Parents throughout the state want education equity, a better system of evaluating schools and a strong sense of community at those schools, a new statewide report from the Louisiana Association of Educators says.
As The Advertiser reports, the statewide study comes after LAE hosted meetings across the state to gather feedback on the new federal Every Student Succeeds Act. More than 750 people participated in the meetings this fall.
ESSA will replace No Child Left Behind. Each state must develop its own plan to measure student progress and help students achieve more academically.
Some major themes that emerged across the state, according to LAE, include more parental involvement, rating school quality and success, school funding, resource equity, teacher preparation, testing and improvement for struggling schools.
Many participants said they are concerned about the amount of testing in schools, and how it may affect learning time, creativity, critical thinking and innovation in the classroom.
Others said they want school report cards to show more detailed information about school performance.
“Participants felt that the state’s current letter grade system only reflects the economic status of the community rather than the true academic quality of the school,” the report said.
LAE plans to present the report to the Governor’s Advisory Council on ESSA.
Through the summer and early fall, the Louisiana Department of Education also hosted meetings throughout the state to gather feedback on ESSA. Those meetings drew more than 1,000 participants, according to the department.
