Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/new-orleans-charter-schools-produce-mixed-results Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Is a change in management enough to transform some of the worst schools in the country? New Orleans superintendent Paul Vallas seems to think so. But while charters are outperforming other schools in New Orleans, there's evidence they may be abusing their freedom. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. GWEN IFILL: And now to the latest chapter in our ongoing series on school reform in Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. The NewsHour's special correspondent for education, John Merrow, has been tracking efforts in classrooms in both cities. Tonight, in his update from New Orleans, he looks at the ever-expanding role for charter schools.BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States: How are you? Good to see you. Good to see you guys. JOHN MERROW, NewsHour Correspondent: President Obama has made education a top priority, and charter schools like this one are high on his agenda. BARACK OBAMA: We're very proud of what's been accomplished at this school, and we want to make sure that we are duplicating that success all across the country. JOHN MERROW: Charter schools are public schools, open to all and paid for with tax dollars. They're free from board control and often from teacher unions, and so, unlike traditional public schools, charters make their own decisions about curriculum, staffing, and student rules.Charter schools are growing in popularity. In the last eight years, the number of public schools that have been granted charters — basically independent status — has doubled. There are now over 5,000 across the country.In March, President Obama sent Secretary of Education Arne Duncan to New Orleans, which some consider the national laboratory of the charter movement. Leading the city's charter transformation is Recovery School District Superintendent Paul Vallas. PAUL VALLAS, Superintendent, Recovery School District: Well, I'm a believer in schools having the freedom and autonomy to make decisions that are in the best interest of the children. And so I support charter schools, because charter schools are a vehicle for achieving that type of freedom.