Education Savings Accounts would help Louisiana students during COVID-19

By Daniel J. Erspamer
08/18/2020
Some of Louisiana’s greatest innovations have emerged in the wake of natural disasters. Now, as we work through reopening schools, we have a new opportunity to think outside the box and solve one of our most urgent issues: empowering parents with options to choose an education that best fits their children’s individual needs. Education Savings...

TAGS: a school that fits, Back to School, Education, Education Reform, Education Savings Accounts, School choice

Pelican Back to School Week Offers Solutions to Transform Louisiana Education

08/17/2020
We all remember the first day of school, but this year is clearly different than any other we’ve experienced. While some students will carry a mask and hand sanitizer along with their other usual classroom materials, many are not even getting the option of returning to the classroom. Desks and textbooks are being replaced by...

TAGS: a school that fits, Back to School, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Education, Education Reform, School choice

Pelican Lists Qualities it Seeks in Next State Superintendent

05/07/2020
Today, the Pelican Institute released a list of key beliefs the next state Superintendent of Education should possess in leading Louisiana’s education system. On May 20, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is expected to select the next superintendent from a slate of its top six candidates. After recently surveying Louisiana citizens...

TAGS: BESE, Education, Education Reform, State Superintendent of Education

Pelican Responds to Calls to Extend Louisiana School Closures

04/09/2020
This week, the Louisiana Superintendents Association requested Gov. John Bel Edwards to close schools across the state for the remainder of the education year. The following is a statement from Ethan Melancon, director of education policy at the Pelican Institute, in response to this request. “While we understand Louisiana’s leaders continue the fight to contain...

TAGS: Education, Education Reform, innovation, online learning, technology

Rough Day 2? Try These Resources for Student Downtime

03/17/2020
Within hours of the announcement closing Louisiana schools for the next month, parents, teachers, nonprofits, and companies had already begun mobilizing to share resources, links, curricula, virtual museum tours, and so much more. As uncertainty swirls around the spread of COVID-19, the community’s strong response to fill these education gaps is providing parents with a...

TAGS: Education, Education Reform, Online schools, school, School choice, virtual schools

Course Choice: Expanding Educational Freedom

07/29/2019
Without ensuring access to a high-quality education for every child, Louisiana cannot have a vibrant and growing economy. Attracting more jobs and opportunity to the Pelican State requires a workforce with the proper training and skills to compete in the 21st century economy. Developing this workforce starts at the primary school level, which is why...

TAGS: Course Choice, Education, Education Reform, K-12