Issue Position: Better Schools for a Better Louisiana

Issue Position

Given our vast natural resources, our deep water ports and our business friendly environment, we will see our economy grow over the next decades, but we can only make that growth permanent if we have an educated workforce trained in properly funded technical schools, community colleges, and four-year universities.

Education is the lifeblood of opportunity, which is why we must insure that our children are prepared to tackle the challenges of the 21st century, and that they're properly trained for the careers that are now in Louisiana's pipeline.

For me, higher education is a top priority -- and it will be prioritized and funded as such.
There are four keys to improving schools in Louisiana:

1. Creating high standards specifically for Louisiana students
2. Focusing on early childhood development and literacy
3. Increasing teacher development and retention
4. Stabilizing and prioritizing funding for higher education

Maintaining high academic standards:

We need to build on the compromise reached by the Legislature this session to keep the current Common Core standards in place while the BESE works with parents, teachers, and administrators to develop even stronger Louisiana-based standards. The current high standards have started to move Louisiana schools in the right direction, and it is important that we keep that momentum going.

Implementing higher standards won't change our schools overnight. We need to give teachers and administrators the necessary time to implement these standards.

In the long-term, our education system will dictate the strength of our economy. High standards that allow our children to compete with students across the country and the world will ensure we have the competitive workforce necessary for continuing to grow our economy. It also ensures that our kids are prepared to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.

Developing literacy and math skills early:

We know that when children get off to a good start in school, they have the best chance of achieving long-term success. Louisiana needs to improve and expand pre-K through 3rd grade programs, especially for at-risk children.

In fact, we should look at developing a pilot program for at-risk kids that provides support and stimulation even earlier than our current pre-K programs. Studies have shown the positive effects of early childhood development, and we should look for ways to provide additional help for those children most at-risk for being left behind.

We should provide increased funding to districts that implement a high-quality, accountable pre-kindergarten program that demonstrates long-term success. In addition, all pre-kindergarten providers that receive state funds need to set standards, evaluate advancement, and report that data to the state.

The next step is to improve reading and math education for children in K through 3rd grade. Giving kids the basic tools needed to learn early greatly improves their chances for success later on. We do this by improving and funding professional development for early grade reading and math teachers and by creating reading and math "SWAT" teams to assist low-performing schools and districts.

Keeping teachers and getting them more involved:

Thirty percent of new teachers leave the profession in 3 years, and forty-five percent leave after 5 years. In addition to losing all their valuable experience, teacher turnover is expensive. A school system with 10,000 teachers and a 20% turnover rate can save $500,000 per year by reducing the turnover rate by just 1%. One teacher leaving costs a district $11,000 to replace, not including professional development, curriculum, and school-specific knowledge.

The top reasons teachers' cite for leaving the profession are: poor administrative support, lack of influence within the school system, classroom intrusion, and inadequate time to meet standards.

This is one of the main reasons that we need the involvement of Louisiana teachers in developing and enhancing standards. Once we have Louisiana standards in place, we really should get administrators out of the way and allow teachers the flexibility to meet those standards.

Two things we can do to attract and keep good teachers:

1. Develop incentives for teachers who are meeting the standards.
2. Create a statewide mentoring program for new teachers to provide additional support, encourage collaboration, and improve professional development.

We can't meet higher standards if we don't have great teachers.

Making higher education a priority:

First and foremost higher education needs stability both in terms of management and funding. We must prioritize General Fund spending so that higher education isn't on the chopping block every year.

Secondly, we must use the resources that we currently have better. We don't have to close any existing institutions, but we do need to eliminate duplicative efforts. Additionally, we need to increase partnerships between various higher education systems. It is not necessary to build new Community Colleges or technical schools when the needed infrastructure already exists at underutilized universities.

The WISE (Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy) fund is one of the best investments the state has made. This program must be continued and expanded so that we continue producing the kinds of technically skilled workers that are, will continue to be, in demand.
louisiana-circle

As Governor, Jay Dardenne will build better schools. Sign up today for more of Jay's innovative plans for together creating a better Louisiana.

Source