Education
In March 2009, Sen. 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. Sen. 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.
Reopening Schools
In 2007, Sen. 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, Sen. 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. Charter schools have played a major role in this redevelopment, and Sen. Landrieu continues to secure federal funds for this model of education.
Increasing Federal Education Funding for Hurricane-Affected Areas
In May 2007, Sen. Landrieu included in a Supplemental Appropriations bill $30 million to assist colleges and universities recovering from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. 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. Sen. 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 Sen. 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
Sen. 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. Of will receive about $1.2 billion for education.
About $709 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. These services include public safety and law enforcement, services for the elderly, and people with disabilities or requiring childcare. These flexible funds can also be used for school modernization, renovation or repair.
About $12 million is slated for Educational Technology State Grants, which will help 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 will also benefit 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, Sen. Landrieu has been successful in securing funding for specific projects at Louisiana universities. In March 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009, which included $22 million in funding for agricultural, job training, health care facility, law enforcement and other projects at Louisiana colleges and universities.