Company Profile

Company Overview

The Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives, which opened at Tulane University in 2007, is an action-oriented think tank that leverages the resources at the university to improve public education in New Orleans. We develop and advance research-based policy, legislative, and programmatic solutions to address challenges that continue to impede providing all children in the city with an excellent education. Our research and policy work focuses on the most critical system-level issues by advocating for adequate and equitable funding, safe facilities, an effective governance model, and strong accountability of schools. Our university-based initiatives department serves as a clearinghouse for charter and traditional public schools in Orleans Parish to directly access the myriad of experts and resources available at Tulane. As part of this work, we engage Tulane students through a competitive paid internship program, a number of service learning and volunteer opportunities, and on-campus discussions on key education topics. And our college readiness program, called AdvanceNOLA, provides high school students with the tools needed to succeed in college and beyond. AdvanceNOLA is currently being implemented in six public high schools in the city. It offers professional development for principals, teachers, and counselors; textbooks and lab equipment for college-level courses; incentives for both students and teachers; and resources, including tutoring, assistance with college applications, and college visits to help students prepare for and be successful at the college of their choice. For additional information, visit http://education.tulane.edu.