Jindal pushes charter expansion, tenure revamp

Gov. Bobby Jindal pitched an education agenda today that puts him squarely at odds with teacher unions and traditional public school leaders, pushing to create a statewide voucher program, revamp tenure laws and make it easier to create new charter schools. The Republican governor has made overhaul of Louisiana’s elementary and secondary education system the centerpiece of his plans for the upcoming legislative session that begins in March. Jindal says the state must restructure its education system to lift itself out of poverty and to attract jobs. “We can’t wait for another generation of students to graduate from high school unprepared for the work force and higher education—or to drop out before they even get there,” Jindal told the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Louisiana scores dismally on national education tests for reading and math, and 44% of the public schools receive a “D” or “F” in the state’s grading system based on state accountability standards. In one of the most extensive changes proposed, Jindal wants to expand a voucher program in New Orleans that funnels state tax dollars to private schools. Poor students at any school graded at a “C” level or below would be able to get a voucher—or a scholarship, as Jindal calls it—to go to a private school. Read the full story by The Associated Press here; See the complete outline of Jindal’s reform proposal here; and read the complete transcript of Jindal’s speech today at the governor’s website here.