Caddo facilities study results

Results from the Caddo Parish School Board's comprehensive facilities study are in, but this is just the beginning.
School Board members have 20 days to digest a 5000+ document showing the condition of all public schools and district facilities. The study is a part of the Vision 2020 plan to reshape schools.
In a presentation to the board this month, representatives from Houston-based Parsons Commercial Technology Group said the total estimated cost to raise conditions of Caddo schools to a good rating would range from $548 million to $803 million.
The report showed that of the 79 schools and sites assessed, 73 percent are in poor condition and 19 percent are in fair condition.
Concerns were raised about funds being used to maintain abandoned buildings, an issue also addressed in the study.  Read more http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010100630020.
The board will hear recommendations from schools Superintendent Gerald Dawkins on July 27 about changes that should be made. This could include school consolidations, closures or other configurations such as more K-6 schools.
Share |

Less high school grads but more going to college?

The Wall Street Journal reported today that fewer low-income and moderate-income students attended college in 2004 than in 1992. Here is that story: Fewer Low-Income Students Going to College - Real Time Economics - WSJ

For Louisiana that statistic is a bit difficult to find.

Both the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Board of Regents don't keep track of this information on the data available on their websites. But poking around, we found other statistics that were just as interesting.

In the latest information available (the 2007-2008 school year) there were 34,403 graduates from Louisiana public high schools. That's less than the 2000-01 school year -- 38, 314.

Those who graduated from high school in 2000-01 and became first-time full-time freshman was 15, 299. Of those, 39 percent of 5,900 students needed developmental courses in college.

Compare that to students who graduated from 2007-08. Out of 34,403 students, 15,958 became first-time full-time freshmen and 4,471 or 28 percent needed development courses.

Yes, less needed developmental courses but there are less are graduating over all. So how does that compare to on the district level? The patterns are similar.

Even though there more high school graduates than in years past going straight into college and less folks going into remedial courses, there are also less graduating high schoolers. Does that mean that those who do stay and graduate are more likely to go to a college/university? Perhaps. That's an interesting question to explore but while there are high school drop outs, there are also college drop outs. So now the question is how to address both problems?

Share|

Podcast Two

Podcast 2

Icess Fernandez's Podcast

Share |

No phones in the School Board room?

Walking into the Caddo Parish School Board room, I pay little attention to the sign posted on the door.

I can't even paraphrase what it says.

It's safe to assume there are others like me because on Tuesday night board President Lillian Priest reminded everyone that no electronic devices are allowed in the meeting room.

What? Huh...?

I guess this has been the law of the board room for quite some time, but I can find no policy online about the use of cell phones or other electronic devices in the board room.

Sure, I agree people should be courteous, put their cell phones on vibrate and go outside if they have to answer a call. But banning electronic devices altogether, even for the media, is enough to make me question the rules.

"We're asking people if you have to answer a call or make a text, just step outside," Priest said. "Even a board member, if that’s the case."

I can assure you the "rules" have not been followed. There are the news crews and their cameras, the occasional audience member with a cell phone and, yes, this includes board members at the horseshoe table. Priest also made reference to the latter when noting why rules were in place.

As an education reporter, whose job is to inform the community, the use of Twitter, recorders and maybe even a camera is necessary. My iPhone doesn't even make noises when I tweet.

Priest says she will discuss the issue with the board attorney and see if there are exceptions for people like me.

"It may be one of those things that we have to look at concerning the media," she said.

Share|

What we didn't know about non traditional students until after we did the story

Today's story on non traditional students was an eye opener.

As an education reporter, you tend to see trends before they become trends. More students in a classroom could mean more students graduating which means 18 years ago, there was a high birth rate. We look at stats like that all the time and report the trends.

So reporting on non-traditional students, or students who have returned to school to after years away, was  what a typical higher education reporter does. The numbers have increased for SUSLA, BPCC, and LSUS in the past several years from 4,598 in 2006 to 5,025 in 2009. That's a huge jump for this area.

But compare those numbers with the number of students preparing to go to college and another story unfolds... there are more non-traditional students then there are high school students taking the ACT.

There are also more women than men going back to school.

These two stats open up a different insight for higher education in Northwest Louisiana.  Higher education has to be about workforce development more now than ever. Non-traditional students will be the fuel for the local economy.

But then what happens to the traditional students? How will they be catered to and coaxed into staying?

And the bigger question: With all the changes and cuts happening to higher education in the state, how can college and university be all things for all people? Or can it?


Share |

Clausen resigns

 Sally Clausen's resignation is a shock to the higher education community.  

Clausen was the higher education commissioner for the state. And as such, she was in charge of everything college and university related including any budgets cuts that have came and will come down the pipe from the legislature.

Little is known about why Clausen resigned but her resignation letter was released. In it she said she was a distraction to the work of the board of regents. The letter does not detail specifics.

The board of regents will have an emergency meeting tomorrow at noon to put together a search committee for a new commissioner. The sooner the better. The legislative session is about to close and higher ed needs a leader to steer through the next round of cuts.

Share |

Test scores

With the hoopla from the test scores release last week, readers might not have seen that that we've uploaded scores from DeSoto, Webster, Bossier, and of course Caddo.

Here are the databases:

Fourth grade LEAP

Click here to load this Caspio Online Database app.

Eighth grade LEAP

Click here to load this Caspio Online Database app.

High school GEE scores

Click here to load this Caspio Online Database app.

Share |

RT2 round 2, count Louisiana in

There is a lot of talk in the education world about which states are applying for round two of the federally funded Race to the Top program.

Today is the deadline for states to apply for more than $3.4 billion geared toward education reform. In round one, Louisiana ranked 11th out of the 40 states that applied, plus the District of Columbia.

Winners will be announced in September.

Here are the Louisiana school districts participating in Race to the Top:
Ascension
Assumption
Avoyelles
City of Baker
City of Bogalusa
City of Monroe
DeSoto
East Baton Rouge
East Carroll
East Feliciana
Iberville
Jefferson Parish
Lafayette Parish
Lafourche Parish
Madison
Orleans
Recovery School District
Richland
Sabine
St. Bernard
St. Helena
St. John the Baptist
St. Landry
St. Mary
Tangipahoa Parish
Terrebonne
Vernon
West Baton Rouge
This list also includes Linear Leadership Academy and Linwood Public Charter School in Shreveport and other charter schools throughout the state.

Read more about the state's application:
http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/comm/pressrelease.aspx?PR=1422
http://www2.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2010/03/03292010.html
http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/newblog/index_bak.html

Share |

Legislative Update for week starting May 31

The following bills are scheduled to be heard on the Senate Floor on June 2 at 1:00pm:

HB 46 - Hutter - Requires public school governing authorities to provide 7th -12th grade students enrolled in Health Education classes with age- and grade-appropriate classroom instruction relative to dating violence.  Also provides guidelines for such instruction.

HB 97 - Cortez - Current law forbids anyone less than 15 years of age from participating in any component of a private driver's education class but allows students in 9th grade or above to participate in the classroom portions of such programs offered by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE). Proposed law would allow students in 9th grade or above and within 90 days of their 15th birthday to participate in the classroom sections of private driver's education classes, as well as those offered by BESE and LDOE.

HB 251 - P. Smith - Requires the State Superintendent of Education, at a minimum, to possess at the time of appointment, the qualifications adopted by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to be a superintendent in a local school district. The bill also authorizes BESE to establish additional qualifications for the State Superintendent.

HB 388 - P. Smith - Current policy allows teachers to take a leave of absence of up to three years to teach at a charter school.  During that three-year period, teachers would have the right to return to the district at any time.  This bill removes the leave of absence provision from law.

HB 519 - Cortez - Prohibits retirees from receiving retirement benefits from the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) during reemployment unless such retirees are reemployed as classroom teachers in grades K through 12 in the areas of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, or special education.

HB 556 - Wooton - Eliminates present law prohibiting the carrying of a concealed handgun within 1,000 feet of a school.  The proposed law would allow any holder of a concealed handgun permit to carry his/her handgun within 1,000 feet of a school while retaining the ban on concealed handguns in school buildings, on school property, or in a school bus.

HB 580 - P. Smith - Designates the Louisiana School for the Deaf, the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, and the Louisiana Special Education Center as "Board Special Schools" under the jurisdiction of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; authorizes such schools to share services and functions under certain conditions; and allows children with orthopedic impairments to enroll in such schools.

HB 974 - Hoffmann - Allows an applicant who has met other requirements and has one year successful employment as an assistant principal in a Louisiana public school to be excluded from Praxis requirements.  Currently, Louisiana waives Praxis requirements for an individual who has previously served as an out-of-state principal for at least four years and who has been successfully employed in Louisiana as a principal f or at least one year.  This legislation would extend this waiver to assistant principals who meet these qualifications as well.   

HB 1029 - Hoffmann - Deletes a course on Free Enterprise as a prerequisite to high school graduation and instead requires that Free Enterprise instruction be included in Civics.  Expands the Civics requirement to one full year (except students who have already taken Civics and/or Free Enterprise). Makes the same changes to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) and other provisions.

HB 1093 - Fannin - Requires the Recovery School District to receive approval from the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget for capital expenses and changes orders f or contracts that exceed $100,000.

HB 1180 - P. Smith - Permits local public school boards to use state funds to purchase instructional technology and related hardware.

SB 66- Morrel - Requires each charter school to give preference in its enrollment procedures to students residing within the neighborhood immediately surrounding the school, the geographic boundaries of which shall be determined by the school's chartering authority.  Also requires charter schools to enroll no fewer than 30 percent of its students from within the boundaries of this area.

SB 391- Chaisson - Increases the amount of reductions of appropriations/allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal year in which these two conditions occur: (1) a deficit is projected and (2) reductions of at least seven-tenths of 1 percent in appropriations from the state general fund have already occurred. The proposed constitutional amendment increases the amount of reductions of appropriations or allocations from 5 percent to 10 percent.

SB 392- Chaisson - Increases the amount of reductions of appropriations/allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal year in which these two conditions occur: (1) a deficit is projected and (2) reductions of at least seven-eighths of 1 percent in appropriations from the state general fund have already occurred. The proposed constitutional amendment increases the amount of reduc tions of appropriations or allocations from 5 percent up to 10 percent.

SB 701 - Marionneaux - Requires persons who do not graduate from high school to serve a minimum of two years in the armed forces.

The following bills are scheduled for debate in the House Education Committee on June 3 at 9:00am:

HB 682 - Hardy - Requires a local school board to provide transportation to suspended or expelled students who remain under its jurisdiction in Board of Elementary and Secondary Education-approved alternative education programs.

SB 509 - Long - Includes the Louisiana S chool for Math, Science, and the Arts in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), classifying it as a public secondary education institution for the purposes of the MFP formula.

SB 568- L. Jackson - Authorizes training and instruction for school board members received at any conference presented by the National School Boards Association or by any regional school board association to meet pre-established professional development requirements.

The following bills are scheduled for debate in the House Committee on House and Governmental Affairs on June 3 at 9:00am:

SB 743 - Broome - Revises the selection process for members nominated by school clubs and community organizations to the Legislative Yo uth Advisory Council and extends the deadline for that Council to submit an annual report to the governor from February 15 to May 30.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard on the House Floor on June 3 at 2:00pm:

HB 565 - Hardy - School bus drivers, whose first date of employment with the school system is July 1, 2010, or thereafter, will not be eligible for tenure (becoming permanent employees).

SB 302 - Appel - In addition to current performance labels given to public schools and school districts, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will adopt a letter-grade system corresponding to school and district performance scores. For example, a top-performing school would get an "A ."

SB 344 - Duplessis - Lengthens and revises the process that guides local districts in the review of charter school proposals.

The following bills are due for final passage on the House floor, subject to call:

HB 257 - Harrison  - Requires local school boards to spend at least five percent of their gross proceeds collected from extracurricular athletic activities and programs to fund academic tutoring for student athletes in grades 5-12.

HB 1014 - Norton - Requires local school boards to provide planning time to each teacher -- a minimum of 30 minutes for lunch each day that is duty-free and a minimum of 45 minutes daily or its weekly equivalent. These planning times and lunch periods will not result in a longer school day. Current law states that the availability of state funding for this purpose is a condition for the effectiveness of the present law. This proposed measure removes the funding requirement of present law.

SB 298- Donahue - Requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to broadcast its meetings over the internet and to archive such broadcasts.

Share |

Value added Louisiana?

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed HB 1033 into law yesterday. That legislation establishes a value added model in the state, tying student test scores with teacher evaluations.


This isn’t the first time that those with decision making power over education have thought about this. There have long been discussions to linking student achievement with teacher salaries as a way to compensate the teachers that have done well and to identify the ones who are not effective.


At its fundamental core—tracking student and teacher success—education gurus agree it’s a good idea. How to execute that idea, however, has always been a point of contention between those in the classroom and those in governing rooms.


But Jackie Lansdale, president of the Caddo Federation of Teachers and Support Personnel, thinks this plan isn’t the best execution.


“It’s not really value added. Value added is when you provide incentives. This is punitive.”
For teachers, Lansdale said, there is a lack of incentives with the law. Teachers being allowed to keep their jobs is not an incentive and creates a problem.


“This is the stick without the carrot. You’re going to base my evaluation on that? There are some schools that they will refuse to go to if they value their career."


Specifically Lansdale said schools with large numbers of low socio-economic children. It’s easier to teach at a school where children are better prepared and therefore will have increased test scores. But schools with a high poverty rate have student who are more difficult to teach. Why? Challenges such as low parental involvement and few resources.


Cedric Choyce, president of the Caddo Association of Educators, agrees. 

"Basically what you have here now is people trying to move from school not performing well to those that are," he said adding that Louisiana will now become a training ground for Texas. 

Choyce, who teaches at Booker T. Washington in Shreveport, also brought up another point. What about teachers who teach electives.

"What are you going to do to measure my effectiveness," he said. "You have all these students that are from different backgrounds how are you going to do that."

So what' the solution?


“Teachers sent (Buddy) Roemer home, it’s time for teachers to send Jindal home,” Lansdale said.

Share |

Podcasting live...sort of

Nicole and I are getting ready to produce our second podcast relatively soon.

So we're putting the question out to our readers...what would you guys like for us to talk about during the podcast?

Let us know!

Share |

Taking a quick look at the Caddo elementary school results

Man, there's a lot of elementary schools in Caddo.

That means that there's a lot to talk about. So let's begin with English/language arts.

Caddo fourth graders had difficulty in the subject with more than half of the schools decreasing the percentage of students who earned basic or above on the state exam. This was a tough subject with some percentage decreases in the double digits including, Pine Grove (from 92 percent last year to 59 percent this year), Timmons (from 61 percent last year to 44 percent this year), Queensborough (from 60 percent last year to 43 percent this year), and Caddo Heights (49 percent last year, 31 percent this year.)

There were some bright spots:

Central, Hosston Alternative, Mooringsport, and Claiborne percentage of students passing the exam is in the double digits. Leading the pack, Hosston Alternative with 30 percentage points over last year, Central with 23 percentage points, and Mooringsport and Caliborne with 17 percentage points each.

Caddo fourth graders did only slightly better in Math. Caddo Heights, Mooretown, and Timmons had large decreases in the percentage of students testing basic and above on the test. Timmons took the biggest dip going from 73 percent to 48 percent.

Some took a double digit increase. Oak Park increase 36 percentage points.

Other big increases: Claiborne, Judson and Mooringsport.

Share |

Taking a quick look at the Caddo middle school results

The Caddo middle school data is showing a different pattern than the high school data -- English is a much more difficult subject than math.

The results from the state shows that 11 out of 15 schools decreased the percentage of students scoring basic and above in English.

More of Caddo's 8th graders were prepared for the math portion of the test this year. Only seven of the 15 schools showed a percentage decrease.

But when it comes to science and social studies, Caddo eighth graders did better than last year. Only six out of 15 school showed decreases.

Some of the bright spots from the middle school data are:

Bethune's 12 percentage point increase in Science.

Caddo Middle Career increasing 11 percentage points in both science and social studies

Donnie Bickham's 12 percentage point increase in math.

Hosston Alternative School's 36 percentage point increase in math

Share |

Taking a quick look at the Caddo high school results

Analyzing the state exam scores for high school (10th and 11th graders) we see that math wasn't a strength this year.

Eight out of the 10 high schools decreased the percentage of students who earned basic or above on math this year. Among the biggest dips are Fair Park who went from 35 percent last year to 21 percent this year, Green Oaks (44 percent last year, 31 percent this year) Southwood (48 percent last year, 38 percent this year )and Woodlawn (29 percent last year to 20 percent this year.)

Most of these schools are on the Superintendent Target Schools list, which means they are on the state's list of academically unacceptable schools. (We'll focus more on the schools on this list in a later post today. )

But there are some bright spots. Among them is Capt. Shreve's 15 percentage point gain from last year on the social studies test.

Continue reading this blog as we continue analyzing the LEAP and GEE scores.

Share |

It's "go-day"

It's test results day or what is known to all education reporters as "go-day".

Writing about test scores is the bread and butter for education reporters. There is a certain amount of stress and preparation that goes into the initial day's reporting. Phone calls are made. Plans are layout and revisited.

But the stories that follow after are what the scores are truly about: the students who triumphed, the schools that fell short, the teachers who became rock stars in the classrooms, the districts that have to readjust to increase next year's scores.

Reassured that as education reporters Nicole and I feel the stress and we are aware that these scores are important to parents, teachers, schools, and administrators. We know this because these scores are important to us too.

We'll keep everyone up dated through the Web site and through the blog on what we find out during the day.

Share |

Caddo new hires, vacant positions

Southwood High Principal Ken Wood
Times Archive

Southwood High School could have a new principal as soon as June 15, pending approval from the Caddo Parish School Board.

Technically the new hire won't assume this role until next school year, but there will be "work during the summer months in transition," said Mary Nash Robinson, assistant superintendent for human resources.

The current principal, Ken Wood, is retiring.

Schools Superintendent Gerald Dawkins, who interviewed the finalists, will have a recommendation for the board no later than June 15. The goal is to make a selection by July 1, which is also the projected date to adopt the district's new salary schedules.

Here are a list of other administrative vacancies in the district:

Summerfield Elementary- principal

Blanchard Elementary- principal

Mrs. Eddie Jones West Shreveport Elementary- principal

Caddo Career and Technology Center- principal (the assistant principal is serving as interim)

Caddo Parish Middle Magnet- assistant principal

Newton Smith Visual and Performing Arts Middle- assistant principal.

These positions were left vacant by retiring administrators. The screening committee will begin interviews on June 9 and will be completed by July 1.

Share|

Updates: Caddo budget

Times archieves

What was discussed at the Caddo Parish School Board budget work session on Monday?

• When schools Superintendent Gerald Dawkins said he was considering everything to get the district where it needed to be, he was serious. Whether the district will implement A/B block scheduling in high schools next year is in question. The new schedule could be phased in at certain schools or scratched altogether.
• The daily operating cost for the school district is $1 million.
• How will the student-teacher ratio be impacted if the staffing formula is changed?
• How much is it costing the district to hire retirees?
• Has the district ever had deficit spending, where expenditures exceeded revenue? Yes. In 2001-02 there was deficit spending of $9.6 million and in the 2002-03 school year it was $4.9 million.
• The district is projecting $9 million in deficit spending this year. That money was covered by the fund balance, which is now at $33 million.
• In the 2003-04 school year there was a projected fund balance deficit of $12 million, but by law the board could not adopt a budget with a deficit fund balance. As a result, reductions were made.
• This year the projected $10 million deficit fund balance will also result in reductions. If not, this would mean the board would end the year with a negative fund balance, which is not permitted by law.

The board will see a draft of the 2010-11 budget at its regular meeting on June 1at 4:30 p.m. at the School Board office, 1961 Midway St. There will be a special work session on June 2.

The goal is to approve a budget by June 15. A budget must be adopted by June 30.

Share |

Caddo School Board faces $10 million deficit

Between now and June 30, the Caddo Parish School Board must find a way to plug a $10 million deficit for its 2010-11 budget.

That could mean a more than $20.2 million cut in instructional areas and $5.7 million from central office. More specific areas that could loose funding are regular and special education and school administration.

A formal recommendation has not gone before the School Board, but other cost-cutting measures include changes in policy, staffing formula, layoffs and hiring freezes. Dawkins added that according to the staffing formula, some schools are over staffed.

But he continually reiterated that nothing has been finalized.

"Just know that I'm considering everything to get us where we need to be," Dawkins said at the first budget work session last week.

It was more of a show-and-tell meeting, and district officials reviewed the $40.9 million impact brought on by a reduction in state funding and other "items impacting operations."
The School Board has about $33 million in its reserve funds, but Finance Director Jim Lee says
that will soon be drained.


The board will meet today at 4:30 p.m. to hammer out the upcoming budget, and another meeting is set for Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. if necessary.

How should Caddo deal with its budget woes? Vote below.

Share |

Legislative updates for the week of May 24

Here's what bills are on scheduled to be heard this week.

The following bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Finance Comm ittee on May 24 at 1pm:

SB 161 - Murray - Creates the Hurricane Recovery Health Insurance Premium Fund as a special fund in the state treasury to provide funds for health insurance premiums for certain school board employees in the hurricane impacted parishes of Cameron, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard.

The following bill is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Retirement Committee on May 24 at 1pm:

HB 519 - Cortez - Prohibits retirees from receiving retirement benefits from the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana during reemployment unless such retirees are reemployed as classroom teachers in grades K through 12 in the areas of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, or special education.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard by the House Education Committee on May 25 at 9am:

HB 1399 - Downs - Raises the minimum cumulative grade point average required to receive the TOPS Opportunity Award from a 2.5 to a 2.75 as calculated on a 4.00 scale by using only the grades obtained by the student in completing the core curriculum requirements established by present law.

SB 262 - Nevers - Requires local school districts to establish guidelines for the collection of biometric information, such as fingerprints, should a school be collecting it on students.

SB 486- Nevers - Establishes that the attainment of a silver-level score on the assessment of the ACT WorkKeys system fulfills the eligibility requirements for attaining the TOPS-Tech Award.

SB 487 - Nevers - Renews the law to create LDOE, which would otherwise expire.

SB 490- Nevers - Requires that the questions included on end-of-course examinations for students pursuing a career major curriculum be developed so that the assessments reflect the course design and content.

SB 492- Nevers - Brings the governing boards of charter schools under the fi nancial disclosure requirements of the Ethics Code.

The following bill is scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 25 at 2pm:

HB 468 - Hoffmann - Adds certified school nurses to the list of school employees eligible for sabbatical leave.

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the Senate on May 25 at 2pm:

SB 391- Chaisson - Increases the amount of reductions of appropriations/allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal year in which these two conditions occur: (1) a deficit is projected and (2) reductions of at least seven-tenths of 1 percent in appropriations from the state general fund have already oc curred. The proposed constitutional amendment increases the amount of reductions of appropriations or allocations from 5 percent to 10 percent.

SB 392- Chaisson - Increases the amount of reductions of appropriations/allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal year in which these two conditions occur: (1) a deficit is projected and (2) reductions of at least seven-eighths of 1 percent in appropriations from the state general fund have already occurred. The proposed constitutional amendment increases the amount of reductions of appropriations or allocations from 5 percent up to 10 percent.

The following bill is scheduled to be heard by the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice on May 26 at 9:30am:

SB 536 - Nevers - Creates the crime of simple burglary of a school. Simple burglary is the unauthorized entry of any facility with the intent to commit theft.

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 26 at 2pm:

HB 923 - Leger - Authorizes the Recovery School District to contract with outside legal counsel.

HB 1055 - Richmond - Eliminates the Division of Adult and Family Services within the Louisiana Department of Education and transfers the responsibility for adult and family services programs from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Louisiana Co mmunity and Technical College System (LCTCS).

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 27 at 1pm:

SB 83- Appel - Expands the test type options used for 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th grade students with disabilities.

SB 89 - Long - Removes the requirement that the administration of Louisiana School of Math, Science, and the Arts be classified within LDOE

SB 112 - Long - The standardized test scores of students in Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) facilities will not be sent to students' home schools or included in t he performance score of local districts.

SB 285 - Donahue - States that students educated in secure facilities under the jurisdiction of Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) shall be considered as enrolled in a public school for inclusion by BESE in the MFP formula. Also requires that the MFP funds be transferred to from the students' local districts to OJJ to operate such facilities.

SB 297- Donahue - Eliminates the Division of Adult and Family Services within the Louisiana Department of Education and transfers the responsibility for adult and family services programs from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

SB 298- Donahue - Requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to broadcast its meetings over the Internet and to archive such broadcasts.

SB 527- Broome - Revises the requirements of local school districts to provide certain classroom management training to school pers

Share|

What's it like to be a non-traditional college student?

I'm extremely excited about USAToday's week long video series "Degrees of Difficulty" on non-traditional students. It begins today.

This is a great story to tell and one that is important to northwest Louisiana, and most especially to BPCC. They specialize in non-traditional students. CALL, an accelerated college program, is tailor made for non-traditional students or students who want to get their credits quickly. The school has had so much success with it that last year it went statewide.

Here's the video that kicks off the series.

Share |

I'll come back...if you're here next year.

Students, especially college students, live in a constant state of stress. Classes. Professors. Extra curricular activities. Money. 

Money? 

Yup. 

It's something new that LSUS director of counseling Paula Lewis is noticing. More students came seeking counseling services on matter of money. 

"More people are concerned about money," she said. 

And it's not just about whether they'll have a job upon graduation, which is also a concern. Students are worried about the existence of their university. 

Just like professors and administrators have anxiety about upcoming budget cuts, so do students. They worry whether they'll have a program to graduate from and if the classes they need to for graduation will be available. 

On a survey recently done by the school's counseling center of students in a mentor program, one of the comments to the question whether they'll return to school next year was this: 

If the school is still around next year. 

Stress about classes, relationships and even money all add up to one thing...

"All that impacts success in college," Lewis said. 

Share |

Legislative Update for week starting May 17

Here's what bills are on scheduled to be heard next week.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on May 17 at 9 am:

HB 468 - Hoffmann - Adds certified school nurses to the list of school employees eligible for sabbatical leave.

HB 905 - Harrison - Increases the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) necessary to qualify for certain awards under the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), from 2.5 to 3.0. This change would apply to graduating seniors, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year.

HB 1049 - Harrison - Authorizes public school boards to enter into public/private partnerships for the provision of ancillary services, such as cafeteria, custodial, and transportation services.

HB 1411 - Richmond - Requires the Recovery School District to receive Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approval of capital expenses and change orders in excess of $100,000.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard in the Senate Finance Committee on May 17 at 10 am:

SB 391- Chaisson - Increases the amount of reductions of appropriations/allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal year in which these two conditions occur: (1) a deficit is projected and (2) reductions of at least s even-tenths of 1 percent in appropriations from the state general fund have already occurred. The proposed constitutional amendment increases the amount of reductions of appropriations or allocations from 5 percent to 10 percent.

SB 392- Chaisson - Increases the amount of reductions of appropriations/allocations from the state general fund and dedicated funds in any fiscal year in which these two conditions occur: (1) a deficit is projected and (2) reductions of at least seven-eighths of 1 percent in appropriations from the state general fund have already occurred. The proposed constitutional amendment increases the amount of reductions of appropriations or allocations from 5 percent up to 10 percent.

SB 509 - Long - Includes the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), classifying it as a public secondary education institution for the purposes of the MFP formula.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard in the Senate Retirement Committee on May 17 at 12:30 pm:

SB 274 - Heitmeier - Requires a charter school teacher, who is an active member of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) to remain an active member of TSSL for the duration of his/her employment at the charter school, under certain circumstances.

SB 729 - Shaw - For members of the Teachers' Retirement Systems of Louisiana (TRSL), a separate fund known as the Experience Account provides cost-of-living adjustments to retiree pensions.  If there are sufficient funds in the TRSL Experience Account, a Permanent Benefit Increase is payable to each eligible TRSL retiree or their beneficiary each year on July 1, subject to a recommendation by TRSL's Board and legislative approval.  Currently, the Experience Account is funded with up to 50 percent of all TRSL investment earnings in excess of the actuarial rate of 8.25 percent, after the first $200 million of investment returns have been used to pay down retirement system debt. SB 729 seeks to provide that 50% of the net investment experience gain of the TRSL is credited to the TRSL's experience account before the allocation to reduce the unfunded accrued liability.  Currently, if TRSL fails to exceed the actuarially assumed rate of return and is less than 80 percent funded, no Permanent Benefit Increase will be granted.  SB 729 seeks to allow a Permanent Benefit Increase in years in which the TRSL is below 80% funded and fails to exceed the actuarially assumed rate of return.

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 17 at 2pm:

HB 529 - P. Smith - Requires, rather than authorizes, sex education for public school students in grades 4-12. Requires BESE to prescribe guidelines and suitable curricula.

HB 561 - Baldone - Provides that certain educational diagnosticians who hold a valid Louisiana teaching certificate, state educational diagnostician certification, and the Nationally Certified Educational Diagnostician (NCED) credential are eligible to receive an annual salary supplement of $5,000 (subject to the ap propriation of funds).

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the Senate on May 17 at 3pm:

SB 293 - Donahue - Requires each agency to conduct an annual internal review of employee vacancies and attrition rates.  Establishes the goal of attaining strategic reductions in positions of five percent annually for three years and requires annual reports to the Commission on Streamlining Government.

The following bills are scheduled to be heard in the House Education Committee on May 18 at 9 am:

HB 1128 - Leger - Requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to develop, by December 31, 2010, a master plan for how charter schools are to administer special education and related services. The bill also requires BESE to provide local school districts with guidelines on reviewing and approving charter school applicants as well as establishing requirements and restrictions for charter schools. The bill also requires BESE to give an annual charter school report to the Governor.

SB 83- Appel - Expands the test type options used for 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th grade students with disabilities.

SB 89 - Long - Removes the unnecessary requirement that the administration of Louisiana School of Math, Science, and the Arts be classified within the Louisiana Department of Education

SB 112 - Long - The standardized test scores of students in Office of Juvenile Justice facilities will not be sent to students' home schools or included in the performance score of local districts.

SB 285 - Donahue - States that students educated in secure facilities under the jurisdiction of the Office of Juvenile Justice (OJJ) shall be considered as enrolled in a public school for inclusion by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula. Also requires that the MFP funds be transferred from the students' local districts to OJJ to operate such facilities.

SB 297- Donahue - Eliminates the Division of Adult and Family Services w ithin the Louisiana Department of Education and transfers the responsibility for adult and family services programs from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to the Louisiana Community Technical College System.

SB 298- Donahue - Requires the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to broadcast its meetings over the Internet and to archive such broadcasts.

SB 302 - Appel - In addition to current performance labels given to public schools and school districts, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will adopt a letter-grade system corresponding to school and district performance scores. For example, a top-performing school would get an "A."

SB 344 - Duplessis - Lengthens and revises the process that guides local districts in the review of charter school proposals.

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 18 at 2pm:

HB 257 - Harrison  - Requires local school boards to spend at least 5 percent of their gross proceeds collected from extracurricular athletic activities and programs to fund academic tutoring for student athletes in grades 5-12.

HB 486 - Harrison - Requires school guidance counselors to complete academic profiles for each 9th grade student and specifies certain information, such as college or ca reer planning, to be included in the profiles. The bill also requires students and parents to be involved in completing the profiles and to review them annually.

HB 488 - Harrison - Requires school board members to receive at least six hours of training and instruction annually. The bill also requires that school board members receive a minimum of 16 hours of training and instruction during their first year of service on the board. School board members who complete this training will be given the designation of "Distinguished School Board Member." The bill also requires school superintendents to annually submit to the school system's official news publication information on the trainings completed by each school board member and stipulate each member who has earned the "Distinguished School Board Member" credential.

The following b ills are scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 19 at 2pm:

HB 923 - Leger - Authorizes the Recovery School District to contract with outside legal counsel.

HB 962 - Carter - Requires local school boards to accept charter school proposals until February 28 of each year. Local school boards will also be required to provide written notification of their final decision on approvals no later than May 31. The bill also requires local school boards to publish in print media and web sites the guidelines, the forms required for submission, the timelines for acceptance and review, the process that will be used for review, and a point of contact for all charter school proposals.

HB 1141 - Landry - Establishes guidelines for denying nutrition to students. For example, before a local district can withhold a meal from a student, the school's governing authority must notify parents and obtain confirmation from a school nurse or the student's personal doctor.

The following bills are scheduled for debate by the House of Representatives on May 20 at 1pm:

HB 1376 - Hines - Present law requires local school districts to provide transportation to students who attend and live at least one mile from a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) non-public school. Current law also requires that 17 specific school districts provide such transportation to students living within one mile of the school.  Proposed law would revise the law to make 1,000 feet the distance specified in those two provisions.  Proposed legislation also updates the requirement to provide Louisiana Department of Education-funded reimbursements to families or tutors of such students whose local school boards are granted exceptions to this law for justifiable financial reasons approved by BESE.

HB 1442 - Carmody - Allows any public school employee to report testing irregularities or improprieties directly to the Louisiana Department of Education. This bill also authorizes the Department to investigate allegations.  Current Board of Elementary and Secondary (BESE) policy already provides for this reporting and investigation. However this legislation is designed to strengthen that policy.  Additionally, the bill makes it a crime to attempt to cover up testing improprieties.  And any school governing authority that fires, threatens, or in any other way retaliates against a school employee who reports testing irregularities could be convicted of a misdemeanor.  HB1442 also imposes penalties against school employees who file false reports about testing irregularities.

HB 1458 - Labruzzo - Requires a local school board to conduct a review of its student code of conduct and amend the code as may be necessary to assure that the policy prohibiting the harassment, intimidation, and bullying of a student by another student specifically addresses the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyber-bullying. Also defines "cyber-bullying" for this purpose.

The following bills are due for final passage in the House, subject to call:

HB 1014 - Norton - Requires local school boards to provide planning time to each teacher -- a minimum of 30 minutes for lunch each day that is duty-free and a minimum of 45 minutes daily or its weekly equivalent. These planning times and lunch periods will not result in a longer school day. Current law states that the availability of state funding for this purpose is a condition for the effectiveness of the present law. This proposed measure removes the funding requirement of present law.

HB 1055 - Richmond - Eliminates the Division of Adult and Family Services within the Louisiana Department of Education and transfers the responsibility for adult and family services programs from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to th e Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS)

Share |