Tag: Louisiana Schools

Louisiana Has Seven 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools

It was recently announced by the United States Department of Education that seven schools in Louisiana have been named 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools, as per this news release from the Louisiana Department of Education. Out of the 297 schools recognized by United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona as being a National Blue Ribbon School for 2022, the seven Louisiana schools were located in Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, St. Landry, and St. Tammany parishes.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley commented on the achievement of these Louisiana schools by saying, “Louisiana’s National Blue Ribbon Schools represent the level of quality and choice available to families in our state. Congratulations to these schools and thank you to these educators for cultivating an environment where the top priority is student success.”

Being named a 2022 National Blue Ribbon School is one of the highest recognitions in the field of education, as it is based on the school’s overall academic performance or its progress in closing achievement gaps. Of the Louisiana schools recognized, three Louisiana schools, in particular, were designated as being “Exemplary High Performing.”This exemplary award recognizes those schools that rank in the top 15% of schools in the state on both academic indicators and graduation rates. Additionally, these schools must also be in the top 40% for subgroup performance, and the ranking system includes graduation rates, school performance scores, and subgroup scores.

The three Louisiana schools recognized as being “Exemplary High Performing” were Caddo Parish Schools’ South Highlands Elementary Magnet School, Baton Rogue’s LSU Laboratory School, and Baton Rouge and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana’s St. James Episcopal Day School.

Additionally, four schools in Louisiana were recognized as showing “Exemplary Growth,” meaning that these particular schools showed significant subgroup growth. Subgroup growth is measured by a school’s ranking in the top 15% for one or more of their subgroups while also ranking in the top 40% of the state for each subgroup. The ranking system takes into account graduation rates, percentage of growth toward mastery for reading and mathematics, and school performance scores.

The four Louisiana schools recognized as showing “exemplary growth” were Lafayette Parish Schools’ Myrtle Place Elementary, St. Landry Parish Schools’ Grand Prairie Elementary School, Calcasieu Parish Schools’ Frasch Elementary School, and St. Tammany Parish Schools’ Folsom Elementary School. 

With its 39th cohort, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has awarded approximately 10,000 awards to 9,000 hardworking schools. Schools with National Blue Ribbon status are recognized by the exemplary practices they showcase, and the award itself “affirms and validates the hard work of students, educators, families, and communities in striving for – and attaining – exemplary achievement.”

The U.S. The Department of Education annually invites nominations for the National Blue Ribbon Schools award from each state’s top education officials as well as the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education, and private schools’ nominations coming from the Council for American Private Education.

Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona commented on the achievement by saying, “I applaud all the honorees for the 2022 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for creating vibrant, welcoming, and affirming school communities where students can learn, grow, reach their potential, and achieve their dreams. As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, we know that our future will only be as strong as the education we provide to all of our children. Blue Ribbon Schools have gone above and beyond to keep students healthy and safe while meeting their academic, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These schools show what is possible to make an enduring, positive difference in students’ lives.”

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LEAP, Attendance Requirements Waived For 2019-2020

In an article in Louisiana Weekly, it was revealed Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards had proclaimed a waiver for standardized testing (LEAP) state-wide, as well as A-F letter grades and attendance requirements for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

Expected by local school leaders to promote student mental health and well-being by unburdening them of concerns of grades, attendance and schoolwork, this decision also allows schools to work to explore online learning in these rapidly changing times. The U.S. Department of Education will have to approve some of the waivers, with Edwards noting, “While I’m going to suspend state law, those suspensions are really only effective when we get the waiver.” He indicated that he did not think this would be a problem and that he expected that other states would be seeking the same suspension of requirements on assessment.

Edwards stressed the need for swift, sweeping changes, stating, “The bottom line is this, based on all the information we have, we have two weeks to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and we can only influence that if we are doing what we are being asked to do. Please understand, this fight against coronavirus is going to last longer than two weeks. We don’t want to look like Italy two weeks from now.”  This decision to waive LEAP testing comes after the Governor announced a month-long closure of schools earlier in the month of March to attempt to slow the spread of the virus in The Pelican State.

Several schools nationwide are quickly adapting to closures and the need for online/remote educational options. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom relayed that “few, if any” schools would be reopening in spring 2020.

Knowing families are still invested in their children’s education, schools in the state continue to offer online and take-home learning for students, even with the waived mandates on LEAP testing, attendance and grading.

In New Orleans, fifth-grade teacher at Morris Jeff Community School, Matthew Tuttle, starts morning classes daily with his students in a live video conference.  He relayed, “There’s something to be said with continuing instruction in the face of complete changes of routine, lifestyle and everything. There is something to knowing that your teacher is still going to be there, if by phone, or computer screen. That is something kids can hold on to in an unpredictable time.” Tuttle feels that the waivers will allow for teachers to focus on what really matters, educating students without the added pressure of attendance, testing and grading. The waivers are a relief on both students and teachers in these unprecedented circumstances.

Crescent City Schools CEO Kate Mehok said their schools’ distance-learning plan was changing by the day.  Currently, they are focused on ensuring students needing computer, phone and internet access have it.  “Even though we’ve not officially closed schools for more than just four weeks I think we anticipate this could last longer.  Any decision we would make to end school, my guess is we would make that decision together. I am open to hearing from others and working with the district and Orleans to make sure we’re doing the right thing for kids. So whatever that is, I imagine we’ll do it together,” she said.

In a statement from NOLA Public Schools, the district “is working with our partners to assess how this decision will impact the 2019-2020 school year as the situation develops over the coming months.”

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