Education

In March 2009, Senator Landrieu accompanied the new U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, to New Orleans to demonstrate how Louisiana schools can take the lead in driving education innovation nationwide. Before Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans school system had 128 public schools serving 65,000 students. It was among the lowest performing districts in the nation.

In the aftermath of the 2005 storms, the state Department of Education took over 107 “failing” New Orleans public schools that were performing below state averages. Post-Katrina, a smaller, more entrepreneurial system has evolved with 86 public schools, of which more than half are charter schools. The system now serves about 36,000 students, with 69 percent of students enrolled in charter schools – the highest proportion in the country. Senator Landrieu has worked to spur the recovery of hurricane-impacted schools and encourages the innovation that has led to a successful model of education in New Orleans, which can serve as an example for the nation.

Race to the Top

Despite our gains over the past few years, there is more work to do, particularly with about one-third of our students performing below their grade level. But opportunity is knocking, and it’s now time Louisiana schools kick down the door.

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the U.S. Department of Education received $4.35 billion to create a competitive grant program designed to reward best education practices among states.  These “Race to the Top” grants represent an unprecedented investment in innovation and reform in education. Thanks to the tireless efforts of leadership at the state and local levels, Senator Landrieu believes Louisiana is well-poised to win a grant from this fund. The result would be awards of nearly $2 million per Louisiana school. The new regulations on Race to the Top say that stakeholder buy-in is a key component of the criteria to win the grant. It is therefore critical that everybody get on board.  Senator Landrieu is committed to encouraging all Louisiana schools to participate in this program that holds such promise for our state.  

With the additional help of a grant Louisiana has received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to assist with its Race to the Top application, our state has an historic opportunity to take advantage of this funding, and to advance our groundbreaking educational reforms throughout the state and the nation.

Reopening Schools

In 2007, Senator Landrieu included language in the 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to allow school districts impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita to receive a single Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) payment to rebuild schools. Prior to this change, schools districts had to go through FEMA’s complicated Public Assistance program process on a building-by-building basis. She included a similar provision for private non-profit schools, such as Catholic schools, in the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations bill.

Support for Charter Schools

As co-chair of the Senate Public Charter School Caucus, Senator Landrieu has been an outspoken advocate of charter schools. While hurricane damage devastated public school systems in South Louisiana, it also provided an opportunity to rebuild public schools based on innovation and community involvement. For 2010, Senator Landrieu secured $150,000 for the University of New Orleans Public Private Charter program, in cooperation with Tulane University, to continue the work of two universities that have partnered together to bolster the Kindergarten through 12th grade educational system in New Orleans. Charter schools have played a major role in this redevelopment, and Senator Landrieu continues to secure federal funds for this model of education.

Increasing Federal Education Funding for Hurricane-Affected Areas

In 2009, Senator Landrieu secured $12 million in an Omnibus Appropriations for the School Improvement Grant Program which supports schools damaged by the 2005 and 2008 hurricanes.  In 2007, Senator Landrieu included $30 million to assist colleges and universities recovering from the hurricanes. The same bill included an additional $30 million to recruit teachers and principals to work in K-12 schools in storm-affected areas. With a three-year commitment from teachers and principals, the funds can be used for bonuses, housing subsidies, loan forgiveness and other incentives.

Creating a Disaster Loan Program for College and Universities

In the Higher Education Act that became law in 2008, Senator Landrieu ensured colleges and universities devastated by disasters have access to low-interest, long-term rebuilding loans from the Department of Education. Senator Landrieu also successfully fought for this provision to be retroactive for schools impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Gulf Coast Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were able to close on similar low-interest loans as a result of language that Senator Landrieu included in a 2006 Supplemental Appropriations bill that created the Historically Black College and University Capital Financing Program. This program was able to finalize about $375 million in loans.

Securing Recovery Act Funds for Education in Louisiana

Senator Landrieu helped craft the economic Recovery Act, signed into law in February 2009, to create and sustain millions of private sector jobs, strengthen national infrastructure, reduce taxes for families and businesses and prevent education cuts under the stress of tightening state budgets.   
About $911 million was allocated to Louisiana’s State Fiscal Stabilization Fund for local school districts and public colleges and universities. These funds can be used as incentive grants to reward meeting key education performance measures, public safety and other critical education services. Almost 20 percent of these funds are for flexible use to avert budget cuts in education or in other basic state services. As a result of this fund, over 5,100 jobs have been saved and created in Louisiana.  In New Orleans alone, this recovery relief has saved 107 central office and teaching positions in the last year.  This aid has also prevented after school programs, preschools, and literacy programs from closing in our state.

About $12 million has been slated for Educational Technology State Grants, which is helping Louisiana purchase up-to-date computers and software, as well as provide professional development to ensure the technology is used effectively in the classroom.

Louisiana is also benefiting from the $15.6 billion in Recovery Act funds that increase the maximum Pell Grant by $500. This aid will help nearly 11,000 Louisiana students pursue higher education.
Other education funds for Louisiana include about $178 million for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I grants and $57 million in school improvement grants.

Additional Support for Louisiana Colleges and Universities

From her seat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Landrieu has been successful in securing funding for specific projects at Louisiana universities. In December 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act, which included $45.9 million in funding for education, health care facility, law enforcement and other projects at Louisiana colleges and universities.
 

Recently, Sen. Landrieu, with a number of other moderate Democrats, sent a letter to President Obama signaling their commitment to work with the President and the U.S. Congress to enact meaningful reform in America’s public schools that will close the achievement gap and help ensure our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy. To read Sen. Landrieu's letter, click here.