Archives for category: Louisiana
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Outrageous Treatment of Children with Special Needs

By dianeravitch
December 22, 2012 //
20

In Louisiana, this mother reports, her 17-year-old autistic son will be required to take the ACT and EOC (end-of-course exams).

As she writes, “These children are also being forced to take the EOC. or “end of course” tests for high school courses that they have never taken. Allow me to reiterate. They are forced to take high-stakes, final exams for classes in which they have never been enrolled because they cannot meet the prerequisites.”

What will this prove, she wonders? Will it prove that her son’s school is a very bad school with very low test scores?

She says this is child abuse.

Her son is being subjected to tests that he cannot possibly pass to satisfy someone else’s political agenda.

That’s wrong.

I hope that journalists in Louisiana will investigate and report about whether this practice is general.

Categories Louisiana, Special Education

When Brookings Honored a Governor Who Supports Vouchers

By dianeravitch
December 13, 2012 //
5

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal gained a valuable national platform at the Brookings Institution in Washington, where he explained that vouchers were the path to excellent education for all.

Of course, he didn’t use the V word. Like all Republicans pushing a stealth agenda, he calls them “opportunity scholarships.”

Here is a video of his presentation, and Valerie Strauss’s discussion of the “alternate universe” in which Governor Jindal lives.

Under his program, children in Louisiana may attend religious schools where they are taught creationism and learn that dinosaurs and people lived at the same time and that God created the world in only six days. They can attend little fundamentalist schools that will use DVDs to instruct them and will use religious textbooks to learn about math, history and science form a religious perspective.

This will prepare Louisiana for the nineteenth century. And create an excellent education for all, or so says Governor Jindal.

Will the Brookings Institution also provide a national platform for a governor with a 21st century perspective?

Categories Louisiana, Vouchers

State Board in Louisiana Approves Contracts Without Funding

By dianeravitch
December 7, 2012 //
6

The Louisiana state board of education approved contracts for 45 private vendors, many of them for-profit online companies that had made campaign contributions to some state board members.

The board acted despite the court decision last week declaring that it was unconstitutional to take money dedicated specifically for public elementary and secondary schools and spend it on vouchers or other providers.

Two board members asked for a delay–Lottie Beebe and Carolyn Hill–but the board approved the vendors without funding. Both Beebe and Hill are on our honor roll as heroes of public education.

The state board is controlled by allies of Governor Jindal, who is committed to privatization.

Beebe said that five members of the board should have recused themselves because they received campaign contributions from some of the providers. Here is her Facebook comment on the board meeting:

“Lottie Polozola Beebe (Facebook)

BESE adjourned its meeting at 9:00 P. M. last night with a record time-wise—the longest meeting of my tenure on BESE. BESE approved 45 Course Providers despite my objections and Ms. Hill’s. Our objection was due to Judge Kelley’s ruling that public dollars should support public schools. Recognizing some have vowed to appeal this ruling, I pointed out BESE’s approval of Course Choice Providers would be irresponsible. Nevertheless, Mr. White was successful in communicating we are merely putting a process in place. I pointed out that I would be remiss if I did not point out that at least 5 BESE members should consider recusing themselves from the vote, particularly, if they received political contributions from any. Well, that recommendation yielded “fireworks”! I received an earful from Chas Roemer and Ms. Boffy defending their campaign contributions and the perceived conflict of interest. I wonder why this would be such a sensitive issue. Despite my attempt to encourage them to do the honorable thing, they voted favorably regarding the choice providers. For the record, one approved entity’s PAC contributed approximately $50,000 to five BESE members. (And to think, public school employees are mandated by law to participate in one hour of Ethics training annually.”

A spokesperson for the state ethics board saw no conflict if a board member votes to award a contract to a campaign contributor:

“State ethics laws mandate that political candidates publish a list of contributors to their campaigns; both Boffy and Garvey did so:

The Pelican Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors Inc., one of the groups the state board approved as a course provider, gave $5,000 to board member Holly Boffy’s campaign in 2011.
Boffy got $1,000 from K12 Inc. and $1,000 from Acadian Companies, two other approved providers.
James Garvey, who represents parts of New Orleans, also got $5,000 from the Pelican Chapter.
Boffy, who represents District 7 (which includes Calcasieu, Vermilion and six other parishes), responded to Hill’s accusations, saying that she makes decisions in the best interest of students. Garvey was not at the meeting.

“Anyone can contribute to my campaign if I decide to run,” she said. “I just want you to know, that I act with integrity, and when someone on the board questions that, I find that very troubling.”

Louisiana Board of Ethics spokeswoman Alainna Giacone said that it’s not improper for Boffy and Garvey to vote on the issue. “It’s not an issue because it’s a campaign contribution,” she said. It would become a legal issue, however, if Boffy or Garvey were employed by one of the course providers, and then voted on the contract with the course provider, Giacone advised.”

Categories For-Profit, Louisiana, Privatization, Vouchers

Gates Assists Jindal “Reforms”

By dianeravitch
December 4, 2012 //
16

The Jindal reforms of 2012 are among the most hostile to teachers of any legislation passed in recent years. Under the terms of the law, every teacher’s job hinges on student test scores, which count for 50% of the teacher’s evaluation.

As readers of this blog know, the Jindal reforms are hostile not only to teachers but to public education, in that more than half the students in the state are eligible for vouchers, and dozens if not hundreds of charters will open, draining resources from public education.

Why would anyone outside the fringes of the far-right facilitate this bold attack on a democratic institution?

The Gates Foundation has just awarded $300,000 to Jefferson Parish to assist in implementing test-based accountability for teachers.

When I met with a very high-ranking official of the Gates Foundation last year, he insisted that the foundation was not supportive of high-stakes testing. I think there is a disconnect here. The foundation is helping a district implement a law that promises to fire teachers based on the test scores of their students.

The same is true in Florida, where a Republican legislature passed legislation that stripped away all job protections from teachers and tied their future to test scores. Hillsborough County in Florida is one of the Gates Foundation’s major teacher evaluation sites.

I wonder: how many years must we wait before we see “a great teacher” in every classroom in those sites that take the advice of the Gates Foundation?

Categories Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, Jindal, Bobby, Louisiana, Teacher Evaluations, Testing

The Odd and Shifting Logic of School Choice

By dianeravitch
December 1, 2012 //
11

In the just concluded trial about vouchers in Louisiana, a state education department official said that a student with a voucher is a public school student, no matter what school she attends. The judge could not follow the logic. He ruled that the state could not take funds away from public schools to pay for vouchers.

Leonie Haimson of Class Size Matters in New York City noticed that charter advocates pull the same trick, with the same logic. They change their rationale to fit the need of the moment.

At first, the charters were to save minority kids from failing schools. But now they are moving into relatively affluent areas in New York City where schools are not failing.

She writes, referring to the gentrified portions of districts 2, 3 and 15:

“The reason DOE is putting charter elementary schools in high schools in D2, the lower part of D3 and in the Cobble Hill section of D15 is that their public elementary schools are already so overcrowded so that there is NO space for them, even by DOE standards.”

“The charter school lobby first explained the rationale for their schools as based on providing more “options” to students in low-performing districts, then moved on to justifying them by saying they would create more “diverse” schools in mixed or gentrifying areas, and also now argue that they create more options for middle class parents who are potentially shut out of their zoned schools because of overcrowding, that there are waiting lists for Kindergarten.”

“The rationales keep expanding….”

Categories Charter Schools, Louisiana, NYC, Vouchers

More Detail on Louisiana Voucher Ruling

By dianeravitch
December 1, 2012 //
8

The decision to declare illegal the funding of the voucher program is very important. Vouchers were to be funded by taking money that was dedicated to public elementary and secondary schools. The decision was about the funding mechanism. If the politicians want a voucher program, they can’t take money out of the minimum foundation funding for public schools. Like, they could raise taxes to pay for kids to go to religious schools and learn about creationism.

Categories Louisiana, Vouchers

Louisiana Judge Rules Voucher Program Unconstitutional

By dianeravitch
November 30, 2012 //
11

A Louisiana judge ruled against the state’s new voucher program, agreeing with the plaintiffs that it violated the state constitution by diverting public funds to private schools.

The state will appeal.

The attorney for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers explains here why the teachers are suing to block Governor Jindal’s Act 2.

It’s not because the law is “illegal,” but because it expressly violates the state constitution.

It’s not because it spends public money for vouchers but because it takes money expressly reserved for public elementary and secondary schools and gives it to private, religious and online schools, as well as post-secondary institutions, that are clearly not public elementary and secondary schools.

By Larry Samuel, LFT General Counsel

It’s time to set the record straight…and correct the inaccurate media reports as to what our Act 2 lawsuit is all about.

First, we are not claiming that the Act is “illegal.” We are claiming that it is unconstitutional. There is a difference. The constitution is the supreme law. Without it, the legislature has no power. The Constitution contains requirements that must be met.

Second, we are not challenging the use of “taxpayer money” for vouchers. Taxpayer money has been used for vouchers for 4 years in Louisiana, and we never challenged it. Why are we lodging this challenge? Because the source of the money are funds contained in the Minimum Foundation Program. Why does this matter? Because Article VIII, Section 13(b) of the Constitution states that the formula “shall be used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools as well as to equitably allocate the funds to parish and city school systems.”

MFP money is going to online course providers, many of which are private (not public), out of state, and are by no stretch of the imagination “ elementary and secondary public school systems.” MFP money is going to post-secondary schools, which is clearly prohibited. Money is going to private and sectarian schools.

Also, local funds are being allocated to online course providers, post-secondary schools, and non-public schools. These are funds that voters approved at the ballot box, that specifically state that the funds shall be used for public elementary and secondary schools. The Constitution prohibits these local funds from going to private schools.

Third, in this lawsuit we are not challenging whether as a matter of policy, taxpayer money should or should not go to private schools. We fought that battle in the legislature (which is the appropriate place to raise policy issues) and we lost. This lawsuit challenges whether the constitution allows MFP money to be allocated to persons and entities that aren’t public elementary and secondary school systems.

Fourth, this lawsuit has nothing to do with a religious challenge to vouchers. We have not raised the issue of whether voucher money going to religious schools is a violation of constitutional “separation of church and state” mandates.

We are asking the Court to rule whether the MFP Resolution is a matter that is “intended to have the force and effect of law,” and if so, whether Act 2 violates other provisions in the Constitution, such as:

The provision in the Louisiana Constitution that states that matters “intended to have the force and effect of law” must be filed in the legislature prior to a fixed deadline. We contend that because the legislature missed the deadline, the law has no force and effect.

The provision in the Louisiana Constitution that states that matters “intended to have the force and effect of law” must be considered in the legislature prior to a fixed deadline. We contend that because the legislature missed the deadline, the law has no force and effect.

The provision in the Constitution that states that matters “intended to have the effect of law” must receive a majority vote of the elected members of the House (which would be 53 votes). The MFP Resolution received 53 votes. Thus, it never passed.

The provision in the Louisiana Constitution that requires a bill to have a “single object.” This provision is important because it recognizes that when a legislator casts a vote on a bill, he or she should not be faced with the dilemma of having to vote either for or against a bill that has many objects to it. We contend that the Bill that became Act 2 has a multitude of objects.
The lawsuit asks the Court to rule solely on Constitutional matters. Not policy matters. Some call us the “Coalition of the Status Quo.” We prefer to be called the “Protectors of the Constitution.”

Categories Budget Cuts, Jindal, Bobby, Louisiana, On-Line Education, Vouchers

Judge Halts Voucher Program Temporarily

By dianeravitch
November 28, 2012 //
2

A Federal judge in Louisiana put a halt to the state voucher program and the new teacher hiring laws in one parish, saying they was likely to undercut the desegregation program.

The State Department of Education will appeal. TFA Commissioner John White believes that choice and privatization matter more than desegregation.

Categories Jindal, Bobby, Louisiana, Segregation , Racial Isolation and Integration, Vouchers

Sad News from Louisiana

By dianeravitch
November 26, 2012 //
12

On Thanksgiving Day, I posted a tribute to the teachers of the year in Acadia Parish in Louisiana.

With Governor Bobby Jindal in charge and with a compliant state board and a compliant TFA state commissioner, Louisiana is ground zero for the privatization of public education in America.

Jindal has control of the state board mainly because of huge campaign contributions from out of state supporters of his rightwing agenda.

As part of its destruction of public education, the state has enacted punitive laws directed at teachers.

Their evaluations will be tied to test scores, and it will be easy to fire them. They have no job rights.

In response to my tribute to the teachers in Louisiana, I received the following comment. Please recall that prior to the enactment of No Child Left Behind and the implementation of Race to the Top, public schools were not closed because of test scores. They were considered a public service or a public good. Closing them down made no more sense than closing down and selling off a community’s public park. But now we just take for granted that schools are closed, against the will of the community, and no one can stop it from happening. This is outrageous and we must not forget that it is outrageous. It does nothing to help students or to improve education. It is only good as a battering ram to hurt public education and to help the privatizers.

The teacher writes:

As a 30-year educator in Louisiana public schools, I can tell you that your support means so much – now more than ever. I will forward this to all the teachers who work with me at Delmont Elementary. A week ago today we were informed that our school would be closed because of our failure to make AYP within a year. But we are still thankful on this day, because we know that even though our state and district don’t recognize our efforts, we have truly touched the lives of 450 dhildren and families; and they have touched ours.

Categories Education Industry, Jindal, Bobby, Louisiana, NCLB (No Child Left Behind), Privatization, Race to the Top, Teachers and Teaching, Testing

Thanks to The Valiant Teachers of the Year in Acadia Parish

By dianeravitch
November 22, 2012 //
7

Just a few days ago, the Acadia Parish school board in Louisiana honored its teachers of the year.

Each of its 27 schools selects a teacher of the year. Then, the district selects 3 teachers among the 27 as district winners: the Elementary T.O.Y, a Middle school T.O.Y., and a High school T.O.Y. to represent the district at the Regional T.O.Y. level which eventually feeds into the state T.O.Y. competition.

As readers of this blog know, the state of Louisiana has done more to discourage, demean and demoralize its teachers than almost any other state (I have to say “almost” because there is always Florida and a few other contenders).

Bryan Alleman, a teacher in Acadia Parish schools, was invited to be master of ceremonies for the event and he asked me to write a message to the teachers.

This is what I wrote:

Here is a message from me to Acadia Parish’s Teachers of the Year:

Today may be the hardest time ever to be a teacher in these United States, and the hardest place to be a teacher is Louisiana. The politicians don’t appreciate you. They think they know how to judge your worth, even though few if any of them would last five minutes in a classroom. They are wrong. They should be thanking you every day for your service.
Here is the truth:
Every one of you is a hero.
You go to school every day because you have a mission. You are a teacher because you want to make a difference in the lives of children.
You have been chosen as teacher of the year because you have succeeded. You do make a difference.
Your students know how important you are in their lives.
Your students appreciate what you do.
Years from now, they won’t remember who the governor was, they won’t remember who was the mayor or the state senator, but they will remember you.
They will remember you because you are changing their lives every day.
You are heroes.
Thank you.
Categories Education Reform, Louisiana
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