WBRZ - Baton Rouge

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• Teacher quits instructing amid La. teaching controversy

  June 2, 2013 7:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Derrick Petit tells former LSU classmate Tanesha Craig. He broke the news to her today that he is leaving behind a profession they both dreamed of back in college. "I feel like I've done what I can for the students in the classroom," he says. Petit... more »

• Ascension to hire 50 new teachers

  May 23, 2013 8:40 AM

  GONZALES - Ascension Parish is looking to hire 50 new teachers. The school board is poised to hire the new teachers in an effort to ease staffing levels due to continued growth. Funds needed to hire the new teachers are listed in the school district's 2013-14 budget, which... more »

• Future of school funding in question

  May 8, 2013 10:39 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Lawmakers working on next year's budget now have new questions to answer when it comes to school funding. The Louisiana Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the state can't use its normal school funding formula for its voucher program. Critics of the program said doing so took... more »

• Teachers, staff return to school after drinking allegations

  April 23, 2013 11:27 AM

  SHREVEPORT - Three school days after six Northwood High School teachers and staff members were suspended amid allegations of drinking at a school-sponsored event, Caddo school officials say the employees will return to work. The Times reports the accusations surfaced last week after parents complained the female employees were drunk... more »

• Teachers among those being laid off at area school system

  April 16, 2013 10:19 PM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE- A number of West Feliciana Parish School System employees were told Tuesday, they were being laid off. Eighteen workers, mostly teachers, were told their terminations were due to a lack of money and a drop in enrollment. In March, Superintendent Hollis Milton sent a reduction in... more »

• Teachers' group blasts recommendation for armed staff

  April 2, 2013 1:24 PM

  WASHINGTON - The American Federation of Teachers is denouncing a suggestion that schools train selected staff to carry weapons, and that each school should have at least one armed security officer. The head of the teachers' group calls the idea a "cruel hoax" that won't protect children and schools.... more »

• West Feliciana school board freezes teacher pay

  March 20, 2013 8:06 AM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - A $1.5 million budget shortfall has forced the West Feliciana Parish School Board to freeze teacher salaries, cut administrative pay and propose a retirement incentive program. The board's secretary and finance manager, Ruthie Davis, told the board Tuesday night that retirement funding costs have skyrocketed in the... more »

• State to use $5M to turn around failing schools

  March 14, 2013 9:11 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - State Superintendent John White says the state will use $5 million in federal professional development funds to train educators interested in turning around failing district-run schools. The "Believe and Succeed" grants cover a year of advanced training for the new school leaders. White announced the initiative in... more »

• Education reform ruling victory for teachers group Play Video

  March 4, 2013 6:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Federation of Teachers is applauding the judge who struck down the third part of Gov. Jindal's education reform, ruling it unconstitutional. President of LFT Steve Monaghan says, since the law has been enacted, it's created tension among the state's educators. "It was a... more »

• St. Tammany school board sets bond issue election

  February 22, 2013 9:05 AM

  COVINGTON- The St. Tammany Parish School Board has called a May 4 election seeking voter approval for a $135 million bond issue and expanding use of some tax money to include employee salaries and benefits. School leaders said the measures are necessary to support teachers in the classroom and meet... more »

• More teachers retiring after education reforms Play Video

  January 15, 2013 6:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE- More teachers are leaving the profession than ever before as the number of educators retiring increased more than 25 percent. Some think it's because of the governor's education reforms, which would evaluate teachers' effectiveness based on student performance. "Right now, what is perceived to be very... more »

• Rate of Louisiana teachers retiring spikes

  January 14, 2013 9:14 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The number of teachers retiring jumped more than 25 percent as the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal pushed an overhaul of public education that changes the rules on how teachers are evaluated. That's according to the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana. The number of retirements from... more »

• Open house held for Sandy Hook students

  January 2, 2013 8:40 AM

  MONROE, Conn. - The children who escaped last month's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., have been welcomed with their parents at a school in a neighboring town that was overhauled specially for them. And their new school is being renamed for their old one. Newtown Schools... more »

• Sandy Hook students, teachers head back to school

  January 1, 2013 10:39 AM

  NEWTOWN, Conn. - Classes are starting Thursday at a repurposed school for students who survived a shooting rampage three weeks ago in Newtown, Conn. Desks have been taken to the new building in nearby Monroe along with backpacks and other belongings left behind in the chaos following the Dec. 14... more »

• More funerals today for victims of school shooting

  December 19, 2012 1:25 PM

  NEWTOWN, Conn. - For a third straight day, funeral processions are rolling through a grieving Connecticut town. The first of today's funerals in Newtown for victims of Friday's shootings at an elementary school was for 7-year-old Daniel Barden. He was the youngest of three children, and his family says he... more »

• Louisiana teachers do not invest in gun company

  December 18, 2012 10:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The retirement system for teachers in Louisiana said it does not invest money in a company tied to a gun manufacturer. Questions about specific holdings surfaced in Louisiana, after one of the largest teacher retirement systems in the country, California State Teachers' Retirement System, announced it had... more »

• LA jury awards $4.5 million to Filipino teachers

  December 18, 2012 3:10 PM

  LOS ANGELES- A federal jury in Los Angeles has ordered a company to repay $4.5 million to Filipino teachers who paid large fees to obtain U.S. jobs through a placement agency. The jury on Monday found that Los Angeles-based Universal Placement International and its owner, Lourdes Navarro, failed to properly... more »

• Education reform package in court again Play Video

  December 17, 2012 4:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Federation for Teachers is challenging another part of Governor Jindal's education reform package, this time taking aim at the constitutionality of a portion dubbed the 'talent act.' The act deals with teacher tenure, hiring, firing and evaluations. New rules allow the Superintendent to hire... more »

• Conn. school likely closed for months

  December 17, 2012 10:34 AM

  NEWTOWN, Conn. - Authorities say the Connecticut elementary school where a gunman shot to death 26 people will be closed indefinitely while the crime is investigated. State police Lt. Paul Vance said Monday at a news conference that it could be months before police turn the school in Newtown, Conn.,... more »

• East Feliciana teacher bonus decision delayed

  December 5, 2012 7:34 AM

  CLINTON - The East Feliciana Parish School Board has deferred action on a move to deny bonuses to teachers no longer employed in the parish but who would be qualified for the extra pay for their performance in a special program last school year. The board voted 8-4 Tuesday... more »

• Ruling expected this afternoon in voucher lawsuit

  November 30, 2012 10:48 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Closing arguments ended a short time ago in the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Bobby Jindal's new school voucher program. Judge Tim Kelley recessed the court until 2 p.m., at which time he plans to give his ruling. Teacher unions and school boards say... more »

• Parents get ready for school voucher fight Play Video

  October 11, 2012 10:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A lawsuit to stop the school vouchers goes to court next month. But parents of students benefiting from the vouchers met at Hosanna Christian School to look at ways to fight the suit. Hosanna has a large number of students on the voucher program and... more »

• Student enrollment drops, employees cut in EFP Play Video

  September 28, 2012 6:00 PM

  CLINTON - Students in East Feliciana Parish school are leaving the parish. As a result, 20 school employees could lose their jobs. The district lost more than 100 students this year, resulting in a decrease of $800,000 in state money for the year. To make up for the loss,... more »

• Romney says he won't gut teachers' power to strike

  September 25, 2012 2:15 PM

  NEW YORK - Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says he wouldn't stop teachers from being able to strike. The issue came to a head this month when thousands of teachers went on strike in Chicago, hometown to President Barack Obama. Romney blasted the unions while Obama stayed neutral. Romney says... more »

• Recall efforts against Jindal, Kleckley fall short

  September 20, 2012 10:14 AM

  BATON ROUGE - A group of public school teachers has failed in its efforts to recall Gov. Bobby Jindal and House Speaker Chuck Kleckley. Angie Bonvillain and Brenda Romero, the two Calcasieu Parish teachers leading the effort, told The Associated Press in an e-mail Thursday that they didn't get enough... more »

• Chicago teachers suspend strike, classes to resume

  September 18, 2012 5:20 PM

  CHICAGO - Chicago teachers are suspending a seven-day strike in the nation's third-largest city, a move that will send thousands of students back to classrooms. The union's House of Delegates voted Tuesday to suspend the strike after learning details of a tentative contract agreement. A proposed settlement was presented to... more »

• Talks to end Chicago teacher strike make progress

  September 13, 2012 10:19 AM

  CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union president says a deal to end the city's first teachers' strike in 25 years is close, but she's pushed back her timeline a bit. Just hours after predicting students could be back in class by Friday, Karen Lewis said it might be Monday instead.... more »

• Chicago teachers strike grinds into third day

  September 12, 2012 7:56 AM

  CHICAGO - The public teachers strike that has halted classwork and upset family routines across Chicago is grinding into a third day with no sign of an imminent deal. Union leaders say they will meet this morning to review a new proposal from school board negotiators that addresses all... more »

• New tax allows teachers to resume receiving raises

  September 12, 2012 7:41 AM

  ST. FRANCISVILLE - A half-cent sales tax voters approved in April will allow West Feliciana Parish school employees this year to regain their annual step raises for the first time in two years. Although the general fund budget for 2012-13 the school board does not include a cost-of-living raise,... more »

• Union: No deal as talks continue

  September 11, 2012 2:40 PM

  CHICAGO - The Chicago Teachers Union says no deal has been reached in ongoing talks with negotiators from the Chicago Public Schools. Representatives from the union and the district returned to the bargaining table Tuesday as the teachers' strike entered its second day. More than 25,000 teachers are on strike... more »

• Romney: Chicago teachers turning backs on students

  September 10, 2012 12:07 PM

  CHICAGO - Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney says Chicago teachers are turning their backs on thousands of students and President Barack Obama is siding with the striking teachers. Romney, in a statement released Monday hours before he was set to land in Chicago for fundraisers, says he is disappointed by... more »

• Parents, students consider options as teachers strike

  September 10, 2012 10:43 AM

  CHICAGO - Parents and students are figuring out their options on the first day of a Chicago teachers' strike. The district is keeping some schools open, and they're serving breakfast and lunch, but there's no instruction and it's only for a half-day. At one high school, a handful of students... more »

• Supreme Court refuses voucher program injunction

  August 16, 2012 5:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Supreme Court has refused to stop the launch of Gov. Bobby Jindal's statewide voucher program, which began this month. The high court denied an injunction request by teacher unions and school boards to stall the voucher program as they challenge whether it is constitutional. A... more »

• Teachers return to West Feliciana classrooms thanks to new tax Play Video

  August 10, 2012 5:18 PM

  ST FRANCISVILLE - In West Feliciana Parish, students are returning, and thanks to a new tax many students are too. A half-cent sales-tax went into effect months ago. And administrators say it's already saved dozens of teachers jobs, and helped lift a salary freeze. Baines Elementary School Principle... more »

• LAE asking schools to wait before using voucher money

  July 27, 2012 10:24 AM

  BATON ROUGE - An attorney for the Louisiana Association of Educators sent a letter asking voucher schools to hold off on using money until the legal challenge is finalized. The association's president said the latter hopes to prevent schools from having to pay back dollars spent if courts rule... more »

• Obama proposes $1B for science, math teachers

  July 18, 2012 7:07 AM

  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration wants to reward high-performing teachers. Today, it'll unveil a plan to create a corps of elite master teachers in science, technology, engineering and math. The $1 billion program will reward teachers with a $20,000 a year stipend. more »

• Voucher lawsuit set for Oct. 15 hearing date

  July 17, 2012 5:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An Oct. 15 date has been set for arguments in a lawsuit by teacher unions and local school boards challenging the constitutionality of Gov. Bobby Jindal's statewide voucher program. Judge Tim Kelley chose the hearing date Tuesday in a meeting with lawyers for both sides in the... more »

• New Roads teachers look for other jobs after hiring freeze

  July 11, 2012 9:58 AM

  NEW ROADS - Some teachers in Pointe Coupee Parish say they're looking for a new job after the School Board announced salary freezes for the second year in a row. In a June meeting, the board approved the freezes for employees at the 2010-2011 step rate. Olivia LaBorde... more »

• More teachers filing suit to stop education changes Play Video

  June 21, 2012 3:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Teachers say new education laws touted by Governor Bobby Jindal do not support them, despite what Jindal's administration may say, and they're filing a lawsuit to stop the laws from going into effect. The Louisiana Association of Educators plan to file the suit tomorrow morning in... more »

• Louisiana Believes plan unveiled Play Video

  June 18, 2012 11:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Teachers make the rules in Louisiana now. It's part of sweeping changes to education that start in the Fall. It's called Louisiana Believes and it was announced Monday night. The state says the idea is to allow teachers to create, not just comply and educators are... more »

• Teachers union challenging new education laws

  June 7, 2012 10:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Louisiana Federation of Teachers will hold a news conference at 11am in front of the 19th Judicial District Court in Downtown Baton Rouge to discuss a lawsuit to be filed against the state and Governor Bobby Jindal. It targets the administration's recently signed laws changing... more »

• Teachers protest cuts at charter school by cutting class

  April 25, 2012 1:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Teachers are cutting class Wednesday at Crestworth Learning Academy in Baton Rouge in protest of salary cuts. More than half of the 22 teachers arranged to take the day off after their pay was cut by 20 percent by the charter schools board members Tuesday night.... more »

• 3 school workers claim Mega Millions

  April 10, 2012 3:20 PM

  BALTIMORE - They call themselves "The Three Amigos", two public school teachers and a school administrator in Maryland who are sharing part of the jackpot from last month's record Mega Millions drawing. Together, they are the owners of one of the three winning tickets sold across the country for the... more »

• Senate panel Oks Jindal education bills Play Video

  March 29, 2012 5:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The Senate Education Committee has approved the two major pieces of Gov. Bobby Jindal's education agenda. One establishes a statewide private school voucher program and paves the way for easier creation of charter schools. Another overhauls the role of school boards, superintendents and principals in the hiring... more »

• Caddo to vote on green cards for Filipino teachers

  March 19, 2012 7:43 AM

  SHREVEPORT- The Caddo Parish School Board will vote this week on whether to sponsor 35 teachers from the Philippines for the "green card" that allows permanent U.S. residency. The board is expected to approve the plan. It says the teachers are well into their fourth year in Caddo Parish Schools,... more »

• Teachers rally on steps of State Capitol Play Video

  March 14, 2012 6:39 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A sea of red flooded the steps of the State Capitol as hundreds of educators showed their stern opposition for parts of Governor Jindal's education reform plan. As early as 7:00am, teacher and principals wearing red shirts from across the state took their places as they... more »

• Parents frustrated with bus cancellation Play Video

  March 14, 2012 5:02 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Nearly 650 students at St. George Catholic School in Baton Rouge had to find a different way to get to school Wednesday. The East Baton Rouge Parish School System buses they normally ride to get to class never ran Wednesday morning. That's because school system... more »

• Louisiana teachers protest at State Capitol Play Video

  March 14, 2012 10:28 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Protests are underway at the State Capitol by teachers from school districts across Louisiana making their voices heard by state lawmakers. The teachers are making sure lawmakers hear their concerns as they currently debate several education reform bills. News 2's Michael Shingleton is outside the... more »

• Teachers rally on Capitol steps

  March 14, 2012 7:44 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Teachers at the Louisiana State Capitol are rallying today against Governor Jindal's education reform bill. Three of the bills that make up most of Jindal's education agenda will be heard for the first time in the House Education Committee at 8:30 a.m. Governor Jindal is... more »

• Parents split on school closure for teachers

  March 13, 2012 10:06 PM

  BATON ROUGE- No school today has parents in East Baton Rouge Parish shrugging their shoulders for an alternative to their childrens' classrooms. Classes were canceled after so many teachers requested Wednesday off to protest Governor Bobby Jindal's education reform plan at the Capitol. A House committee takes up the... more »

• Parents upset EBR school cancelled Wednesday Play Video

  March 13, 2012 6:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE-- Many parents are in a bind, after East Baton Rouge schools called off Wednesday classes. The decision came around 9:00 Tuesday morning. Nearly a third of teachers in East Baton Rouge Parish put in substitute requests for Wednesday. School system leaders say the roughly 1,050 educators will... more »

• Jindal reform on fast track through legislature, teachers' union upset

  March 12, 2012 10:29 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Teachers' unions across the state are calling Governor Bobby Jindal irresponsible for sending education reform bills into committees so early on in the session. Teachers were planning to take their opinions about the governor's changes to legislators well in advance of any votes, however, conversations are scheduled... more »

• Teachers, districts react to Governor's education plans, rush to approve

  March 12, 2012 6:25 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Jindal told lawmakers on the first day of the legislative session he wants education reform to be priority, and he wants the bills tied to it on the fast track to becoming law. A few of those bills call for changes in the way personnel is... more »

• Teachers union offers competing education revamp

  January 27, 2012 12:51 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - One of the most vocal critics of Gov. Bobby Jindal's education proposals, the Louisiana Association of Educators, is suggesting competing plans to improve teacher quality and boost performance at failing schools, saying that Jindal's ideas are on the wrong track. The LAE offered its counter-proposal Friday,... more »

• Jindal meets with parents, teachers about education reform

  December 22, 2011 10:15 PM

  BATON ROUGE- Governor Bobby Jindal got an earful from those on the front lines of education Thursday, parents and teachers. He met with the groups as part of his stakeholder meetings to shape the legislative package he'll be revealing next month. Jindal wanted them to chime in on what... more »

• Jindal calling for parents' perspectives on getting, keeping effective teachers Play Video

  December 8, 2011 10:14 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The governor's on a crusade to get better teachers into classrooms, and he wants you to be involved. He hopes it will fix the education system in Louisiana. This week, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education decided teachers will be evaluated on student performance. One-third... more »

• Jindal visits with teachers, students in Houma

  December 5, 2011 3:28 PM

  HOUMA - Gov. Bobby Jindal is visiting schools around Louisiana to talk with teachers, principals and students about ways to improve the state's education system. The governor started his visits Monday with a stop at Dularge Middle School in Houma, a high performing school in Louisiana's accountability system. Eighty-four... more »

• More than 1,000 apply for few DeSoto teaching jobs

  July 2, 2011 1:02 PM

  MANSFIELD, La.- More than 1,000 people have applied in recent months for a handful of available teaching jobs in the DeSoto Parish school system. "We have more applications than we know what to do with," schools Superintendent Walter Lee said. DeSoto Parish is the highest paying school system... more »

• EBR School Board adopts budget, cuts $33 million

  June 20, 2011 10:30 PM

  BATON ROUGE-  Larger class sizes, school closures, canceled year-round schooling and no more teacher stipends are all the result of more than $30 million in cuts to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System budget for next school year. The school board gave a unanimous thumbs-up to the spending... more »

• Judge won't dismiss Filipinos' trafficking case

  May 26, 2011 1:29 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge in California has refused to dismiss human trafficking accusations in a lawsuit filed by teachers recruited from the Philippines to work in Louisiana. The lawsuit, filed last year, charges a California company illegally required the teachers to pay thousands of dollars in fees... more »

• Trial for fired school workers begins in New Orleans

  May 23, 2011 4:28 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A long-awaited trial in a class action lawsuit that could affect thousands of former New Orleans school employees who lost their jobs after Hurricane Katrina. A former Orleans Parish School System official was the first witness called to testify Monday afternoon in civil court in New... more »

• Teen pressing for repeal of La. Science Education Act

  April 22, 2011 6:34 PM

  BATON ROUGE - One Baton Rouge Magnet High School student is leading the charge in changing what can be taught in Louisiana high school classrooms. Zack Kopplin supports Senate Bill 70 which repeals a 2008 law that allows teachers to add supplemental lesson plans that can include other theories... more »

• EBR School Board votes to keep Lab Academy open

  April 21, 2011 5:37 PM

  UPDATE 6:40 p.m. - The school board has voted to keep EBR Lab Academy at Istrouma High open. We'll have more details live at 10 p.m. BATON ROUGE - Many items, including an entire school, are on the chopping block at tonight's East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting.... more »

• School Board holds retreat

  January 22, 2011 6:22 PM

  BATON ROUGE- The East Baton Rouge School Board held a rare retreat Saturday to discuss their plan moving forward in the new year. The retreat featured team building exercises and an opportunity for new and old board members to get know each other's strengths and weaknesses. "We hope to... more »

• CFO: EBR schools face 'worst cuts ever'

  December 14, 2010 6:27 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Teachers, supplemental programs, learning materials-- nothing is off the table when it comes to cuts that will have to be made to East Baton Rouge Public Schools next year according to James Crochet, Chief Financial Officer of the system. "This fiscal year and next fiscal year... more »

• MFP shortage could solidify federal money switch for schools

  November 15, 2010 9:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - An increase in public school students means an increase in the state's money woes. There are 9,000 more students in classrooms than the state planned for, and because school districts get paid per-student, the state now has to find $42 million to pay for them. The... more »

• College students disagree with school money shift

  November 12, 2010 9:23 PM

  BATON ROUGE- College students say they don't want to fight with elementary schools to keep universities safe from budget cuts. The state got $147 million to help K-12 school districts hire and pay teachers, but the governor wants to use that money to help fill-in next year's anticipated budget... more »

• Teachers union "outraged" over funding switch

  November 11, 2010 3:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE – The president of Louisiana’s teachers union said the organization is “outraged” over the redirection of $147 million to shore up higher education cuts. “School districts around the state have based their budgets on the promise of this funding,” said President Steve Monaghan of the Louisiana Federation of... more »

• Parts of EBR school tax plan could go broke

  November 4, 2010 10:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge School District is facing more bad news about its tax plan. The district's financial folks said sales taxes will get worse before they get better, and if more isn't done to bring in money, the balances for two of its three propositions... more »

• ULM nursing building as good as new

  October 11, 2010 5:28 AM

  University of Louisiana at Monroe nursing students and teachers are back in a building drenched by Hurricane Gustav. It took nearly $3.1 million to repair the auditorium, classrooms and several laboratories in the three-story building. The electrical and lighting systems are better than they were before Gustav, and tile has... more »

• LSU faculty, students face off with chancellor over budget cuts

  September 28, 2010 10:25 PM

  The financial future of LSU took center stage as the chancellor faced off with faculty and students at a forum Tuesday. Faced with a panel of five and a room of 200, LSU Chancellor Michael Martin took on the tough financial situation facing the school one question at a time.... more »

• Lawyer: Unions causing flap over Filipino teachers

  September 21, 2010 10:23 AM

  An attorney for a California company accused unions of igniting the controversy over Filipino teachers recruited to work in East Baton Rouge Parish and other public-school systems. Universal Placement International is appealing a Louisiana Workforce Commission hearing officer's order to refund $1.8 million in fees collected from more than 360... more »

• Feds giving state $147 million for education

  September 14, 2010 7:04 AM

  U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says Louisiana will get $147 million in federal funds to aid teachers and other educators. Duncan said Monday that the funds stem from a $26 billion federal bill that backers called a state stimulus measure. The legislation includes a $10 billion education fund to support... more »

• LSU postpones faculty cuts

  September 8, 2010 5:58 PM

  Some faculty at LSU got more time and won't lose their jobs in January. The chancellor delayed lay-offs until next August. Earlier this year, LSU notified more than 200 non-tenured faculty they could be fired in January of next year. Now, the university extended the possible end date even... more »

• More of state's 4th, 8th graders earn promotions

  August 14, 2010 9:51 AM

  State education officials say more of Louisiana's fourth- and eighth-graders have advanced to the next grade after passing the state's high-stakes LEAP test. Students take the LEAP test to measure abilities in English, math, science and social studies, but performance in the English and math portions determine whether they pass.... more »

• Vermilion teachers lose 13th check

  July 16, 2010 7:24 AM

  Teachers and staff in Vermilion Parish will not get a 13th supplemental check. School district chief financial officer Phillip Sellers says the move was necessary to balance the budget in the wake of declining oil and gas and sales tax revenues over the last year. Sellers says the recommendation was... more »

• Acadia Parish approves school budget

  July 6, 2010 6:19 AM

  The Acadia Parish School Board has unanimously approved a $68.59 million general fund budget for 2010-11 that projects a $1.357 million shortfall. Business Director Mike Leonards said the district is facing increased expenses and less revenues. Leonards expects the district to be faced with $2 million in increased costs for... more »

• Pastorek asked for stipend veto

  June 29, 2010 6:45 AM

  Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek says he asked the governor's office to veto $16 million in his budget for salary stipends for teachers, counselors, social workers and others with national certifications. Senators added the stipends to the budget bill, but Gov. Bobby Jindal stripped the spending plan with his line-item... more »

• School budget cuts 63 positions

  June 23, 2010 7:02 AM

  The East Feliciana Parish School Board has approved scaled-down budgets and a reduction in employees because of consolidated schools. Last week a judge approved combining the Clinton and Jackson high school student bodies in Jackson and the two middle schools' students in Clinton. About 63 positions will be eliminated and... more »

• Latest from the Capitol

  June 20, 2010 8:12 PM

  A proposal to revamp the statewide retirement programs for new hires, particularly rewriting the pension plans for new teachers, received final passage with a 93-3 House vote Sunday. House Bill 1337 by Rep. Joel Robideaux, I-Lafayette, would restructure the programs for new employees who start in January, changing the... more »

• EBR breaks down budget, layoffs possible

  June 14, 2010 9:51 PM

  Sudden state funding cuts, a required rise in retirement expenses and declining sales taxes are causing the East Baton Rouge School District to face a $30 million operating gap. The district proposed Monday night to close that gap by shedding construction, maintenance and training costs, while keeping health insurance and... more »

• WBR board approves $1.8 million in cuts

  May 20, 2010 6:19 AM

  The West Baton Rouge Parish School Board has approved $1.8 million in cuts aimed at helping offset an expected budget shortfall during the 2011 fiscal year. Superintendent David Corona says 17 teacher positions and five paraprofessional jobs will be eliminated through attrition. In addition, two school-based administrative positions will be... more »

• Teacher evaluation bill to get House debate

  April 28, 2010 4:01 PM

  A bill pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal that would rewrite the evaluation process for public school teachers is headed to debate in the Louisiana House. The proposal would rate teachers in part on student test scores and make it easier to dismiss them if they fail repeated reviews. The... more »

• Business ordered to pay $1.8M to Louisiana teachers

  April 16, 2010 2:18 PM

  A business that brought hundreds of Filipino teachers to Louisiana to teach in public schools has been ordered to pay $1.8 million in placement fees. Officials say the California-based Universal Placement Inc. operated without the proper Louisiana license. The Louisiana Federation of Teachers says about 360 teachers are... more »