The Council for A Better Louisiana today released its public election agenda, urging Louisiana candidates running for legislative offices, governor and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to continue pushing forward the established framework of reform policies and innovations that have been adopted by the state in recent years.
Specifically, the CABL agenda calls for rigorous academic standards that can be compared on a national level, further empowerment of school leaders at the local level, continued expansion of charter schools and increased emphasis on college prep, STEM education and industry-based certification programs in high schools, among other things.
CABL says current policies and efforts to improve public education in Louisiana are working, citing a record high number of students graduating on time, more students than ever scoring high enough on the ACT to enter some level of college, a record number of graduates going to college, a significant decline in the dropout rate and narrowing of the achievement gap.
“Retreating from our framework of reforms and current school efforts will set Louisiana back,” says CABL President Barry Erwin in a prepared statement accompanying the four-page agenda. “Voters and candidates hold the key to helping our schools and students move forward.”
While there has clearly been progress in public education, CABL notes there’s much more work to be done.
“Louisiana’s public school students’ average academic achievement is behind that of their peers in many other states,” reads the agenda. “Our state’s dynamic economy cannot sustain growth and provide high-skilled, high-pay careers and professions for young graduates and citizens without more education and training at all levels. Chronic problems that affect people and communities such as unemployment, poverty, crime, and our brightest leaving for other states won’t improve unless people have stronger educational opportunities. Business and economic growth depend on it.”
