New Orleans has become known nationwide for dramatic public education reforms since Katrina. Innovations in financial sustainability, parent engagement, and equity are necessary to build upon and sustain our gains.
- In Louisiana, 53% of low income children ages 3 and 4 are not enrolled in early child care, a key driver for later educational attainment and career advancement.
- Over a quarter of New Orleans students were classified as chronically absent, or absent from 10% or more of school days. Attendance rates are important indicators of student engagement and success.
- 18.2% or 26,000 of 16-24 year olds in the New Orleans metropolitan area are qualified as “opportunity youth,” young adults between the ages of 16-24 neither employed nor enrolled in school. The national average is 13.8%.
- 52% of working-age black men in New Orleans are unemployed, a 4% increase from 2000.
Propeller supports ventures with viable solutions to improve educational outcomes for New Orleanians aged 0-24. Propeller entrepreneurs seek to tackle disparities throughout a student’s educational career, from leveraging funding for early child care, to addressing triggers for poor academic performance and absenteeism K-12, to creating pathways to vocational education and additional alternatives to four-year college degrees. Propeller also supports education innovation through PitchNOLA: Education, a business pitch competition focused on increasing access to high quality education for all New Orleanians.
- Coordinated Care for the Whole Child (Propeller ’15) has secured Medicaid/Medicare benefits to provide over 6,000 school children with medical health screenings, including vision, dental and hearing.
- Live Oak Wilderness Camp (Propeller ’15) enrolled 110 campers from 37 public and private schools, including in a summer camp focused on leadership development for diverse cohorts of outstanding New Orleans kids, creating 25 part-time jobs for New Orleans residents.
- Center for Restorative Approaches (Propeller ’15) has completed 87 restorative circles and trained 560 staff to reduce school suspensions and break the school to prison pipeline.
- TrueSchool (Propeller ’14) has collaborated with more than 513 educators to prototype and pilot innovations to drive student achievement, collectively impacting 20,000+ students and was recently named a Global Echoing Green Fellow.
- Healthy School Food Collaborative (Propeller ’13) has generated $9.8 million in revenue to serve fresh, locally-sourced, healthy meals to 43% of all NOLA public schools.
- Youth Rebuilding New Orleans (Propeller ’12) has engaged 10,000+ youth volunteers to help 350+ homeowners and rebuild 13 homes, which were resold to deserving teachers at a reduced cost (80% market rate) to stabilize neighborhoods and positively impact the education system.
Propeller’s Impact Accelerator
We’re always seeking entrepreneurs who have innovative ideas to address issues of educational equity in our city, especially as it relates to improved systems and supports in early childhood, K-12, and “Opportunity Youth.” Propeller’s Impact Accelerator is designed to support entrepreneurs throughout the business lifecycle—from idea, to beta, to growth. Hands-on mentorship, access to high-level networks, pro bono technical support, and free office space, are just some of the benefits. Learn more about our Impact Accelerator, including eligibility and selection criteria, or view the online application.