Education

Every child should have access to a high-quality education, ensuring every Louisiana resident has a chance to succeed. Louisiana cannot have a bright economic future without a workforce equipped with the skills and training necessary to compete in a 21st century economy. Revamping Louisiana’s educational system stands as an economic imperative—and a moral one too.

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

Basic Literacy & Numeracy Should be the Least We Expect From Our Public Schools

Last week at a meeting where local school superintendents were reviewing proposed new state K-12 education policies about high schools, there was an interesting discussion about what high schools should be expected to do to help kids who are academically struggling. The question came up after data showed that only 37 percent of Louisiana high...

By Erin Bendily

Making Sense of School Rankings and Ratings: Parents Just Want it Straight

WalletHub just released another report in which it ranked Louisiana 49th in education. Around the same time, The Advocate reported that 70 percent of high schools in Louisiana are rated “A” or “B.” How can both of these things be true, and where can parents of school-age kids access information about school quality they can...

By Erin Bendily

Report Shows Louisiana Ranked Among Worst for Public Schools

A new Wallethub study reviewed the quality and safety of American public school systems and showed that Louisiana’s public school system ranks 49th overall. The study used quality as 80 percent of the score with safety making up the other 20 percent. To produce the rankings, researchers looked at high-school graduation rates, math and reading...

By Daniel J. Erspamer

No Veto Override: A Missed Opportunity for Louisiana’s Kids

Yesterday, Louisiana House of Representatives Speaker Clay Schexnayder and Senate President Page Cortez notified members of the legislature that a special session will not be held to consider overriding some or all of the 29 bills Governor Edwards vetoed from the 2022 Regular Session. This is because a sufficient number of lawmakers — 39 House...

By Erin Bendily

Government Education Monopoly Busted…Just Not in Louisiana

There’s big news for parents of school-age kids. Finally, the chance for all families to choose the school that best fits their child, whether that’s a public school, a private school, homeschool, or a customized or hybrid program. Too bad Louisiana’s children aren’t getting this opportunity. If only our governor would prioritize kids over status...

By Erin Bendily

Statement: Governor Edwards Vetoes Education Options for Disabled Kids and Struggling Readers

For media inquiries please contact Ryan Roberts (504) 481-9931 or ryan@pelicaninstitute.org. Baton Rouge — CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer released the following statement after Governor Edwards vetoed education savings account bills that would’ve helped kids with disabilities or struggling to read have a tailored education: “We are disappointed that Governor Edwards has vetoed HB194...

By Ryan Roberts

Louisiana Legislature Stands Strong for Charter Schools

School choice has definitely been front and center during the 2022 legislative session, but not just because of the proposed new education savings account programs. The Louisiana Legislature has considered several bills related to charter schools that would either help or hinder their ability to serve students throughout Louisiana. Charter schools are public schools authorized...

By Erin Bendily

Louisiana High School Diplomas: The Latest Participation Trophies?

Last week, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education called an emergency meeting to consider waivers of state graduation requirements for the Class of 2022. Current graduation requirements, in place for well over a decade, require students to score an “Approaching Basic” level – two full levels below what is considered proficient – on...

By Erin Bendily

Mo’ Money, Less Transparency?

Earlier this week, Louisiana’s House of Representatives Education Committee heard House Bill 526 by Representative Rick Edmonds, which would require all local public school systems to post certain fiscal information online. The bill would provide parents and the public with easy access to school budgets, revenue and expenditure reports, contracts, and audits to help them...

By Erin Bendily

Don’t Believe the Lies: ESAs Don’t Defund Public Schools

This legislative session, state lawmakers have filed several bills to give families more options for their child’s education in the form of new education savings accounts (ESAs). Several of those bills – HB 33 (children in military families, foster care, and D- and F-rated schools), HB 194 (students with disabilities), HB 452 (bullied students), and...

By Erin Bendily

How Well is Louisiana Preparing Students for Careers?

For years, business and industry have complained that high school graduates aren’t arriving to the workplace prepared with basic skills needed for entry-level jobs. That may explain why unemployment among 16-24-year-olds has historically been higher than older workers. According to the Economic Policy Institute, in early 2019, the unemployment rate for workers ages 16–24 (8.4%)...

By Erin Bendily

Legislature Files Education Savings Account (ESA) Bills to Expand Educational Options

The Louisiana Legislature has filed several bills to expand educational choice among its proposals for the 2022 legislative session. These bills create education savings accounts (ESAs), which enable families to access public funds earmarked for their children’s education in a public school and use those funds to pay for private school tuition or a customized...

By Erin Bendily

Let’s Look at Tutoring and Recovery of Learning Loss

This week’s State of the Union address by President Biden included a brief mention of education that some may not have flagged as all that important. After all, it was one of several items on a long list of accomplishments the President touted to show that he and Congress responded to the needs of the...

By Erin Bendily