La. lawmakers adopt education reform

Off the record, teachers are complaining and administrators are confessing. Neither group is sure what to expect from Gov. Bobby Jindal’s sweeping education reform bill that was ratified last week by the Louisiana House of Representatives and state Senate.

“I really have not had a chance to dig into this,” Terrebonne Parish School District Superintendent Philip Martin said Friday. “Give me a chance to determine the details and I’ll be glad to talk to you about it.”

With final votes of 60-43 for HB-974 and 60-42 on HB-976, plus accepting six Senate floor amendments, House members set the stage for eliminating tenure protection for teachers, providing transfer opportunities for select low-income students to charter schools and establishing strict performance requirements for educators.

State Senators also backed passage of the education reform package with a 25-14 vote, but only after six hours of debate. Most changes take effect during the 2012-2013 school year. Details on teacher tenure and evaluation systems will be implemented in 2013-2014.

Late Thursday, Jindal offered a press availability statement in which he responded to the legislation vote.

“This is important for Louisiana; It’s also important for America,” Jindal said in his statement. “If we want to preserve the American dream for our children, if we want them to do better than we did, then it is important.”

Louisiana Association of Educators President Joyce Haynes said protests and telephone calls made by teachers and parents opposed to the reforms were ignored by legislators. She called Jindal’s plan “flawed” and said it will hurt public schools in the long run.

“[Jindal’s] voucher plan will rob local funds from our neighborhood schools,” Haynes said. “We need to start talking about real solutions like functional evaluation systems focused on helping our teachers become better instructors in their classrooms.”

The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, through statements issued in conjunction with the New Orleans Jewish Federation, voiced support of Jindal’s plan that offers funding to put select students in private schools.

“By passing this legislation, Louisiana is allowing students – regardless of income – to have an opportunity to choose the school that will provide the best education for them,” UOJCA DeputyDirector of Political Affiars Jese Hervitz said.

The battle regarding Louisiana’s education reform initiative gained national attention. In-turn, Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said the measure offers an opportunity to improve education in the state.

“I believe this package is a step in the right direction for education reform,” Landrieu said. “But these bills will mean nothing unless they are implemented thoughtfully.”

In terms of crossing public schools students into private or charter schools, Landrieu said the Louisiana Department of Education needs to develop strong criteria to participating non-public schools accountable with uniform plans for student success.

Jindal had been accused of implementing the radical reform plan as a tool to gain public favor on a larger, national stage. “This is not about the next election,” he said. “This is not about the next poll. This is about the next generation.”

During the legislative process state Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard (NP-Thibodaux) repeatedly voiced opposition for what he referred to as a law that missed the mark of servicing students.

“My biggest complaint is there is no accountability of public education,” Richard said Friday. “This process was completely unfair to teachers and principals. We need reforms, but they should have been involved in the process.”

Regional legislators supporting the Governor’s education plan included: state Sens. Norby Chabert (R-Houma), Bret Allain (R-Jeanerette) and Troy Brown (D-Paincourtville).

House members from the Tri-parish area supporting education changes were state Reps. Gordon Dove (R-Houma) and Lenar Whitney(R-Houma). Those opposed to the measures were state Reps. Jerry Gisclair (D-Larose), Joe Harrison (R-Napoleonville), Sam Jones (D-Franklin) and Jerome “Dee” Richard (NP-Thibodaux).

Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks on the passage of his two education overhaul bills Thursday, April 5, 2012, in his office at the Capitol in Baton Rouge. (AP Photo/The Advocate, Arthur D. Lauck)

AP PHOTO