Policy Reports
News & Media
Why Are Louisiana’s Public School Leaders Still Not Spending the Money They’ve Been Allocated to Help Students Learn?
We’ve written about this before—millions of dollars from state coffers allocated to Louisiana high [...]
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Louisiana Must Prioritize Resources and Fulfill Education Promise to Families
This spring, Governor Landry and the Louisiana Legislature took a tremendous step forward in [...]
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How Is Louisiana’s K-12 Education Funding Being Spent?
National education researcher Mark Schneider from American Enterprise Institute recently wrote [...]
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Collective Bargaining in St. Tammany Public Schools: Some Improvements, but Still a Bad Deal
On August 8, 2024, the St. Tammany Parish School Board voted to accept a new collective bargaining [...]
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2024 LEAP Scores Announced, Disappointing Reactions from School Leaders
Last week, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released the results of the 2024 state LEAP [...]
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BESE Adopts Improved K-12 Education Accountability System; New “Study Group” Aims to Dismantle It
Earlier this month, Louisiana’s State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) [...]
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Louisiana Legislature Passes Education Savings Accounts. What’s Next?
After 4 years and 12 separate bills and legislative resolutions, the Louisiana Legislature has [...]
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Why Can’t All School Requirements Be the Same?
It’s a question we’ve been hearing a lot lately from lawmakers as they debate education bills in [...]
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Mythbuster: ESAs Help, Not Harm, Students, Schools, and Communities
It’s no secret that Louisiana’s state leaders have been eyeing what several other states have given [...]
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Reading and Math are Louisiana K-12 Education Priorities, but Are School Systems Prioritizing Them?
A recent news article highlighted Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley’s [...]
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Louisiana Celebrates National School Choice Week
Last week, the Pelican Institute and Louisiana’s elected officials joined [...]
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For Whom Is School Choice, and Who’s For It?
As Louisiana’s state government transitions to new leadership, with a new governor, legislature, [...]
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RELEASE: Education Official Changes Course in Face of Pelican Legal Notice
Baton Rouge — Today, Dr. Holly Boffy, president of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary [...]
Read moreShould Louisiana Award High School Diplomas to Students Who Fail State Tests?
Yes, you read that right. It’s shocking, but true. Louisiana’s State Board of Elementary and [...]
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New Poll: Louisiana Voters Want Education Freedom for Their Kids
Louisiana voters are constantly hearing candidates for governor and legislature talk about crime [...]
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Don’t Just Pay Teachers, Empower Them
Louisiana is now less than one month away from the gubernatorial primary when individuals will vote [...]
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Candidate Questionnaire 2023
Does your candidate support jobs and opportunities in Louisiana? Election Day 2023 is fast [...]
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Public Comment to BESE: Don’t Water Down Louisiana Graduation Standards
Public Hearing Set for August 25 The official public comment period for the Louisiana Board of [...]
Read moreNew LEAP Scores: Student Achievement in Louisiana Improving, Still Not Fully Recovered from COVID Pandemic
Last week, the Louisiana Department of Education released the results of the 2022-2023 Louisiana [...]
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Is Louisiana’s New Public School Choice Law Working?
In 2014, the Louisiana Legislature passed a law allowing parents and legal guardians of students [...]
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Have Louisiana’s Students Improved? We’ll Find Out Soon.
Students in Louisiana suffered damaging learning loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, and billions of [...]
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Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall
It’s election season again. And like clockwork, some politicians have pulled out their old talking [...]
Read moreLouisiana’s Top Education Board Proposes High School Diplomas for Students Failing State Tests
Yes, you read that right. In a state still ranked in the bottom ten nationally for student [...]
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What the Legislature Did (and Didn’t Do) on Education
Legislation on crime, taxes, and the state’s budget dominated much of Louisiana’s 2023 Regular [...]
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LOUISIANA HOUSE VOTES ON SCHOOL CHOICE RELATED BILL
Baton Rouge — The Louisiana House of Representatives vote on House Bill 98 sends a strong message [...]
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A School that Fits Every Kid
Louisiana’s Comeback Agenda starts with ensuring that every family has the opportunity to [...]
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Lawmakers advance school choice bills: What does this mean for Louisiana families?
Over the past week, Louisiana lawmakers in the House have advanced two bills to expand educational [...]
Read moreA Race to the Bottom
As Louisiana nears the end of another school year, as the legislative session nears the halfway [...]
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Lawmakers to Consider Increased K-12 Education Spending
This week the Louisiana Legislature convened the 2023 Regular Session, which will last through [...]
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VALUING LEARNING OVER TIME LEARNING: IS LOUISIANA READY?
For years, American schools have based student promotion from one grade level to the next and [...]
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Bills, policy proposals, and campaign platforms, oh my! But what makes for good education policy?
It’s that season again, where education policy proposals abound. Another class of high school [...]
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School Choice Bill Introduced for Upcoming 2023 Louisiana Legislative Session
Over the past two years, lawmakers and governors in five states – Arizona, Arkansas, Iowa, Utah, [...]
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It’s Public School Choice Month in Louisiana!
In a move that hasn’t gotten a lot of public attention, the legislature, governor, and state Board [...]
Read moreCollege Enrollment Is Declining: Is it relevant?
Earlier this week, the Public Affairs Research Council reported new Southern Regional Education [...]
Read moreSchool Choice Is Exploding Across America: What About Louisiana?
Governors and lawmakers across the country are expanding school choice in big ways. Last year, [...]
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Lighting Up The Dome For National School Choice Week
What: Sunday kicks off the annual National School Choice Week across America! All week long, the [...]
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Louisiana Education Dashboard
Understanding the data is extremely important in evaluating trends associated with, and the [...]
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The Influencers Are Wrong: Education Matters
As the parent of a young teen, constantly trying to instill in him the value of an education and [...]
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Mythbuster Report: School Choice Doesn’t Harm Public Schools
This week another study was released on a state school choice program – this time, Ohio’s [...]
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School Choice: Meet Educational Freedom
For nearly three decades, there’s been a movement underway to not only improve and modernize public [...]
Read moreSmall Gains In Reading, Still A Ways to Go
This week the Louisiana Department of Education released the annual Fall 2022 Reading Report, which [...]
Read moreSchool Choice Wins Big in National Elections: Next Up, Louisiana
Last week, all eyes were on the national TV networks’ blue and red maps as the 2022 midterm [...]
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Why Aren’t Schools Using Their Funding to Help Kids Prepare for College and Careers?
Last week, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) shared a document with members of the State [...]
Read moreOp-Ed: Louisiana NAEP Results: Higher Rankings, But Fewer Students Achieving
Originally published in The Center Square The U.S. Department of Education released 2022 results [...]
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St. Tammany Business Leaders Take Action In Education
There is much work to be done to improve our K-12 public schools in Louisiana. One of the most [...]
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BESE Can Delay, But Stronger Accountability Is Coming to Louisiana
For the second time, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) deferred [...]
Read moreHomeschool Resource For Louisiana Families
The Pelican Institute’s Vision for Education: Every Louisiana family should be able to choose the [...]
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Louisiana Schools Need Leadership, Not Lower Expectations
Last week the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents–a network of public school [...]
Read moreLouisiana’s TANF Woes Are Connected to DCFS Concerns
Over the past few months, tragedies involving abused and neglected children and a “toxic” work [...]
Read moreAll Schools In Louisiana Matter
Earlier this week, I read an article about the alarming decline in student achievement in public [...]
Read morePelican Institute Releases School Board Candidate Questions
There is much work to be done to ensure that Louisiana’s kids are prepared for success and [...]
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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 [...]
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Are Louisiana Schools Preparing Kids for College and Careers?
Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has been considering changes to the [...]
Read moreSchool Accountability Improvements Deferred, but Parents Want Change
Earlier this week, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) voted to approve [...]
Read moreLouisiana’s 2022 LEAP Scores: Some Improvement, But A Long Way to Go
The Louisiana Department of Education recently released public school students’ Louisiana [...]
Read moreBasic 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 [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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No Veto Override: A Missed Opportunity for Louisiana’s Kids
Yesterday, Louisiana House of Representatives Speaker Clay Schexnayder and Senate President Page [...]
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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 [...]
Read moreStatement: 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 [...]
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Louisiana Legislature Stands Strong for Charter Schools
School choice has definitely been front and center during the 2022 legislative session, but not [...]
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Louisiana High School Diplomas: The Latest Participation Trophies?
Last week, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education called an emergency meeting to [...]
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Mo’ Money, Less Transparency?
Earlier this week, Louisiana’s House of Representatives Education Committee heard House Bill 526 by [...]
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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 [...]
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How Well is Louisiana Preparing Students for Careers?
For years, business and industry have complained that high school graduates aren’t arriving to the [...]
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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 [...]
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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 [...]
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BESE Workgroup Identifies Problems in Louisiana’s K-12 Education Accountability System; Potential Solutions Discussed
Last week, a subgroup of State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) members tasked by [...]
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Let’s Give Our Children Hope
Hope: Noun. “Desire accompanied by expectation of or belief in fulfillment.” (Merriam-Webster [...]
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As Education Budgets Grow, We Should Increase Transparency
Two weeks ago, Governor Edwards unveiled his proposed state budget for fiscal year 2022-2023. Given [...]
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It’s Time To Empower Louisiana Families
For years, people have pointed to parental involvement as the best way to improve K-12 education, [...]
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What Enrollment Trends Can Tell Us About School Choice
Around this time last year, you probably saw the news about Louisiana public school enrollment [...]
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Our Work Isn’t Done: Let’s Empower Parents in 2022
This summer, I penned an article in response to a national study conducted about the ability of [...]
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Statement: The Pelican Institute Congratulates The Newly Elected BESE Officers
BATON ROUGE— CEO of the Pelican Institute, Daniel Erspamer released the following statement [...]
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Parents Deserve More Transparency
More transparency leads to better decisions. In all areas of government, we know this to be true. [...]
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Is Value-Added Data Adding Value in Louisiana’s School Accountability System?
If you’ve paid any attention to K-12 education reform in Louisiana over the past several years, [...]
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Teacher Shortages: What solutions will actually work?
For the past several weeks, K-12 schools across the country have been lamenting about the shortage [...]
Read moreTeacher Pension Debt Hits a Whopping $11.1 Billion
Louisiana’s retirement debt costs the state $1 of every $4 in annual state aid allocated to public [...]
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Transparent School Accountability is Critical to Louisiana’s Recovery
It’s time to get serious about how our education system is preparing students for their [...]
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True College and Career Readiness Should Be Our Priority
Louisiana K-12 schools have begun putting billions of federal recovery dollars to use to help [...]
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Education Savings Accounts Should Be Part of Louisiana’s Comeback Strategy
As thousands of southeast Louisiana students and their families struggle once again to resume [...]
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We Can Do Better For Our Children
This week, following public testimony and in response to stakeholder feedback, the state Board of [...]
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Pre-Pandemic Status Quo Should Not Be the Goal
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released spring 2021 LEAP test results, showing [...]
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Louisiana School Accountability Needs a Reset
The education policy community in Louisiana has been in a heated debate over the last several [...]
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The School Accountability System Should be Simple and Transparent
In just a few weeks, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) will vote on [...]
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Jefferson Parish School Board Members Lead the Charge on Transparency Veto Override
As the legislature attempts to override the governor’s vetoes on various bills, one bill that we [...]
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Debunking the Myths Surrounding Fiscal Transparency for School Districts
In recent days, there has been much misinformation put out about the school district transparency [...]
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Fiscal Transparency is Never Unnecessary
Last week, Governor Edwards announced a shocking veto of a bill that would have created fiscal [...]
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What Do School Letter Grades Really Tell Us About School Quality?
Last month, the Louisiana Department of Education proposed a set of changes to the state’s [...]
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Fiscal Transparency is Critical to Improving our Schools
The Pelican Institute is excited to report that the Louisiana Legislature has passed legislation [...]
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School Accountability is too Important to Not Get Right
Last week, The Advocate reported on plans by state education officials to make significant shifts [...]
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Education Savings Accounts: A New Opportunity for Louisiana Kids
While tax reform has rightly dominated the news coverage of Louisiana’s current legislative [...]
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Poll Shows Overwhelming Majority of Louisianans Want Fiscal Transparency in Schools
Why is Louisiana consistently ranked at the bottom when it comes to education even though we [...]
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(BIG) Solutions (mini) Summit(s) Day Three: Education Recap
Every child should have the opportunity to go to a school that is best for them. During the Pelican [...]
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We Need Transparency in our Schools
Taxpayers should know where the government is spending their money.
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Celebrate School Choice Week with Pelican
by Daniel Erspamer, CEO, Pelican Institute Today, we begin our celebration of National School [...]
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Virtual Learning and Charter Schools During COVID-19
Virtual learning and “micro-schools” are things we’ve all learned about this [...]
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Pelican’s New Plan to Transform Education in Louisiana
COVID-19 has taught us many lessons, but something that’s become abundantly clear in recent [...]
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Education Savings Accounts would help Louisiana students during COVID-19
Some of Louisiana’s greatest innovations have emerged in the wake of natural disasters. Now, as we [...]
Read morePelican Back to School Week Offers Solutions to Transform Louisiana Education
We all remember the first day of school, but this year is clearly different than any other we’ve [...]
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Louisiana Can Learn from S.C.’s COVID-19 Education Plan
There is no doubt the COVID-19 pandemic will have a lasting effect on the way our country delivers [...]
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School Choice Champions Earn Major Victory in SCOTUS’ Espinoza Decision
Today, in a landmark victory for First Amendment and school choice champions, the U.S. Supreme [...]
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Getting Louisiana Students Connected
The COVID-19 pandemic has made us more reliant on the internet than ever before. And while it has [...]
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Pelican Responds to Selection of Next State Superintendent
Today, in an eight to three vote, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) [...]
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Pelican Lists Qualities it Seeks in Next State Superintendent
Today, the Pelican Institute released a list of key beliefs the next state Superintendent of [...]
Read morePelican Responds to Calls to Extend Louisiana School Closures
This week, the Louisiana Superintendents Association requested Gov. John Bel Edwards to close [...]
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Rough Day 2? Try These Resources for Student Downtime
Within hours of the announcement closing Louisiana schools for the next month, parents, teachers, [...]
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Louisianans Deserve Transparency in Education Spending
Despite spending more on education than most of its neighbors, Louisiana is producing worse [...]
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A School that Fits
A QUALITY EDUCATION. FOR EVERY LOUISIANA KID. As hard as we try, not every school in Louisiana [...]
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Who does the National Education Association really represent?
There’s been a lot of debate over education policy and, more recently, teacher pay raises, [...]
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Course Choice: Expanding Educational Freedom
Without ensuring access to a high-quality education for every child, Louisiana cannot have a [...]
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