NEWS

Want input into our schools? Start here

Bonnie Bolden

bbolden@thenewsstar.com

Want to make sure you have input in Louisiana's implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act? Don't miss this meeting.

The Louisiana Association of Educators is hosting as feedback session for parents, teachers, school employees and community members of Monroe and surrounding areas 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Main Branch of the Ouachita Parish Library, 1800 Stubbs Ave., Monroe. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m.

LAE is hosting sessions around the state to ensure the feedback of community members, parents and teachers is taken into consideration in the state's implementation of the law.

In July, State Superintendent John White came to Monroe and hosted a session for teachers and administrators. The federal act asks how states will provide a fair and equitable playing field for students of all levels, White said, and tries to widen the curriculum.

Already, White said the state is aligning and unifying early childhood education; has raised expectations and aligned K-12 curriculum to reflect that; is bringing new educators into classrooms with a full year of mentoring; is broadening pathways through Jump Start, AP and dual enrollment; and is focusing on historically struggling schools.

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White said teachers have asked for more tools to help special needs and English as a Second Language students and have requested month-to-month assessments that are in line with the annual assessments. Principals of alternative schools, he said, have asked for a different grading system because they are, by nature, different from traditional schools.

Louisiana, White said, has the second-highest low-income percentage of students in the nation with about 70 percent. When looking at the percentages low-income gifted/talented, AP or language immersion students, White said, data show that low-income students are not getting the full benefit of those programs.

White said the state is working to develop a birth-to-college education plan and give teachers better assessment tools to accurately assess students and get them the help they need in earlier grades.

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