LOUISIANA

Plan shifts more money into classrooms

Friday, June 17, 2005
Dan Kyle

We face a national crisis in education as American children continue to graduate from high school less prepared for tomorrow's jobs than our competitors in other industrialized nations. Why? One big reason is the declining percentage of education funds that we spend in the classroom on teachers, textbooks and computers.

Nationally, we spend only 61.3 percent of our education money in the classroom, where it can have the most impact on our children's education. The number of states that spend 65 percent in the classroom has declined from seven to two in just the last two years.

Louisiana is below average on this critical measurement -- spending only 60.27 percent of education funds in the classroom. We spend too much money on administrators at central school board offices and too little on the teachers who make a difference in the future of our children.

If there is one area in which Louisiana citizens should demand accountability from their government, it should be in education. Louisiana citizens have consistently responded to calls from our leaders to support public education, yet the money isn't reaching our classrooms.

Since the 1975-76 school year, the number of students in our public schools has declined from 871,233 to 702,004 while the number of school employees has increased from 80,330 to 101,451 and state funding for education has increased 400 percent. If teacher pay had gone up 400 percent during that time, Louisiana would be above the Southern regional average, but more of that money instead went to wasted bureaucracy.

The Legislature has taken a big step toward reversing this problem by asking the Board of Secondary and Elementary Education to implement the First Class Education plan and require that 65 percent of our education money be spent in the classroom. This seemingly modest proposal would put an extra $248 million into Louisiana's classrooms and could raise our teacher pay above the Southern average -- all without a tax increase.

The First Class Education plan is part of a national effort to require that 65 percent of education funds be spent in the classroom. Here in Louisiana, the effort is being championed through a joint effort of the Republican Legislative Delegation and the Louisiana Republican Party.

If BESE fails to implement the plan this year, we're going to work very hard to get a constitutional amendment on the ballot next year and give Louisiana voters the option to make our classrooms a priority.

To date, Gov. Kathleen Blanco has yet to endorse the First Class Education plan. She chose instead to pursue $180 million in unnecessary new taxes -- only some of which would actually have been used to provide teachers with a small raise. That tax has been defeated for the time being, but some Democrats are already calling for a special session to try again.

One thing is certain -- Gov. Blanco hasn't given up on pushing new taxes while refusing to implement accountability procedures that would make sure that our education dollars are spent in the classroom. The governor, in violation of her campaign pledge not to raise taxes unless the state was "desperate," has been pushing a tax increase to throw more money at education without requiring any accountability, while ignoring the waste in our public schools.

The Republican Party, on the other hand, is united in pushing for a real plan to raise teacher pay, eliminate the waste in our school systems, and provide a better education for Louisiana children.

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Dan Kyle, Louisiana chairman of First Class Education, is deputy chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party and former state legislative auditor.

“First Class Education” Passes Louisiana Legislature

Upwards of $200 Million More for Classroom; Calls on BESE Board to Implement 65% Classroom Provision

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 2005

BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Senate yesterday passed HCR 77, a provision backed by First Class Education (FCE) urgently requesting the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to mandate all Louisiana school districts to spend 65 cents of every education operational dollar in the classroom. The measure passed 36-0, with one senator absent. The Louisiana House also recently passed the provision without objection, and the measure does not require action by the Governor for final enactment.

"The State Senate’s vote in favor of this provision is an outstanding step forward for public schools, teachers and students in Louisiana. By re-prioritizing the funding so that 65 cents out of every education dollar goes to the classroom, upwards of $200 million will be available to increase teacher pay and to put more computers and other supplies in the classroom – all without a tax increase,” said Patrick Byrne, Advisory Chair of First Class Education.

FCE is calling on the BESE to immediately implement the 65% requirement, vowing to move for a constitutional change on the '06 ballot if it fails to do so.

Currently, just 61 cents go directly to the classroom in Louisiana public schools according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). By NCES definition, “in the classroom” includes teachers, textbooks, classroom supplies, arts & music, special education instruction and athletics. The four percent increase will redirect $200 million into Louisiana classrooms for teachers and students.

The First Class Education for Louisiana effort is part of a national movement with a goal of passage in every state by the end of 2008. If the First Class Education plan were enacted in every state, an additional $14 billion a year would be directed into America’s classrooms – enough to provide every student in America a new desktop computer. Further information about the national First Class Education organization can be found at (www.firstclasseducation.org).

“First Class Education” Passes Senate Committee

HCR Directs BESE Board to put 65 Cents of Every Education Dollar “In the Classroom”
Adds More Than $200 Million to Louisiana Classrooms WITHOUT a Tax Increase

June 2, 2005

BATON ROUGE – The Louisiana Senate Committee on Education unanimously approved HCR 77 today, the “First Class Education” plan which will add more than $200 million to Louisiana’s classrooms without a tax increase.

The plan calls on the BESE Board to require school districts to spend a minimum of 65 cents of every operational education dollar in the classroom for teachers and students. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) June 2004 report only 61.1% is going to classroom instruction in the state.

HCR 77 now awaits final approval by the full Senate which adjourns June 23.