Dual Orleans Systems Grow in Storm’s Wake

Complex 'overlapping circles' of governance, prevalence of charter schools mark landscape.

Nine months after Hurricane Katrina crippled the New Orleans school district, two distinct systems of public schools are slowly emerging in the city. The highly unusual arrangement is fraught with questions, from the small— What should we call it? —to the large— Will it work ?

Where there once was a traditionally governed district, there now is a duality: The local school board oversees some schools, but the state of Louisiana is in charge of most.

The vast majority of the schools in New Orleans are charter schools. This month, the state must outline for the Louisiana board of education how it will run its share...