SB32 by Senator Mills is also sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators and would greatly improve the teacher and principal evaluation systems in Louisiana. The bill requires that the evaluation system be revamped to greatly reduce the effect of the highly inaccurate VAM ratings on both teachers and principals.
SB 32 would remove all requirements in the law for VAM ratings of educators, and would instead substitute multiple measures of student growth in achievement as part of the educator's evaluation. VAM could still be used but it could not count for more than 25% of the educator's evaluation. Here is a John Oliver video about the absurdity of VAM ratings and standardized testing in America.
Please read the full bill by clicking on the bill number above, because it contains many other important changes in the law. My opinion is that this bill would greatly improve the teacher and principal evaluation systems and would minimize the damaging effects of using VAM to overrule all other important measures of teacher effectiveness. If you agree with me, please send an email to each of the Senate Education Committee members asking them to vote "yes" for Senate bill 32.
SB 54 by Senator Broome is a well intentioned bill but in my opinion would be a huge mistake because it would tie the hands of our school principals in maintaining order in schools and in requiring that parents to take responsibility for the behavior of their children at school. Please consider asking the senators on the Senate Education Committee to vote "no" on SB 54.
This bill would prohibit all suspensions and expulsions of students in grades K-3 unless their behavior presents a threat to the physical well being of others. I can assure my readers that there are many extremely disruptive behaviors that do not necessarily rise to the level of being a threat to the physical wellbeing of others that is absolutely not acceptable in a school environment. Principals need to have the full authority to utilize both in-school and out-of-school suspension to correct this behavior and to require parents to take responsibility for their children.
Our elementary schools are not funded at near the level it would take to provide counselors and social workers and therapists that would be needed to control all of the unacceptable behavior of children that interferes with the education of other children. Sometimes there may be mental health issues involved that schools are not equipped to handle. It is time we stop making educators totally responsible for the unacceptable behavior of some children (a small minority).
Ask the Senators on the Education Committee to vote "no" on SB 54!
Please send your emails to the following Senators on the Senate Education Committee, either today or early tomorrow morning.
| Senator Conrad Appel (Chairman) 721 Papworth Avenue Suite 102A Metairie, LA 70005 | (866) 946-3133 appelc@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Eric LaFleur (Vice-Chairman) P.O. Box 617 Ville Platte, LA 70586 | (337) 363-5019 lafleure@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Dan Claitor 320 Somerulos Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802 | (225) 342-7602 claitord@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Elbert L. Guillory 633 East Landry Street Opelousas, LA 70570 | (337) 943-2457 guillorye@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Jean-Paul J. Morrell New Orleans Lakefront Terminal Building 6001 Stars & Stripes Blvd., Suite 221 New Orleans, LA 70126 | (504) 284-4794 morrelljp@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Mike Walsworth 4007 White's Ferry Rd Suite A West Monroe, LA 71291 | (318) 340-6453 walsworthm@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Mack "Bodi" White 808 O'Neal Lane Baton Rouge, LA 70816 | (225) 272-1324 whitem@legis.la.gov |
| Senator Page Cortez (Interim Member) 101 W. Farrell Road Bldg. 5, Suite 100 Lafayette, LA 70508 | (337) 993-7430 cortezp@legis.la.gov |
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