How ‘failure’ led to the success of Nathan Deal’s school-rescue measure

January 30, 2015 New Orleans, AL - A student raises his hand during his 5th grade science at KIPP Central City Academy in New Orleans, AL, on Friday, January 30, 2015. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana decided to carry out a bold experiment - seize control of the city's worst schools, place them in a state-run "recovery" district and hand them over to charter operators. Ten years later, Georgia and a handful of other states want to replicate this approach, which has been heralded as a success among ed reformers. But is it really working? Fewer students are failing exams and grad rates up, but critics say it's far from a miracle. They point to tough discipline practices that bounce kids out of schools for minor infractions and fear the long-term implications of an all-charter approach. HYOSUB SHIN / HSHIN@AJC.COM New Orleans, La. - A student raises his hand during his 5th grade science class at KIPP Central City Academy in New Orleans. After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana decided to carry out a bold experiment – to seize control of the city's worst schools, place them in a state-run "recovery" district and hand them over to charter operators. Ten years later, Georgia and a handful of other states want to replicate this approach. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com