Republican former and Pres.-elect Donald Trump’s stated intentions concerning the federal government’s role in education, if at least partially pursued, would give a huge shot in the arm to Louisiana’s education reform efforts.
In recent decades, Louisiana hasn’t provided much in the way of policy leadership among the states, with the notable exception of education. First under GOP former Gov. Mike Foster, then under one of his implementers (at the level of higher education) then eventual successor Republican former Gov. Bobby Jindal, the state was at the forefront of expanding educational accountability and choice, acting as a pioneer with such things as charter schools, state intervention with failing schools, evaluations of schools and teachers, beefing up curricula, and increasing student expectations. Even as the momentum slowed considerably under Democrat former Gov. John Bel Edwards, who backed the government monopoly model of education with as little accountability as possible, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education narrow majorities typically counter to that and leadership especially from former Superintendent of Education John White and current Superintendent Cade Brumley kept reversal away and growth occurring at the margins. This culminated in recent years with the state escaping the bottom of state rankings in pre-K12 education to its reaching its highest placement ever this year – largely because while Louisiana children held the line in achievement during the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic era, other states’ learners fell back.
And in this year’s legislative session, despite a small reverse at the margins, lawmakers returned to bolder reforms by creating a mild version of education savings accounts. It would provide, in stages, creation of these vehicles that give families control over state dollars designed to educate their children, starting with lower-income households. However, program operation and expansion are dependent upon separate appropriations in a budget environment in the near term that looks very uncertain whether the money would become available.