For more information on the Pelican Institute’s solutions to Louisiana’s education system issues, view the full paper by clicking here.
Education Reform
Every child should have access to a high-quality education, ensuring every Louisiana resident has a chance to succeed. Louisiana cannot have a bright economic future without a workforce equipped with the skills and training necessary to compete in a 21st century economy. Revamping Louisiana’s educational system stands as an economic imperative—and a moral one too.
Problem
- Despite many dramatic gains in Louisiana’s public education system over the past decade, many children still fail to achieve important measures of progress.
- In eighth grade reading, Louisiana’s most recent test scores lagged behind 41 other states; in eighth grade math, the state’s performance ranked below 48 states.
- Louisiana’s poor overall performance on nationwide tests masks even greater achievement disparities for poor students and students of color.
- The achievement gap between children who qualified for free or reduced-price school lunches and more affluent students has remained constant in both eighth grade reading and math for nearly two decades.
- Government bureaucrats and/or union officials often prevent parents from selecting the best educational options available for their children.
Solution
- Empower parents by expanding school choice programs.
- Expand school choice scholarships to all Louisiana students and introduce new options like Educational Savings Accounts (ESAs).
- Promote Course Choice initiatives to allow all students to attend classes that children in rural or smaller school districts might not have access to.
- Empower quality, high-performing teachers through reforms like merit pay and changes to teacher tenure, which reward the teachers that have the greatest impact on Louisiana students.
- Transform schools to give teachers more freedom from government restrictions that impede innovation.
- Encourage new educational options, such as high-quality career and technical educational programs.
- Explore a move to competency-based education to make sure students receive the skills they need during their schooling.
