Louisiana Federation of Teachers

Weekly Legislative Digest

Now available on the Web at http://la.aft.org

Check out all things legislative on the LFT’s Legislative Resource Page!

Solidarity wins the day for public employees

Thanks in large part to a strong show of unity among public sector employees, an effort to silence the voices of teachers, school employees and other public servants was stopped in its tracks on Wednesday.

HB 451 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport) was aimed straight at organizations like the LFT, and would have prohibited teacher unions from collecting member dues through payroll deduction. The attempt to decimate unions was pushed by the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and a deep-pockets lobby from Washington, D.C., the National Right to Work Committee.

Rep. Seabaugh and a LABI lobbyist feigned innocence, saying the bill was not intended to harm the unions, but simply to free local agencies from the burden of collecting dues.

LFT President Steve Monaghan called them on their tactic, saying “Don’t pretend we’re not being targeted. The voice you wish to suppress is the voice you don’t want to hear.

Opponents believe the bill was filed as retribution for winning lawsuits against vouchers and teacher dismissal policies, for opposing the way that Common Core and standardized testing have been imposed, for questioning the way the Department of Education develops policies in secret and other issues.

“This is a classic case of overreach,” Monaghan said. “You want to take away the voice of public employees through their unions.”

Several members of the committee spoke up for the employees, noting that payroll deduction is a service offered to numerous vendors, including credit unions, insurance companies and others.

Spokesmen for other unions stood united against the assault on teachers and school employees. Chad Major of the firefighters’ union and Chris Stewart of the police union both spoke against the bill, even though their unions were not targeted.

There was plenty of evidence that teacher unions have the support of their communities, if not of their local state legislator. Red River United President Jackie Lansdale came armed with a Caddo Parish School Board resolution in support of payroll deduction for union dues. One of the school board members supporting the union is also the chairperson of Rep. Seabaugh’s local Republican Party.

When the dust settled, the House Labor and Industrial Relations Committee deadlocked in a 6-6 tie, and the bill failed to win approval.

Senate committee pans Minimum Foundation Program

After hearing opposition from various quarters and support from very few, the chairman of the Senate Education Committee asked the panel to shelve the $3.6 billion Minimum Foundation Program formula.

Sen. Conrad Appel (R-Metairie) who, as chair of the committee is the sponsor of SCR 55, said that he had unspecified “philosophical concerns” about the formula.

Only two witnesses, Superintendent of Education John White and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education President Chas Roemer, spoke in favor of the MFP.

LFT Legislative and Political Director Mary-Patricia Wray joined a group of stakeholders asking the panel to reject the spending plan.

“This plan does not adequately fund what’s needed for our schools,” she said. “It just takes what is in the budget and divides it up. Please vote no and let’s get to work on equitable, full funding for education.”

Wray said the formula approved by BESE does not dedicate a portion of the 2.75% growth factor to teacher salaries, allows unconstitutional spending of public education funds for “course choice” offerings, and diverts some local funds to schools that were not approved by taxpayers.

In addition, she said, changes were made to the formula by Department of Education staff after the MFP was approved by BESE, which puts its legality in question.

If the House and Senate are unable to agree on a way to proceed with the formula, this will mark the second year in a row in which no MFP was adopted.

Under the state constitution, if no MFP is adopted, the spending plan will revert to the previous year’s formula.

In other action, the committee approved SB 179 by Sen. Blade Morrish (R-Jennings). LFT supports the bill, which would incorporate dual enrollment into the course choice program and give local districts the ability to choose providers

Bill reins in BESE’s charter authority

The House of Representatives approved HB 703 by Rep. John Bel Edwards (D-Amite), which is aimed at curbing abuses by charter school operators.

The bill would prevent the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from overruling local school districts rated “A,” “B” or “C” that deny charter school applications.

LFT President Steve Monaghan said that BESE’s approval of charters that are not wanted by local school systems is “a politicized agenda aimed at painting public education as bad and charter school education as good. Neither is necessarily true.”

When the House Education Committee heard the bill, Rep. Edwards called BESE’s actions “the arrogant hand of big government in Baton Rouge, approving charters after they’ve been denied by high-performing school districts.”

HB 703 passed the House by 59 to 40, with six members absent. It will be heard next by the Senate Education Committee. The bill is included in the LFT Legislative Agenda.

Common Core may be shelved for another year

The House Education Committee gave its approval to a bill that will delay the reimplementation of Common Core standardized tests for another year. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has already suspended the controversial PARCC tests for two years.

Supporters said that the three-year transition will give school systems and teachers enough time to prepare for the tests aligned with national standards.

Opponents said the delay is not enough to correct implementation problems that face school districts, however. Vermilion Parish Superintendent of Schools Jerome Puyau told the panel that many districts will not have the technological capacity to properly administer the computer-based tests.

For example, he said, virtually all district computer systems are based on a Windows XP platform which is no longer supported. They will have to be upgraded at great expense before the tests can be administered.

LFT Legislative Director Mary-Patricia Wray said that while the state has suspended use of the controversial Value Added Model basing teacher evaluations on student test scores, and amendment to HB 953 by Rep. Walt Leger (D-New Orleans) allows the Board of Elementary and Secondary education to revamp the Student Learning Target method of quantitative evaluation.

“I don’t know if we can trust BESE to revamp the SLTs” she said. “If there is a change, we need to know what is involved.”

Wray said the LFT is concerned that the bill does not address the penalties incurred by teachers and school districts under accountability laws during the PARCC delay.

HB 953 was approved on a 10-6 vote by the committee.

House okays unexcused absence bill

A bill that would eliminate the data of students who have 10 or more unexcused absences in a semester from the calculation of Value Added Model scores was adopted by the House of Representatives.

HB 533 by Rep. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport) was amended on the floor by Rep. John Bel Edwards (D-Amite) to include Student Learning Targets as well as VAM scores. That is important because VAM is currently suspended while new baseline data is collected. Teachers’ entire quantitative evaluation will be based on their SLTs in this school year and next year.

LFT, which supports the bill, is working on another amendment to include excused absences as well as unexcused absences in the proposed law.

Panel moves diploma bill forward

A bill that would ensure students with exceptionalities can earn a meaningful, appropriate high school diploma was approved by the House Education Committee.

Rep. John Schroder (R-Covington) said his HB 993 “lets them wear their cap and gown proudly” at graduation. Other states, he said, have done away with a “one size fits all” diploma path.

The bill creates a single diploma track with multiple endorsements. It provides that a student who successfully completes an Individualized Education Program is entitled to a diploma. LFT supports the bill, which moves to the House floor for further action.

Senate approves plan to reconfigure Baton Rouge schools

While a bill that would radically reconfigure Baton Rouge schools languishes in the House Education Committee, its mirror image was easily approved by the Senate.

SB 636 by Sen. Bodi White (R-Central) would create new community school councils and give principals greater authority over personnel decisions, as well as contracting for a range of services. In addition to academic responsibilities, each principal would become the CEO of a school, and would have to arrange for transportation, food service, janitorial and maintenance services, and employee benefits such as health insurance.

Over the objection of principals and school board members, the Senate approved the bill by 23 to 12, with four members absent.

Opponents said that the new duties are more efficiently handled by central office administrators. Many believe that the proposed governance system would lead virtually all schools in Baton Rouge to become charters.

SB 636 will now move to the House Education Committee for consideration. A House version of the bill, HB 1177 by Rep. Steve Carter (R-Baton Rouge), was deferred by that committee two weeks ago after hours of often acrimonious testimony. Since then, Rep. Carter has postponed further hearings on his bill twice.

Another bill affecting Baton Rouge schools was defeated on the House floor. HB 1178 by Rep. Dalton Honore (D-Baton Rouge) would have reduced the parish school board from 11 to seven members. It needed 53 votes to pass the House, but only got 51, with 40 members voting “no.”

Second effort at electing state superintendent fails

For the second time, an attempt to make the state superintendent of election was turned back on the floor of the House of Representatives.

HB 127 by Rep. Joe Harrison (R-Gray) would have changed state law to make the superintendent’s job elective rather than appointed by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. In practice, the law hands over appointment of the superintendent to the governor, who exercises considerable control over BESE.

HB 127 failed on a 39-57 vote. Earlier in April, the House rejected Rep. Harrison’s proposed constitutional amendment that would have asked voters to decide if the superintendent should be elected rather than appointed.

College tuition bill advances

The House Civil Law Committee approved HB 222 by Rep. Walt Leger (D-New Orleans), which would prohibit the state from using higher college tuition and fees to offset cuts to state education funding.

State funding for higher education has been cut by hundreds of millions of dollars over the past several years. At Gov. Jindal’s urging, lawmakers have sharply increased tuition and fees to make up for the loss. Many opponents of the practice consider that a tax increase on students and their families.

The committee approved HB 222 without objection. It has already been approved by the Appropriations Committee, and will next be heard on the House floor.

House panel moves issues

Several items were adopted without objection by the House Education Committee:

HCR 21 by Rep. Herbert Dixon (D-Alexandria) asks the Board of Regents to study the feasibility of implementing a college tuition program that allows students to pay their tuition after leaving college.

HB 178 by Rep. Dixon would require appropriate instruction concerning dating violence in grades 7-12 for school employees and provision of information to parents.

HB 179 by Rep. Dixon would require school superintendents to disclose to their boards any contracts of employees who are promoted or employed into a position of higher salary.

HB 407 by Rep. Steve Carter (R-Baton Rouge) would require schools to readmit students to high school who meet certain criteria.

HB 1243 by Rep. Valarie Hodges (R-Denham Springs) would require charter schools to have nondiscrimination policies when hiring nonimmigrant foreign workers.

Retirement bills considered

The Senate Retirement Committee approved HB 6 by Rep. Kevin Pearson without objection. The bill would increase the employer contribution for higher education members of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana who are in the optional retirement plan on a graduated plan.

Supporters say the bill would bring out plan into line with other states and make it easier to attract faculty to Louisiana colleges and universities.

The House Retirement Committee shelved several instruments intended to grant cost of living adjustments to members of state retirement systems.

The bills by Rep. Sam Jones (D-Franklin) were identical to SB 19 and SB 21 by Sen. Elbert Guillory (R-Opelousas) that have been approved by the full Senate and the House Retirement Committee, and have the backing of Gov. Bobby Jindal. The difference is that those are also linked to SB 1225 by Rep. Joel Robideaux (R-Lafayette). Rep. Robideaux’ bill would reduce the number and amount of COLAs in the future

Equal pay verification bill fails

It hasn’t been a good session for proponents of equal pay and fair wages. This week, another equity bill bit the dust in the Senate Finance Committee. SB 548 by Sen. Sharon Weston-Broome (D-Baton Rouge) would have required verification of equal pay practices in public contracts. The bill failed to pass the committee.

The week ahead

Monday, May 4

House Appropriations Committee:

HB 380 by Rep. Bret Geymann (R-Lake Charles) would prohibit the use of state funds for PARCC without legislative authority. LFT is monitoring this bill

HB37 by Rep. Kevin Pearson (R-Slidell) would require the department of education to transfer MFP dollars or unfunded accrued liability directly to the retirement systems, ensuring that charter schools pay their fair share. LFT supports this bill.

HB380 by Rep. Geymann would prohibit use of state funds for implementation of certain state tests, including PARCC, without further legislative approval. LFT is monitoring this bill.

Tuesday, May 6

House and Governmental Affairs Committee:

SB460 by Sen. Robert Adley (R-Benton) would require schools receiving voucher money to maintain separate accounts for such funds, in order to facilitate proper auditing of the money. LFT supports this bill.

Thursday, May 8

House Floor:

HB1, the state’s general budget is scheduled to be debated. LFT is monitoring this process, to ensure that K-12 funding allocations a brought to the same level as last year, and to work for future increases and dedications to salaries for teachers and school employees.

Louisiana Federation of Teachers

Weekly Legislative Digest

Now available on the Web at http://la.aft.org

Check out all things legislative on the LFT’s Legislative Resource Page!

Agreement reached on teacher due process

This statement was released by Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan Friday morning:

The governor’s office has announced that a substitute bill, HB 987, has been introduced and contains language aimed at resolving certain concerns about the process outlined in Act 1 (2012) for disciplining and dismissing teachers.

Since January, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and other stakeholders have worked with the governor’s office to improve the process by addressing our shared concerns.

These discussions included an honest give-and-take and a frank sharing of all perspectives. Our conversations were limited to the sections of Act 1 dealing with the discipline and dismissal procedures (17:441,442, 443, and 444).

The LFT and others expressed our wide-ranging concerns with different aspects of the Act and shared our ideas regarding the sections on the table. The question before us is whether the proposal in HB 987 is a fairer and clearer process than under current law.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers believes that the answer to that basic question is “Yes, it is better.”

We look forward to working with all stakeholders to advance these changes and create a fair review process in those relatively rare instances where teachers may be subject to discipline or dismissal.

The Federation certainly reserves the right to consider- amendments that we believe strengthen the process further. We look forward to supporting the work of the participating stakeholders.

Step taken to curb charter school abuse

Louisiana took a baby step toward curbing abuse by charter school operators when the House Education Committee approved HB 703 by Rep. John Bel Edwards (D-Amite). The 8-7 vote marked the first time that a bill that does anything other than expand charter schools made it out of committee.

The bill would prevent the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from overruling local school districts rated “A,” “B” or “C” that deny charter school applications.

Witnesses from Lafayette told the panel that after their school board rejected charter applications BESE overruled the local officials, and the system lost $7 million in MFP funds as a result.

“It is with a heavy heart,” she said, “that I’ve come to believe the Department of Education wants public education to succeed in my parish.”

LFT President Steve Monaghan said that BESE’s approval of charters that are not wanted by local school systems is “a politicized agenda aimed at painting public education as bad and charter school education as good. Neither is necessarily true.”

In his closing statement, Rep. Edwards called BESE’s actions “the arrogant hand of big government in Baton Rouge, approving charters after they’ve been denied by high-performing school districts.”

The bill is included in the LFT Legislative Agenda.

Baton Rouge school system under legislative assault

In a scenario reminiscent of the destruction of New Orleans’ public schools following Hurricane Katrina, lawmakers have introduced a flurry of bills that some fear will lead to less community involvement and the wholesale charterization of the district.

HB 1177 by Rep. Steve Carter (R-Baton Rouge) mirrors another bill, SB 636 by Sen. Bodi White (R-Central), which was unanimously approved by the Senate Education Committee last week. The bill would create new community school councils and give principals greater authority over personnel decisions, as well as contracting for a range of services.

In hours of testimony, principals told the House Education Committee that they do not want the additional responsibility of contracting for food service, transportation, health care and other benefits, on top of their academic responsibilities.

Federation President Steve Monaghan said that the plan was concocted by the Chamber of Commerce and a University of Washington think tank without input from local educators.

“When will we learn that we won’t reinvent public education if we don’t involve teachers,” he said. “There will be uncertainty and discord.”

Many opponents believe that the school model promoted in the bill will eventually lead to all Baton Rouge schools being turned over to charter school operators.

As midnight approached, Rep. Carter voluntarily deferred his bill until next week.

A second bill, HB 1178 by Rep. Dalton Honore (D-Baton Rouge) would reduce the membership of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board from 11 members to seven. Opponents say they fear it will unfairly dilute community involvement in public education.

School Board member dies suddenly after meeting

In a sad coda to the House Education Committee meeting, East Baton Rouge Parish School Board Member Randy Lamana collapsed and died while walking to his car after the meeting.

The Louisiana Federation of Teachers extends condolences to Mr. Lamana’s family and to his constituents.

Teacher arrest bill vote rescheduled

An LFT-sponsored bill plan to prevent the arrest of teachers at school for minor offenses will be the subject of a vote onThursday, April 24.

HB 1108 by Rep. Terry Landry (D-New Iberia) would require issuance of a misdemeanor summons “for any misdemeanor act allegedly committed during the course and scope of the school employee’s employment.”

The employee would be required to answer a summons and appear in court on the charges. The bill does not apply to serious offenses or injuries to students.

The bill was originally scheduled to be heard on the House floor on April 17. Please click here to send an LFT Action Center campaign message in support of the bill.

Panel deliberates school financing

The House Appropriations Committee began its discussion of Schedule 19 of the state budget, which includes the $3.5 billion Minimum Foundation Program, the state Recovery School District, Department of Education and higher education.

LFT President Steve Monaghan decried the anticipated $55 million shortfall in the MPF, saying that funding issues have created chaos in public education. A report last January said that teacher retirements have spiked by 25 percent.

“The budget drives policies,” Monaghan said, “and those policies are chasing away good teachers. We are asking that the money go to where it will do the most good.”

The chief financial officer for St. Charles Parish schools said that 60 percent of special funding for severely disabled children goes to charter schools and the recovery School District, leaving only 40 percent for traditional public schools.

Two charter bills blocked

Two bills aimed at protecting school districts from some charter school practices were turned back by the House Education Committee.

HB89 by Rep. Gregory Miller (R-Norco) would have required the Minimum Foundation Program to include a line item identifying the amount of money in the formula intended to pay for teacher retirement costs, including the unfunded accrued liability of the retirement system.

About half of the state’s charter schools do not participate in the Teachers’ Retirement System, even though they get the full MFP allocation for students. The bill would have made it easy to see how much money is lost to TRSL because those charters do not participate. The bill failed on a 5-10 vote.

A second bill, HB 184 by Rep. Kenny Havard (R-Jackson) would have prevented charter schools from leasing property formerly owned by the school board to other parties.

Supporters said that some predatory charter operators could use complicated schemes to take advantage of Louisiana’s charter law.

Rep. Havard, who supported the act that expanded charter schools in the state, said he “thought the schools would be non-profit…I would not have supported it if I knew we would be sending millions of dollars to out-of-state corporations.”

The bill failed on a 5-11 vote.

Voucher accountability bill fails

Despite testimony that most of the private and religious schools that accept vouchers comingle their funds and cannot be accurately audited, the House Education Committee rejected a bill requiring fiscal accountability.

State Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera said his office has a “fiduciary responsibility to ensure the proper accounting of taxpayer dollars the same as any school in the public system.” But because some 90 percent of voucher schools don’t keep separate ledgers for their public and private funds, he said, it is not possible to accurately account for the money.

HB 836 by Rep. Joe Harrison (R-Gray) would have required nonpublic schools that accept vouchers to create an accountability system for public funds.

LFT President Steve Monaghan said that accountability should have been built into the law creating vouchers in 2012. Accurate tracking of the way taxpayer dollars are spent “is not an issue (with lawmakers) or this bill would pass,” he said.

The bill was rejected on 5-12 vote.

Panel rejects bills aimed at vouchers

Bills that would have clarified which students are eligible for vouchers did not emerge from the House Education committee this week.

HB 702 by Rep. John Bel Edwards would have removed eligibility for vouchers from students who are enrolled in schools graded “C” by the state. Current law allows children who meet income requirements to use vouchers if they attend schools that the state grades “A,” “B” or “C.”

If the intent of the law is to allow students to leave failing schools, Rep. Edwards said, schools graded “C” should not be included because that is not a failing grade.

LFT President Steve Monaghan took the argument a bit farther, saying that the whole grading system used for schools is inappropriate.

If a grade of “C” means a school is failing, Monaghan said, then it would be logical to make “A” and “B” the only passing grades for students.

The bill was rejected by a 6-10 vote of the committee.

Rep. Edwards voluntarily deferred his HB 702, which would have prevented kindergarten students who have access to an “A” or “B” school from enrolling in the voucher program.

LFT’s good government bills pass House

Two LFT-sponsored bills aimed at making government more transparent and honest were unanimously approved by the House of Representatives.

HB 181 by Rep. Randal Gaines (D-LaPlace) would prevent heads of the various state departments from preventing the grant of injunctions by falsely certifying that such injunctions would create a deficit. The bill will allow for oversight of the Joint Budget Committee before such certifications are submitted to a judge.

HB 322 by Rep. Sam Jones (D-Franklin) would require rulemaking agencies to post information about rule promulgations on their website.

Bill that would arm teachers is resisted

Faced with opposition from all sides, the author of a bill that would allow teachers to carry firearms at school withdrew it from committee consideration.

HB 707 by Rep. Ray Garofalo (R-Chalmette) would create an exception to the law prohibiting weapons on school campuses for educators who have concealed handgun permits and meet other criteria. Rep. Garofalo said he hoped his bill would “send a message to the criminals and crazies.”

LFT President Steve Monaghan joined opponents, including state representatives who are former law officers, in asking that the bill not be allowed to proceed.

Bills that would negate election results deferred

Three bills that would void local tax elections if fewer than 20 percent of voters cast ballots were voluntarily deferred in the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs.

SB 200, SB 201 and SB 517, all by Sen. Bret Allain (R-Franklin)

Return to work bills deferred

Two return-to-work bills were voluntarily deferred by their author in the Senate Retirement Committee.

SB29 by Sen. Mike Walsworth (R-West Monroe) would have allowed diagnosticians and reading specialists to return to work without consequence to their retirement benefit.

Current law limits the salary of returning retirees to 25% of their retirement benefit. If they make more than that, they must forego their retirement check during the time they are employed by a school district.

SB 555 by Sen. Blade Morrish (R-Jennings) would have allowed any retiree 65 or older to return to work without consequence to their retirement benefit. LFT supports both of these bills.

House okays expansion of voucher rebate

A bill that would expand a program that allows tax rebates for contribution to voucher funds was approved by the House of Representatives.

HB 780 by Rep. Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge) had stalled after it was amended to require annual audits of schools that participate in the voucher program. The full House stripped that amendment and passed the bill in its original form. It will next be heard by the Senate Education Committee. LFT opposes the bill.

BESE gives Teach for America a $1 million grant

As the legislature entered one of its busiest weeks, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education convened for its regular April meeting. With a short agenda, the board compressed its committee and plenary sessions into one day.

The Administration and Finance Committee approved a new $1million grant for Teach for America (TFA) to “recruit teachers.”

Dr. Lottie Beebe, Carolyn Hill, and Jane Smith voted against the measure. Walter Lee abstained, and Kira Orange Jones, who is employed by Teach for America in New Orleans, recused herself on that agenda item.

Connie Bradford, Chas Roemer, Jim Garvey, Dr. Judith Moranti, Holly Boffy and Jay Guillot supported the TFT grant. Following the 6-3 committee vote, the full board also approved the measure.

Jane Smith also added an agenda item that would alter the rules of BESE. She would require staff to provide members with physical copies of technical amendments to motions prior to a vote. Department staff was directed to come back with a plan to comply at the June meeting.

Following an executive session, the board announced that Superintendent of Education John White had a satisfactory annual evaluation.

The week ahead

Monday, April 21

Senate Finance Committee:

The Senate Finance Committee will discuss the Department of Education’s allocation in the proposed Executive budget.

Tuesday, April 22

House Appropriations Committee:

HB 222 by Rep. Walt Leger (D-New Orleans) is a Constitutional Amendment that would prevent the supplanting of state funds for tuition and fee increases at higher education institutions. LFT supports this bill.

Wednesday, April 23

House Health and Welfare Committee:

House Health and Welfare may hear a series of instruments that would expand Medicaid in Louisiana to cover nearly 400,000 uninsured citizens, bringing $15billion in federal funds to Louisiana over the next ten years. LFT support these instruments.

Senate Education Committee:

The MFP resolution is expected to be on the docket.

House Education Committee:

HB 1177 is expected to be back on the agenda

Thursday April 24

House Labor Committee:

HB 658 by Rep. Barbara Norton (D-Shreveport) and HB 956 by Rep. Julie Stokes (R-Kenner) and Senator Sherry Buffington (R-Shreveport) deal with equal pay for women. LFT supports both instruments

House Retirement Committee:

HB 1225 by Rep. Joel Robideaux (R-Lafayette) would make it more difficult to fund the account that pays for COLAs, and decrease the amount of each COLA that can be paid out. LFT opposes this bill and is expecting some amendments to be releasedon Monday the 21^st.

SB21 and SB19 by Sen. Elbert Guillory (R-Opelousas) would grant COLAs to current retirees of the Teacher’s and School Employee’s retirement systems. LFT supports these bills.