Monday, I witnessed the swearing-in of Bobby Jindal as the 55^th governor of our great state. These are exciting times in Louisiana, as we see change reverberating from the Delta to the Bayou. Along with our new legislature, I am looking forward to a productive relationship with our governor. I was particularly interested in his remarks about his emphasis on change. In a number of instances, Governor Jindal commented in his inaugural address that “It can change! It must change! It will change!”

In Louisiana, our 4^th grade reading results are 50^th in the nation. We have one of the toughest challenges that a state can face. We have a significant poor population that is educable, but it takes more skill and effort to make that happen. No, it is not easy – it is difficult. But it is not impossible. Teaching poor children effectively and having them proficient in reading at the 4^th grade is DOABLE. Even with poor students who come from difficult backgrounds, it is DOABLE – if we are diligent and determined. It can change! It must change! It will change!

When Louisiana’s School Performance Scores were released on September 6^th, they showed that the majority of schools across the state failed to reach their Growth Targets, the state as a whole remained essentially flat, 70 schools were academically unacceptable and 11 of those schools were eligible for placement into the Recovery School District. The news was disappointing, but it spurred my executive staff to create a plan of support for the 100 schools that need our help the most. We held two summits to pair high performing schools with high priority schools (those achieving the lowest in the state, so that one could learn from the other). We have since given technical support from the LDoE to every one of those 100 High Priority Schools, and this will continue through the end of the school year. It is our way of demonstrating that it can change! It must change! It will change! It is our way of saying we believe that we can help and that we can make a difference in supporting struggling schools.

We are implementing that plan now, and I will talk more about it in future blogs. However, among those 100 schools are 11 that are eligible for immediate State takeover. These 11 schools have failed academically for 5, 6, 7, 8 or even 9 CONSECUTIVE years. The children who go to school there simply don’t have much of a chance of success in the classroom, and therefore don’t have a chance in life. I don’t blame the teachers or administrators who are trying. I actually don’t blame anyone. I simply say that it must come to an end. There must be a better way for these students. Either the district must provide it (and it is their obligation to do so), or someone else must. The biggest challenge – BELIEVING THAT POOR CHILDREN CAN SUCCEED. If we do not believe they can succeed, they surely will not. There are examples in our own state where poor kids succeed in large numbers. (I will talk about this later.) We must replicate that success in all of our schools, particularly in these 11 schools. We believe at the LDoE that schools can replicate success, but we must be focused on ensuring that all children are literate in each grade. Indeed, one of our major areas of focus is that we assure that they are literate and mastering numeracy skills by the 4^th grade. If we don’t, we are constantly fighting a rear guard action in all the later grades.

I have spoken with the superintendents of each of these 11 schools so that I understand the challenges each of these schools face, the history of each and the plans now underway to bring them back to the path of success. I have also begun what will become a series of discussions with the school board members who represent these districts. This week, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will continue its discussion of whether the state can serve these schools and their students better. I expect a decision to be made in February or March.

As I have repeatedly said, I do not have an abiding desire to take over these schools. However, I must see a firm commitment and a solid plan to do what it takes to make these schools successful. The students deserve nothing less.

As our great new governor reminds us…”It can change! It must change! It will change!”

I can’t start a blog entry today without saying congratulations to the LSU Tigers. The eyes of the nation have been on Louisiana for weeks as the team overcame the odds to play for the number one spot in the nation. They delivered and so did the city of New Orleans which, by all accounts, hosted two major back-to-back bowl games without a hitch. Now, let the celebration begin!

I couldn’t help but think that there is a lesson here for us. Just like LSU and Coach Les Miles, we have a lot of national “experts” watching our progress as we work to improve the education of students across our state. A lot of those experts have underestimated our ability to bounce back from adversity and to create something so special that it can literally change the lives residents across our state.

We won’t have a crystal trophy to raise or confetti raining down from the rafters when School Performance Scores are announced next fall, but my hope is that we can crown our teachers and students champions as we celebrate progress in the classroom and a first step toward creating a world-class educational system in Louisiana.