'Education for Sale': Gannett Louisiana series explores public-school reform | The Town Talk | thetowntalk.com:
'Education for Sale': Gannett Louisiana series explores public-school reform
Education is big business in Louisiana, as it is elsewhere.
A sign outside BeauVer Christian Academy in DeRidder notes that "sholarship" applications are available at the school. BeauVer Christian has received initial approval from the state for 119 vouchers in Louisiana's Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence program. / The Town Talk
That is the focus of a series titled "Education for Sale: How Big Business Shapes Reform," started May 27 and continuing through today. The series is a project of Gannett Louisiana -- The Town Talk in Alexandria; The Daily Advertiser in Lafayette; The News-Star in Monroe; the Daily World in Opelousas; and The Times of Shreveport.
The intent: Follow the money that has come into the state and identify the companies and agencies that are benefiting, or poised to benefit, under the Louisiana Believes, the umbrella name for the state's efforts to reform K-12 public education.
The following summarizes the series:
--May 27, Vouchers: An analysis of the new statewide voucher program, which uses public funds to pay for tuition and some fees at private school for children in low-performing public schools whose meet certain income guidelines. In Central Louisiana, five private schools are participating in the program this year.
--June 3, ALEC model: Gov. Bobby Jindal's education legislation has