Monday, August 23, 2010
Cowen Institute Presents on K-12 Funding at BESE Meeting
We frame the issues impeding the success of the public education in New Orleans and develop and advance research-based policy and legislative solutions. We continuously inform leaders in local, state, and federal government of the issues relevant to the city’s system of public schools. Our team actively works with policymakers, administrators, and community leaders to advance solutions through advocacy efforts. This role is critical given the decentralized approach to operating schools in the city. Our efforts ensure the success of every public school in the city by advocating for adequate and equitable funding, safe facilities, an effective governance model, and strong accountability of schools.
Cowen Institute Presents on K-12 Funding at BESE Meeting
On August 18, the Cowen Institute’s Tara O’Neill made a presentation to BESE on how Louisiana’s state funding for schools compares to other southern states’ funding levels. She had previously presented the same information to the Senate Finance Committee. During the 2010 Regular Legislative Session, the first MFP resolution adopted by BESE included the standard 2.75% increase in baseline funding for schools. When BESE adopted this resolution, it was clear that it would face strong opposition in the legislature due to the state’s fiscal difficulties. The Cowen Institute prepared an analysis that showed that, when an unweighted average is used, the state contribution to K-12 education in Louisiana is below the southern regional average, contrary to what many officials have claimed. The analysis presented to the legislature and BESE is available
on our website.
back to top Federal Education Jobs Funding Update
In our last Legislative Update we reported
that Congress was poised to finally pass a bill to provide $10 billion to states to save or create education-related jobs. The bill was subsequently passed and signed into law by President Obama on August 10. This legislation would give a much needed boost to Louisiana’s schools this year, with the state receiving approximately $147 million to fund over 2000 teaching jobs statewide. See this post on the Cowen Institute blog for a rundown of the bill.
The story, however, is not over. States must apply to the U.S. Department of Education for their share of the funding, and last week state officials became concerned that Louisiana may not actually qualify. The problem lies in the “Maintenance of Effort” (MOE) provision of the bill, which is designed to ensure that states keep their education funding at or above their levels in recent years, instead of cutting education and using the money for other purposes. Because Louisiana has made significant cuts to higher education in the last few years, we may not meet the MOE requirement. Check out our latest blog post, Edujobs Funding for Louisiana Teachers at Risk
, to learn more about the issue. We hope that state and federal officials can work out a solution, and quickly. The school year has started, and $147 million is a lot to leave on the table when it could be out in our school districts supporting teachers and students.
back to top School Facilities Assignments: The Devil’s in the Details
The Recovery School District (RSD) recently released
its “School Facility Assignments/Recommendations” for its schools. This long-awaited document is in essence the second half of the School Facilities Master Plan, adopted in late 2008. The Master Plan focused only on buildings. The assignment plan details which school programs will occupy the buildings. Although the assignment plan released last week is only a draft, it is a good first attempt at providing clarity to school operators, teachers, students, and parents about where schools will be located. Because the assignment plan contains so many details, we thought it would be a good idea to examine it carefully. Click here for our analysis.
back to top Questions and Answers About the Return of Schools to Local Control
Act 35, the law enacted in the fall of 2005 that enabled the Recovery School District (RSD) to take over most schools in Orleans Parish, instituted an initial period of five years for RSD control. At the end of this period, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education must decide whether these schools should be returned to the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) or remain in the RSD for another five years. We are now entering the 5th year of this period, and Superintendent Paul Pastorek is expected to make a recommendation to BESE in September as to how the schools should be governed for the next five years. BESE will then vote on this item in December. While the law provides a roadmap for this process, there are several details left to be determined. Take a look at our recent brief,
Decision Time: Questions and Answers About the Return of Schools to Local Control, for a review the law and an analysis of what is clear, unclear and what BESE has to do over the next few months leading up to their final decision.
back to top Master Plan Oversight Committee August Meeting
The August meeting of the Master Plan Oversight Committee will be next Monday, August 30, at 6:00 pm, at the offices of the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, 2322 Canal Street. For more information, see this page on the Orleans Parish School Board website.
back to top Understanding Governance Series Continues
The Orleans Public Education Network’s seven-part series, Understanding Governance, winds down this week with its final installment. This week’s presenter will be the Orleans Parish School Board, and the event will be at 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 26, at the Urban League of Greater New Orleans, 2322 Canal Street, New Orleans. For more on the series, click here.
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