U.S. News & World Report is a “recognized leader in college, grad school, hospital, mutual fund, and car rankings.” Three years ago, about the same time as Gov. John Bel Edwards was taking office, the publication began ranking states, measuring “outcomes for citizens [by] using more than 70 metrics” and “thousands of data points.”
The headline last week in The Advocate read, “Louisiana dead last for 3rd straight year in ‘Best States’ list; Edwards: rankings inaccurate.”
So, as Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister writes in his latest column, Louisiana’s three-peat of finishing 50th seems to blow a hole in the governor’s TV spots and campaign theme of “(we) are moving in the right direction.”
And the Edwards’ response to the state rankings isn’t the only thing ironic that’s happened on Louisiana’s main stage lately, McCollister add. Especially considering how The Advocate also reported that Louisiana’s public high school graduation rate finally exceeds 80%. The rate is 81.4% for the Class of 2018, up from 78.2% for the Class of 2017.
State Superintendent of Education John White was quoted saying the results came from years of focus and work. This is where the irony lies, McCollister writes, because Edwards, prior to becoming governor, co-authored the bill setting an 80% graduation rate goal while throughout his campaign stating he wanted White gone.
Last week was also a great one in East Baton Rouge Parish for innovation in education for children and big steps forward, McCollister writes.
I got to personally witness all three events take place, including the approval of three new KIPP charter schools, THRIVE Academy’s first graduating class, and the first graduating class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy.
Read McCollister’s full column. Send comments to editor@businessreport.com
