The Louisiana Teacher Union Paradox

By Editor
11/01/2012
Teacher union challenges to real education reform continue to exist, though often in ways that are not measurable or reportable. If you dig deeper, the unions’ power and influence, particularly at the local school district level, remain strong in this state, challenging education reform efforts at every step of the electoral, legislative and policy implementation processes.

TAGS: BESE, Bobby Jindal, Charter Schools, Education Reform, Louisiana Association of Teachers, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, paycheck protection, School choice, teachers unions, tenure reform

Teacher Evaluations Highlight Divide Between Unions and Reformers

By Matt Cole
09/19/2012
The new system of evaluating teacher effectiveness often includes “value-added” data that measures the extra value a teacher adds to a student's standardized test score. Value-added data offers an objective measure of teacher effectiveness that did not previously exist.

TAGS: Act 54, Bobby Jindal, Education Reform, Louisiana, Manhattan Institute, marcus winters, rayne martin, stand for children, teacher evaluations, teachers unions, value added

Louisiana Voucher Applications Roll Forward Despite Union Lawsuits

By Kevin Mooney
07/02/2012
Thousands of school voucher applicants who want to exit unsafe, ineffective public schools made history on Friday. That was the deadline for eligible families to apply for scholarship funds that can be used to cover the cost of private school tuition.

TAGS: Bobby Jindal, Charter Schools, Education, Education Reform, Friedman Foundation, Heritage Foundation, Louisiana Association of Educators, Louisiana Federation of Teachers, School choice, teachers unions, Vouchers

Commentary: New Jersey’s Christie Provides Template for Reducing State Expenditures

By Jamison Beuerman
07/21/2010
Given our state’s looming budget deficit budget deficit and recent blows to the oil and shipping industries, Louisiana should take into consideration New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s proposed agenda to rein in superfluous state spending. Gov. Christie has been anathema to unions throughout the state of New Jersey due to his refusal to genuflect to...

TAGS: Chris Christie, Gov. Christie, Labor, Taxes, teachers unions