NEW ORLEANS, LA–United Teachers of New Orleans (UTNO) filed a writ of mandamus seeking the production of records requested pursuant to the Louisiana Public Records Act and a declaratory judgement that Lycée Français International de la Louisiane (Lycée) violated the Louisiana Public Records Act. Five months after requesting records regarding spending on a staff retreat in Colorado, General Financials, Earned Fees, and CODOFIL and Adams and Reese, Lycée has failed to make timely determination as to UTNO’s rights of access to these records or provide estimates of time reasonably necessary to review the requested records, and ultimately failed to produce the requested records.
These requests were made nearly 3 months before Lycée’s 2025 audit was released which found material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting, including findings related to 401(k) contributions, and historic tax credits. These findings raise even more questions about why Lycée failed to provide the requested information.
“What is Lycée hiding?” asked Dave Cash, UTNO President. “This is just the latest in a long line of actions by Lycée to silence dissent, hide information, and shut out community members with valid questions. Lycée shut out teachers who organized, parents who asked questions, and recently even sued the French Accreditation agency so they would not have to turn over information. What is it costing them to engage in all these fights? Couldn't that money be better spent?”
Lycée is the only A-rated school in New Orleans that has seen a sharp decline in enrollment. In October 2021, 1,078 students were enrolled in Lycée. By Feb 2026 there were only 711 enrolled, representing a loss of 367 students in under five years and their preliminary budget projects only 667 students for this school year, a further anticipated decline of 44 (which would mean a loss of 411 students in total since October 2021).
United Teachers of New Orleans, AFT Local 527, is a union of professionals, organized to collectively and democratically ensure quality and equity in public education for students, parents, teachers, and communities in order to protect dignity and civil rights for all. More information can be found at utno.org.
Background:
Retaliation against teachers and families: Educators at Lycée organized a union in 2024 following the termination of beloved civics teacher Jinger Widdon in 2023 after she informed students they could attend public meetings of the school’s board of directors. Rather than collaborate with educators to improve the school, Lycée retaliated, firing some educators, pushing others out. In 2025 and 2026, when parents spoke up, they threatened those parents with litigation, banned some from campus, threatened their jobs, and more.
Labor Law violations: In March 2025, the Department of Labor determined that Lycée violated two separate laws by failing to pay wages as required and by failing to provide notice of the filing of labor conditions applications. In March 2026, the Department of Labor determined Lycée violated the law by failing to make available for public examination the Labor Conditions Applications related to H1B workers who work at Lycée.
Audit findings: Lycée was the only currently operating Orleans Parish Charter School placed on the Louisiana Legislative Auditors Notice of Non-compliance list in April 2026. Their most recent audit, released in June, had findings of material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting and notes non-compliance material to financial statements.
Multiple conflicts with their French Accreditation Agency: They have sued their French accreditation agency (AEFE) 6 times, the latest in US courts because they did not want to give their accreditor documents that they were requesting.
Lycée's authorizer, BESE, could reign them in: According to BESE Bulletin 126, violations of law constitute reasons for revocation of a charter, and, according to R.S. 17:3992(D), BESE may choose to reconstitute the board of a charter school rather than close the school (as it did in February 2025 with Education Explosion Inc, the operators of Impact Charter School in Baker, LA).
There has not been any public indication that BESE or the LDOE has done anything to even warn Lycée regarding any violations of law or audit findings so far.