FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In the Face of Opposition, Students Remain at the Forefront of Education Debate at the Louisiana State Capitol
DFER-LA State Director comments on defeat of anti-charter bills and unification measure for New Orleans schools
Baton Rouge, La. – Yesterday, the House Education Committee voted down bills that would restrict school choice across Louisiana. DFER-LA applauds the committee members who voted to ensure Louisiana students continue to have high-quality public school options.
The House Education Committee voted on four bills yesterday:
- HB 167; failed 9 to 5
- HB 168; deferred
- HB 98; failed 9 to 6
- HB 502; deferred
- HB 879; deferred
“DFER-LA would like to thank the committee members, including Speaker Pro Tempore Walt Leger, who voted in favor of students’ best interests. These committee members didn’t just defeat harmful legislation–they voted to invest in students and our state’s education system as it continues to improve and provide rigorous learning environments that push our students to achieve their greatest potential,” said DFER-LA State Director Eva Kemp.
Today, the Senate Education Committee voted on similar measures that would affect Louisiana’s public schoolchildren, including:
- SB 147; failed 4 to 1
- SB 149; deferred
- SB 198; deferred
“Today, members of the committee voted to put students above politics. DFER-LA thanks those leaders, including Senator Milkovich, who continue to take steps forward on behalf of Louisiana’s education system, and most importantly, our students. Rather than focus on rolling back progress, we need legislators focused on common sense legislation that puts a premium on the progress our education system and ensures that our students continue to have high-quality options,” said Kemp.
The Senate Education Committee also unanimously passed a bill authored by Sen. Karen Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans) and other members of the New Orleans delegation that transfers certain charter schools from the Recovery School District back to the Orleans Parish School Board (SB 432).
“Thank you to Senator Peterson and contributing authors – Senators Bishop, Carter and Morrell, Representatives Bagneris, Carter, Harris, Hilferty, Leger, and Moreno – as well as education leaders in New Orleans and statewide for their leadership, contributions and expertise in advancing this important piece of legislation. DFER-LA looks forward to the implementation of this proposal that will support a productive and thoughtful transition to a unified school system in New Orleans,” said Kemp. “Change will have its challenges, but we should see this as an opportunity to create a stronger public school system with a focus on improving outcomes for students and teachers. We look forward to working alongside local stakeholders and community partners to ensure that our elected leaders are held accountable throughout this process to establish a unified, autonomous, high-quality public school system that supports all students in New Orleans.”
New Orleans students have made significant progress over the last ten years. Students taking the ACT in New Orleans have raised their composite scores and in 2014, 59 percent of students in New Orleans graduated high school and entered college.
“Louisiana and in particular New Orleans continues to lead the nation in innovations to turn around failing and poor preforming public schools . Test scores are improving . Graduation rates are up significantly and parents have more choice and opportunity for student success. Committee actions this week in house and senate continues to support this exciting path forward,” said former U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu and DFER Advisory Board Member. “A thoughtful compromise was reached on the school unification bill for New Orleans which will provide elected oversight but also independence and flexibility so important to continued school excellence.”
“DFER-LA sees the growth potential of schools in New Orleans – one unified, autonomous school system comprised of high-quality schools for each and every student in the city,” said Kemp.
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CONTACT: Eva Kemp, eva@dfer.org