News Summary
Leslie Jacobs has relaunched her nonprofit organization, Educate Now!, aiming to advocate for education reform in New Orleans after a six-year break. Her efforts focus on addressing issues within the local education system, workforce development, and enhancing economic outcomes for students. Jacobs, a notable figure in education reform, believes in the necessity of transparency and accountability in educational practices, while also confronting fees associated with tax collection for the school system, which she labels unconstitutional. Her commitment continues with initiatives linking high school students to career opportunities.
New Orleans became the focal point of renewed educational advocacy as Leslie Jacobs officially relaunched her nonprofit, Educate Now! in September 2023, after a six-year hiatus from public advocacy. Jacobs, a prominent and sometimes controversial figure in the city’s education reform landscape, aims to re-establish her influence amidst ongoing discussions about the future of education and workforce development in New Orleans.
Jacobs’ decision to relaunch Educate Now! stems from her belief that crucial new information and emerging issues regarding the education system in New Orleans must be communicated effectively to the public. One of her primary concerns is the city’s practice of charging a fee for tax collection on behalf of the school system, a move she deems as unconstitutional. Her advocacy has consistently pushed for transparency and accountability in the educational reforms she once promoted.
Jacobs’ career in education reform gained significant momentum following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina when she played a pivotal role in transitioning New Orleans public schools towards an all-charter system. Her influence extended to serving on the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), where she was instrumental in implementing school accountability measures that guided the state’s educational landscape for over a decade. While recognized for her dedication to educational improvement, Jacobs has also faced criticism from local community members who felt that her reforms lacked adequate public input.
In conjunction with her work at Educate Now!, Jacobs is expanding her focus to include workforce development strategies aimed at enhancing post-secondary success for students. She currently serves as the chair of YouthForce NOLA, a nonprofit organization that strives to link high school students with career opportunities and to prepare them adequately for the workforce. Jacobs is determined to help students not only understand job availability but also navigate workforce challenges and identify necessary training pathways.
Jacobs has also shown her commitment to supporting pro-charter school candidates in the recent Orleans Parish School Board election, further indicating her alignment with charter education initiatives. Her advocacy work has included addressing issues of truancy and scrutinizing the management of traditional public schools in New Orleans, particularly focusing on operational deficits and academic performance at schools like Leah Chase School.
In her push for educational equity, Jacobs is set to launch another nonprofit called Belltower, which aims to assist students in achieving degrees with reduced debt and improved success rates. She underscores the importance of enhancing economic and life outcomes for students, with particular attention to breaking generational cycles of poverty. Her previous initiatives have also tackled workforce challenges, highlighting the disparity in job opportunities for economically disadvantaged youth.
Jacobs’ ongoing efforts have not gone unnoticed; she received the Citizen Leadership Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for her dedication to economic development in New Orleans. As her initiatives unfold, she remains committed to ensuring that the educational institutions in her city provide students with the tools they need to thrive academically and professionally.
As New Orleans navigates the complexities of education reform, Leslie Jacobs’ re-entry into the field with Educate Now! is poised to spark further discussions on the state of education and workforce readiness, with the aim to foster improvements that address both academic and economic needs of students in the region.
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Additional Resources
- NOLA: Leslie Jacobs Returns to Education Advocacy
- Wikipedia: Education in New Orleans
- Biz New Orleans: Jacobs Receives Award
- Google Search: Leslie Jacobs New Orleans
- Washington Monthly: Charter Schools in New Orleans
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Charter School
Author: STAFF HERE NEWORLEANS WRITER
NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER The NEW ORLEANS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewOrleans.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as French Quarter Festival, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Essence Music Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and Greater New Orleans, Inc., plus leading businesses in energy, healthcare, and education that power the local economy such as Entergy, Ochsner Health, and Tulane University. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREShreveport.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Louisiana's dynamic landscape.
