About Us

A collaborative effort to meet the needs of students with disabilities
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Our Mission

Our mission is to work with our New Orleans public schools, drawing on shared talent, ideas, and evidence, to deliver high quality, accessible, and sustainable services that ensure excellent educational experiences for students with disabilities in New Orleans.
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Our Vision

A New Orleans where every public school student with disabilities achieves the success they deserve, in education and in life.
What We Do

We provide resources to help support the special education services that New Orleans schools need the most.

  1. Resource hub of personnel & tools: Access a network of highly specialized professionals and specialized equipment without the overhead.
    • Critical Providers: Access to occupational therapists, visual impairment specialists, and more.
    • Shared Library: A robust collection of assistive technology and assessment tools.
  2. Coordination of programs & services: We build the infrastructure so no student falls through the cracks.
    • Specialized Networks: Integrated programs based out of member schools.
    • Transition Services: Planning and partnership support to prepare students for life after graduation.
  3. Administrative & professional support: Reducing the burden on individual schools through streamlined systems.
    • Centralized Database: Secure, 504 Plans, and evaluations.
    • Capacity Building: Tailored consultations and professional development training.


The ESA's student data infrastructure is built and maintained by Pixel & Chalk, a New Orleans education technology company.  

Why ESA?

In 2023, an independent study by The Center for Learner Equity revealed a critical need for centralized coordination. The results were clear: Nearly 80% of school stakeholders expressed a direct interest in an ESA to solve long-standing special education challenges. We are a direct response to that call — a partner for schools and a champion for students guided by the CEOs of the schools it serves.

The Road Ahead 

Building a sustainable future requires a careful, phased approach. To ensure quality and effectiveness, NOLA Public Schools launched the ESA Pilot Program in 2025.

  • The Goal: Test and evolve our offerings with a select group of charter schools.

  • The Impact: Learning and improvements that will shape a long-term, scalable solution for the entire New Orleans system.

    This next phase is being shaped directly by the leaders of ESA member schools. While ESA governance remains member-led, we welcome opportunities to collaborate on innovation with schools beyond our membership, so more New Orleans students benefit from what we learn together.

    Leading a New Orleans charter school and curious about membership? Contact Us!

Core Values
Innovation

Great ideas multiply when schools share them. Nearly a dozen New Orleans charter schools are already sharing expertise through the ESA, solving problems more efficiently and effectively than any of us could alone.
Collaboration

Schools are better together. Our member CEOs govern the ESA together, working from a shared vision while preserving each school's autonomy, to produce the best outcomes for students.
Adaptability

We manage change deliberately. Launched as a 2025 pilot, the ESA is built to test, learn, and evolve as we grow into a systemwide solution.
Curiosity

Asking hard questions is how we got here. A 2023 study found nearly 80% of school leaders wanted centralized coordination, and that same curiosity drives how we build creative, lasting solutions today.
Stay Connected

The NOLA ESA is officially here. Be part of the movement transforming special education for New Orleans students.

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