Thursday, April 5, 2012

Major Bills That Stand to Dismantle Louisiana’s Public School System Head to Governor’s Desk

LAE - Louisiana Association of Educators:


Major Bills That Stand to Dismantle Louisiana’s Public School System Head to Governor’s Desk
Louisiana Lawmakers Ignore Educators’ Pleas to Slow Down Passage of Legislation That Calls for Radical Education Overhaul
BATON ROUGE, LA – In the early weeks of the 2012 Legislative Session, Louisiana lawmakers voted to send radical education overhaul legislation, HB 974 and HB 976, to the Governor’s desk.

“We already knew what the vote would be, but we stayed committed to having our voices heard,” said LAE President Joyce Haynes.

Despite hours of protest and thousands of emails, phone calls and legislative chamber notes, the pleas made by educators and parents to slow down the passage of the bills went ignored. Haynes says she feels as though the Governor’s flawed plan only stands to hurt public schools, and will force the state to have to start reform efforts over again in just a few years.

“His voucher plan (HB 976) will rob local funds from our neighborhood schools,” she said.