Latest Weather Blog
Louisiana Senate task force examines how colleges and universities are funded
Related Story
BATON ROUGE — Louisiana's K-12 public school enrollment has dropped over the past decade, and that’s one trend now pushing state lawmakers to take a closer look at how the state funds higher education.
According to the Louisiana Department of Education, fewer K-12 students are in the state today than 10 years ago.
In 2016, about 723,000 students were enrolled in Louisiana public schools. By 2025, that number had fallen to more than 665,000.
The state Senate created a task force earlier this year to review how money is divided among higher education institutions. Higher education leaders were set to meet to analyze how universities and colleges are funded and whether the formula needs to change.
"Essentially it is making sure politics are removed, and things are funded according to this formula as opposed to a politician's will," said Stephen Procoppio with the Public Affairs Research Council.
Part of the conversation centers on making sure universities are preparing students for new and emerging industries. Leaders pointed to the Meta data center under development in Richland Parish, a Hyundai steel mill under construction in Ascension Parish and more emerging projects around the state capitol.
According to Leaders for a Better Louisiana, construction in the state, especially in the capital region, is growing. That growth, combined with increasing demand for an educated workforce, has lawmakers working to stay ahead of the boom.
Procoppio said policymakers need to improve all facets of education in the state or risk falling behind economically.
"We have a lot of challenges here in the state. We have high levels of poverty, lower levels of education, and that is at all levels of education," said Procoppio. "That is why we need to do a better job from early childhood, K-12, higher education and also post-education, making sure people are getting the training they need."
News
