News

How bad can things get for public education in Louisiana? As the old song says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”

Undeterred by the objections of teachers, the House of Representatives approved Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature education legislation, HB 1368 by Rep. Jane Smith (R-Bossier City), by a 68-20 margin. The fight to stop this misleading and mislabeled bill will now move to the Senate, with its first stop at the Education Committee.

Universal Placement International to repay $1.8 million in illegally charged fees.

(Baton Rouge – April 16, 2010) A Louisiana Workforce Commission administrative law judge has ruled in favor of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers and Filipino educators who were victims of an illegitimate California-based recruiting firm.

LFT president: Recruiter’s behavior “disgusting and an affront to basic American values.”

(Baton Rouge - April 6, 2009) Filipino teachers in Louisiana saw the wheels of justice take a turn on Monday when the state’s Workforce Development Commission held a hearing on the validity of contracts that allegedly violate state and federal law.

(Baton Rouge – February 23, 2010) Governor Bobby Jindal should rethink budget plans that would force local school boards to shoulder millions of dollars of expenses that should be paid by the state, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today

(Baton Rouge – February 9, 2010) Instead of imposing even more top-down regulations that suggest little concern for the perspective or expertise of classroom educators, Gov. Bobby Jindal should work with educators as he crafts his legislative agenda for the coming session, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today.

Big changes are coming to public education. Will teachers guide those changes, or stand on the sidelines watching?

The $247.9 million budget shortfall predicted for the coming year could easily be covered by proceeds from the state’s Tax Amnesty Program if Gov. Bobby Jindal were not so focused on further cuts to higher education and health care.

(December 21, 2009) The state’s largest teacher union intends to be fully engaged in how a new federal education program’s funds will be used in Louisiana’s classrooms, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today.

Like the mythological phoenix rising from the ashes, attacks on our public retirement systems are once again making news. At the request of Speaker of the House Jim Tucker (R-Terrytown), the joint Senate and House Committees on Retirement are meeting to discuss “reforming” the retirement incomes of teachers, school employees and other public servants.