ADVOCATES FOR ARTS-BASED EDUCATION CORPORATION IS A NONPROFIT ENTITY THAT OPERATES THE WILLOW SCHOOL. THE WILLOW SCHOOL IS A KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOL LOCATED IN UPTOWN NEW ORLEANS. A CHARTER SCHOOL IS A PUBLIC SCHOOL OPERATED PURSUANT TO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE LOCAL OR STATE SCHOOL BOARD WITH PUBLIC FUNDING. AS A TYPE 3 CHARTER, THE WILLOW SCHOOL IS A "LOCAL CHARTER" CONVERTED FROM AN EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOL, THE WILLOW SCHOOL ELEMENTARY AND EXTENSION SCHOOL, AND IS STILL PART OF NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN THE SUMMER OF 2005, THE WILLOW SCHOOL BEGAN PURSUING CHARTER STATUS WITH AN OVERWHELMING VOTE OF APPROVAL BY BOTH THE PARENTS AND STAFF OF THE SCHOOL AS PROVIDED BY THE LOUISIANA CHARTER SCHOOL LAW. THE WILLOW SCHOOL SUBMITTED ITS CHARTER PROPOSAL TO THE ORLEANS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, WHO APPROVED THE CHARTER APPLICATION IN SEPTEMBER 2005.