LOUISIANA

Lisa Studness & Valerie Wrenholt

Background Information
        In 1995, a charter school bill was presented to the 
Louisiana legislature.  Senate Bill 1305  allowed for the 
establishment of "quasi-public schools that receive some 
public funds but are not bound by traditional public schools 
rules and regulations (Redman, The Advocate, Apr. 21, '95).  
The Council For A Better Louisiana encouraged the Legislature 
to pass the bill after a report by the group concluded that 
the current Louisiana public school system was "outdated and 
requires significant restructuring" (Meyers, Sunday Advocate, 
Apr. 16, '95).  This sentiment was felt throughout Louisiana 
by proponents of the bill.
        Proponents of charter schools, including the Louisiana 
Association of Business and Industry and the Associated 
Professional Educators of Louisiana, believe that through the 
creation of charter schools competition will be brought into 
the educational arena.  Students would benefit from this 
increased competition because poor quality schools could not 
survive in a competitive market.  Also, because more choices 
would be available, charter schools would have to offer 
innovative curriculums which focus on student performance and 
achievement in order to attract interest from parents.  These 
innovations might enhance Louisiana's traditional public 
school system.
        Opponents of charter schools claim that charter schools 
are a step toward a voucher system in Louisiana.  A voucher 
system is opposed by many because they perceive it as a way 
that public funds could be spent by parents to pay tuition at 
private schools.  State Sen. Larry Bankston, a proponent of 
charter school legislation countered this concern when he 
said, "This (charter school legislation) is not the first 
step to vouchers.  This is the last defense against them" 
(Redman, The Advocate, Apr. 21, '95).
        Another concern of charter school opponents is that 
charter schools in Louisiana would "skim" the better students 
from the public schools leaving the public system with 
students more difficult to educate.  This would then make the 
charter schools look better.  Louann Bierleirn, who prepared 
the Council For A Better Louisiana report, said, "'They 
(charter schools) can't pick and choose kids'" (Redman, The 
Advocate, Apr. 21, '95).  Although this may be true nothing 
up to date has been included in the bill which will expressly 
promote charter schools set up to target students who are at 
risk of failing or dropping out.  However,  charter schools 
would be subject to all established state regulations on 
desegregation, including enrolling low income students in the 
same percentage as local public schools.

Legislation
        A state Senate committee in Louisiana approved Senate 
Bill 1305, a charter school bill, on April 20, 1995.  The 
bill must now go to the full Senate for consideration.  The 
current bill would allow for up to eight charter schools to 
begin operating in the state.  The legislation allows for 
local control, but there will still be many state 
restrictions in place.  Local boards would be able to approve 
five year charters.  Groups seeking charters must include at 
least three people holding Louisiana teaching certificates.  
These groups could include a group of three or more teachers, 
a group of ten or more citizens, a non-profit, public service 
organization, a business, or a Louisiana college.  Public 
schools could also transform into charter schools with the 
approval of two thirds of the faculty and two thirds of the 
parents present at a public meeting.  Charter schools would 
be evaluated periodically in order to determine whether they 
are in fact providing quality education.  After satisfactory 
assessment these charter applications could then be renewed 
for five more years.
        Under the legislation charter schools would still be 
accountable under many state regulations.  The charter 
schools would have to periodically assess student performance 
through standardized tests and other statistical information.  
Statewide minimum graduation requirements would still be 
required.  General health and safety codes must be 
maintained.  All laws for open meetings and open records 
would also be required.  Per student funding would be equal 
to the average per pupil expenditure of the local district.  
Charter schools could also solicit funds from other sources 
including grants and loans.  At least seventy-five percent of 
the teachers in charter schools must be state certified.

Conclusion
        The legislation in Louisiana was approved by the Senate 
Education Committee and will likely be passed by the full 
Senate.  The bill is comprehensive and adequately addresses 
the concerns of many interest groups.  The bill encourages 
innovation by charters schools, but a complete separation 
from the Louisiana public school system is impossible because 
of the restrictions that have not been lifted from the 
charter schools.  If the eight charter schools initially 
established work well, many more charter schools may be 
integrated into the Louisiana's public school system.