Pelican Policy

Homeschool Resource For Louisiana Families

The Pelican Institute’s Vision for Education: Every Louisiana family should be able to choose the school or educational environment that best fits the needs of their child. Families have multiple options, including public schools, public charter schools, private schools, and homeschooling. Pelican works to expand these and other opportunities for Louisiana families. We have partnered...

By Erin Bendily

Louisiana Schools Need Leadership, Not Lower Expectations

Last week the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents–a network of public school superintendents from across the state–unveiled a ridiculous proposal to “strengthen” the state’s rating and accountability system for public schools. They hailed it as a more “fair” and “equitable” way of rating school performance. Yet, the proposal would actually set Louisiana’s education system back...

By Erin Bendily

Louisiana’s TANF Woes Are Connected to DCFS Concerns

Over the past few months, tragedies involving abused and neglected children and a “toxic” work environment at the state Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) have dominated Louisiana headlines. The Advocate reported that “crippling staff shortages, toxic work environments, and escalating caseloads are causing an exodus of Louisiana’s child welfare workers, and Louisiana legislators said that...

By Erin Bendily

Pelican Leadership Academy 2023: Applications Now Open!

We are excited to announce applications for the Pelican Leadership Academy are now open! The Pelican Leadership Academy is committed to training and equipping future Louisiana leaders from a variety of backgrounds and ages who are committed to advancing the fundamental principles of liberty in the Pelican State. Our classes bring together leaders from across...

By Aly Rau

Federal Judge Blocks Overreaching Government Mandates on Head Start

Today, a judge in Louisiana’s Western District ruled that the federal government cannot mandate Head Start program teachers, staff, and volunteers in twenty-four states to receive the Covid-19 vaccine, nor can it require that adults and students wear masks. This ruling marks the second time the Pelican Institute and Liberty Justice Center clients have stopped...

By Sarah Harbison

All Schools In Louisiana Matter

Earlier this week, I read an article about the alarming decline in student achievement in public schools nationally since the COVID-19 pandemic. The article notes how frustration with failing schools (many were failing long before the pandemic) is leading more parents to transfer to private schools, home study, or other educational options. The article was...

By Erin Bendily

Tax Reform: The Conversation We Need to Have

One of our core beliefs at the Pelican Institute is that a free market leads to greater flourishing and opportunity for Louisiana families. Free people, unencumbered by government barriers, produce goods and services that elevate living standards for themselves, their families, and their communities. Yet one of the barriers that Louisianans have faced for decades...

By Chris Lowery

Pelican Institute Releases School Board Candidate Questions

There is much work to be done to ensure that Louisiana’s kids are prepared for success and that our state economy grows. Roughly one-third of students in public schools are on grade level. Thousands graduate each year without the skills to get a great job or to enter college without needing remediation. We can and...

By Erin Bendily

How are federal COVID recovery dollars being used to reverse student learning loss?

A few weeks ago, we wrote about Louisiana public school students’ performance on the 2022 Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) test and what their scores tell us about learning loss since the COVID-19 pandemic. The takeaway was that, while results show improvement over the prior year, Louisiana remains far from being fully recovered. Only three...

By Erin Bendily

Are Louisiana Schools Preparing Kids for College and Careers?

Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has been considering changes to the K-12 school accountability rating system, and as part of that process, has unearthed quite a bit of data showing how well public schools are preparing kids. They have shown data in three key areas: how schools help kids meet a basic...

By Erin Bendily

School Accountability Improvements Deferred, but Parents Want Change

Earlier this week, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) voted to approve just one piece of a proposal to revamp the Louisiana K-12 Education School and District Accountability System, which would have better aligned the rating system with the board’s stated goals of having students achieve Mastery (proficiency) on state tests and...

By Erin Bendily

July Jobs Report Brings Good News for Louisiana

Despite sky-high inflation and other economic concerns, July was a good month for Louisiana job seekers. Approximately 13,700 Louisianans found a job in July, the largest job growth the state has seen in a long time. The sectors which saw the largest job increases were professional and business services which increased by 6,700 followed by...

By John Kay

Lawsuit Abuse is Not a Solution for Louisiana’s Coast

In Louisiana, we have a knack for running job creators off to our neighboring states. One of the clearest examples of pushing businesses out of Louisiana is the slew of frivolous lawsuits levied against oil and gas companies that have caused countless jobs and opportunities to leave our state. A 2019 study found that two...

By Ryan Roberts

Louisiana’s 2022 LEAP Scores: Some Improvement, But A Long Way to Go

The Louisiana Department of Education recently released public school students’ Louisiana Assessment of Educational Progress (LEAP) scores for the 2021-2022 school year. The tests measure student learning in English language arts (ELA), math, science, and social studies. Scores are reported in five achievement levels, ranging from Unsatisfactory (Level 1) to Advanced (Level 5). Mastery (Level...

By Erin Bendily

We believe every Louisianan should
have the opportunity to flourish.

Homeschool Resource For Louisiana Families

Homeschool Resource For Louisiana Families

Louisiana Schools Need Leadership, Not Lower Expectations

Louisiana Schools Need Leadership, Not Lower Expectations

Louisiana’s TANF Woes Are Connected to DCFS Concerns

Louisiana’s TANF Woes Are Connected to DCFS Concerns

Pelican Leadership Academy 2023: Applications Now Open!

Pelican Leadership Academy 2023: Applications Now Open!

Federal Judge Blocks Overreaching Government Mandates on Head Start

Federal Judge Blocks Overreaching Government Mandates on Head Start

All Schools In Louisiana Matter

All Schools In Louisiana Matter

Tax Reform: The Conversation We Need to Have

Tax Reform: The Conversation We Need to Have

Pelican Institute Releases School Board Candidate Questions

Pelican Institute Releases School Board Candidate Questions

How are federal COVID recovery dollars being used to reverse student learning loss?

How are federal COVID recovery dollars being used to reverse student learning loss?

Are Louisiana Schools Preparing Kids for College and Careers?

Are Louisiana Schools Preparing Kids for College and Careers?

School Accountability Improvements Deferred, but Parents Want Change

School Accountability Improvements Deferred, but Parents Want Change

July Jobs Report Brings Good News for Louisiana

July Jobs Report Brings Good News for Louisiana

Lawsuit Abuse is Not a Solution for Louisiana’s Coast

Lawsuit Abuse is Not a Solution for Louisiana’s Coast

Louisiana’s 2022 LEAP Scores: Some Improvement, But A Long Way to Go

Louisiana’s 2022 LEAP Scores: Some Improvement, But A Long Way to Go

Learn More About Restoring Louisianans' Right to Earn a Living