No Time for Excuses

An excerpt from the Urgency of Now publication:

"Louisiana’s public education system is undoubtedly poised for dramatic improvement. As we consider our progress and the potential impact of our current efforts, we recognize our state is on the verge of a remarkable transformation. At the same time, we must concede the fact that Louisiana remains at or near the bottom of many national education measures. More importantly, we must accept the harsh reality that, for decades, Louisiana failed to provide millions of its citizens with even the most basic skills, and that 200,000, or one third, of our students are still performing below grade level. These truths have inspired us to re-work, revise and realign teaching and learning so that our students thrive in school and are prepared to succeed in the 21st Century.

Louisiana’s reform movement began more than a decade ago with the implementation of the state’s accountability program, followed by the creation of the state-run Recovery School District (RSD), which is designed to transform low-achieving schools. Both programs have garnered national attention. Louisiana’s accountability system is ranked among the best in the country, and the RSD has become a model for other states and countries as they seek to turnaround failing schools. And Louisiana is the only state in the nation to make significant improvements in closing the educational achievement gap between black and white students in fourth-grade English Language Arts and eighth-grade math. Furthermore, this past year represented the largest overall achievement gain by students in the past decade, including double-digit gains by students in the RSD.

In 2007, we embraced a vision to create a world-class education system for every student in Louisiana by increasing academic achievement for all students, eliminating the achievement gaps between the races and classes and preparing students to be effective workers in a global marketplace. In 2010, with the aim of focusing our work on achieving stated outcomes, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) adopted nine Priority Goals:

1. Students enter Kindergarten ready to learn.
2. Students are literate by third grade.
3. Students will enter fourth grade on time.
4. Students perform at or above grade level in English Language Arts by eighth grade.
5. Students perform at or above grade level in math by eighth grade.
6. Students will graduate on time.
7. Students will enroll in post-secondary education or graduate workforce-ready.
8. Students will successfully complete at least one year of post-secondary education.
9. Achieve all eight Critical Goals, regardless of race or class.

We have articulated these objectives, and we intend to focus our work on supporting local districts and schools as they attempt to meet the needs of our students. Our hope is that we can count on the great people of Louisiana - inside and outside the education community - to invest their time and resources to ensure every child in our state receives the education they deserve.

We are creating a new version of public education in Louisiana – one that is centered first and foremost on the interest of our students. But together we must work smarter and faster. And we must focus our collective efforts and resources on what works. Our children cannot wait for us to make incremental progress or implement half-hearted changes. The time is now."

Please click here to ready the entire Urgency of Now document.