The change to the DLFA will be in effect for next two years
(New Orleans – January 21, 2021) — NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. received the support of the Orleans Parish School Board in making the following recommendations for the distribution of the District Level Funding Allocation (DLFA).
Following the advice of a DLFA working group comprised of NOLA-PS staff, school finance leaders and representatives from New School New Orleans (NSNO), Dr. Lewis recommends that DLFA funding be directed to our most vulnerable students, including those participating in their educations through the Travis Hill Schools and the Center for Resilience, and to make whole other specialized programs that have been challenged by declines in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I made these recommendations to continue effectively supporting our students on their educational journeys, academically, socially, and emotionally," Dr. Lewis said. "The pandemic has made life complicated for all of us, and we must do all we can for those who need our attention the most."
The DLFA differentiated formula will now include deferred revenues and other sales tax dollars redirected from House Bill 393 to support Travis Hill and the Center for Resilience by utilizing the System Wide Needs Program (SWNP) to help fund any gaps through upcoming engagements with school leaders and adoption by the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB).
In addition to allocating DLFA funds, Dr. Lewis recommended replicating the same level of rigor and transparency to the District's other funding efforts. He called for a study Thursday to analyze the School Facilities Preservation Program to ensure every public dollar is used effectively and efficiently.
Public engagement is part of the superintendent's process toward DLFA recommendations. In April 2021, the District engaged school leaders, education stakeholders, as well as the City of New Orleans Office of Youth and Families and the Bureau for Governmental Research (BGR) to begin a review of the DFLA.
The DLFA uses a differentiated funding formula to provide a baseline funding stream for schools, as well as additional per-pupil funding across specific categories, such as students with disabilities or English learners. This approach provides an equitable, transparent, and efficient way to distribute funds across schools in New Orleans that enroll unique student populations with varying needs.
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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 76 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.
For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.