parents are using their disabled kid as a prop for a a performative lawsuit.

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Because they probably use him as a prop in their everyday life. Probably have Go-Fund Me, cry on social media, etc

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So out of curiosity, is the school technically part of Orleans Parish Schools? And if so, is there a school in Orleans Parish that is equipped to handle medically fragile children like the kid in the OP?

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I'm not exactly sure how it works, but there really aren't that many Orleans parish public schools anymore. A lot of them became Charters like the school we are talking about now. It was Alcee Fortier when I was in high school and would have been lucky to be ranked in the top 10000 public schools in the country back then. Orleans residents do have the option for their kids to go there if they get in so they do somewhat fall under the Orleans Parish school board, but I think they are almost a singular district as their own school.

A lot of Charters are a money grabs and as bad or worse than their public predecessor, but The Willow obviously is now one of the best schools in the country so Charters can be hit or miss.

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Back in the 50’s, Fortier was top quality.

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I'm not that old yet I'm talking Fortier in the mid to late 90's. We played them them in football. I think in 95. We were like top five in small schools and they were top 10 in big schools. Think they won it was close either way. I remember a kid that was an LSU recruit that knocked the braces out of my boys mouth

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Oscar has the cognitive ability of a 1-or-2-year-old child

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How would he be successful in any normal school environment?

Take the amount of money the state / school board would spend on a special Ed student and use that towards the cost of him receiving specialized attention.

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m not exactly sure how it works, but there really aren't that many Orleans parish public schools anymore

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I believe there is exactly one true public school in New Orleans

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In New Orleans, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) authorizes Type 1 and Type 3 charter schools, while the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) authorizes Type 2 charter schools. This means that while many New Orleans public schools are charter schools, they are overseen by different authorities.

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The Willow School in New Orleans is a Type 3 charter school. It is a public school operated by the Advocates for Arts-Based Education Corporation, a nonprofit entity, in partnership with the New Orleans Public Schools (NOLA PS). This means it was converted from an existing public school and is still part of the NOLA PS district. The school is authorized by the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB).

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What I take this to mean is they are authorized by the public district and, in some regards, "part of that district". Even if not officially.

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I'm not exactly sure how it works, but there really aren't that many Orleans parish public schools anymore.

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All public schools in NOLA are charter except for the Leah Chase school that just opened.

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communicates using a device that tracks his eye movement, allowing him to ask for things like water or for people like his mom, dad or younger sister.

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appropriate public education.

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Seems a little beyond appropriate. Schools are already limited with funding and assistance for regular students. What is the point of sending him to school?

I always thought Willow’s admission test is pretty rigorous which is why it’s such a highly ranked school.

Some additional info that some of you might find helpful:

* Willow is basically what used to be Lusher. Lusher was historically arguably the public grammar school in New Orleans for upper- and upper-middle-class kids whose parents had or wanted to send them to a public school. The Lusher parents and administration have pushed it to expand out of its historical grade range (grammar school) and campus to also serve more and older kids under the same name and umbrella.

* There are actually three related but different Willow schools (one physically separate and two on adjacent sites) serving different age ranges. They're all public charter schools in Orleans Parish. The school on Willow St. that was long called Lusher now covers K-4, the high school is on Freret St. (at the campus that was long Fortier), and most recently the middle school is on Loyola Ave. that backs up to the high school (historically Allen). Insofar as the kid whose parents are suing is nine years old, presumably he'd be age-appropriate for fourth or maybe fifth grade next school year (August 2025).

* The Orleans Parish School Board has the obligation, under federal law (Rehabilitation Act and/or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), to provide all school-age children who live in Orleans Parish with 'a free appropriate public education'. But "appropriate" doesn't mean whatever or wherever the parents want.

* My guess is that the parents want it to occur at one of the Willow campuses because they're (especially by the historical standards of Orleans Parish public schools) fairly free of crime, dysfunction, and drama; in relatively good physical condition; and in fairly nice neighborhoods.

Seems to me the parents are way out of line. The OPSB gets to provide such profound services wherever they think best, within their reasonable discretion. The parents can try to prove in court that that would not be appropriate and/or adequate. If it's not that, then parents lose. But entitled and/or downright crazy parents are an epidemic.