Kids Rethink New Orleans Schools embodies an idea that is proving to be as dynamic as it is simple: give young people – even those as young as middle-school age – a voice in the reform of public education. They are the “clients,” after all; why shouldn’t they be heard?

Rethink enables middle school youth to develop the self-esteem, vision, critical thinking and communication skills to propose hard-hitting solutions to school authorities. Once the authorities agree to changes, Rethink teaches students the political skills that will hold public authorities true to their word.

Our vision is that through our program and through the experience of changing their schools, Rethinkers will become a new and different kind of civic leader - for today as well as tomorrow.