Meetings to Receive Feedback to Formulate State’s Plan under Federal Every Student Succeeds Act
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Education today announced a series of statewide meetings this summer to discuss the creation of educational opportunities for students to develop a long-term Louisiana state plan which also aligns with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In the meetings, State Superintendent John White will begin the dialogue with parents, educators, and communities on the opportunities provided under the new federal law and receive feedback on what updates need to be made to the state’s education system. The meetings come on the heels of discussions held in June with education leaders, civil rights advocates, and business and industry leaders on the subject of ESSA.
“Our students are as smart and capable as any in America. They deserve the most ambitious plan we can create,” said State Superintendent White. “As we go through the process of creating this plan, we want to ensure we hear from everyone – including parents, educators, advocates, and business leaders. We need to continue what is working for our students, address areas in which they struggle, and keep their needs and interests front and center.”
The Every Student Succeeds Act was signed into law December, 10, 2015. The ESSA reauthorized the 50-year-old Elementary and Secondary Education Act, revising many provisions of what was known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
Below is a schedule of meetings and locations to be held around the state. All district and school leaders, teachers, parents, business leaders, civic and community leaders, and advocacy groups are encouraged to attend these meetings and share their feedback with the Department.
| Date | Location | Time |
| Tuesday, July 26 | Lafayette Middle School
1301 W. University Ave.
Lafayette, LA | 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
| Tuesday, July 26 | Lake Charles Boston Academy of Learning
1509 Enterprise Blvd.
Lake Charles, LA | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Wednesday, July 27 | Aiken Virtual Program Building
2121 Mason St.
Alexandria, LA | 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
| Wednesday, July 27 | Wanda Gunn Professional Dev. Auditorium
1961 Midway Ave.
Shreveport, LA | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Thursday, July 28 | City of Monroe School Board
2006 Tower Dr.
Monroe, LA | 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
| Friday, July 29 | McKinley Middle Magnet School Auditorium
1550 Eddie Robinson Sr. Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA | 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
| Monday, August 1 | Terrebonne Parish School Board
201 Stadium Dr.
Houma, LA | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Tuesday, August 2 | Fontainebleau High School
100 Bulldog Dr.
Mandeville, LA | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
| Tuesday, August 2 | Woodson/KIPP Central City Academy
2514 Third St.
New Orleans, LA | 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. |
Additionally, the Department will engage members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), Accountability Commission, Superintendents' Advisory Council (SAC), Early Childhood Advisory Council (ECAC), and Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP). Below is a schedule of meetings for those groups. All meetings will be held in the Claiborne Building in Baton Rouge.
| Group | Date |
| Accountability Commission | August 22, 2016 |
| Accountability Commission | September 12, 2016 |
| Superintendents’ Advisory Council | September 15, 2016 |
| Special Education Advisory Panel | September 28, 2016 |
| Accountability Commission | October 17, 2016 |
| Accountability Commission | November 1, 2016 |
| Early Childhood Advisory Council | November 16, 2016 |
| Special Education Advisory Panel | November 16, 2016 |
| Superintendents’ Advisory Council | December meeting TBD |
| Accountability Commission | December 5, 2016 |
| Board of Elementary and Secondary Education | January 17-18, 2017 |
Next Steps
In late summer, following a review of feedback from all engagement meetings, the Department will release a draft framework of Louisiana’s ESSA plan. This draft framework will be available for public consideration on the Department’s website. Over the course of the fall and winter, the Department will continue working with BESE, the Accountability Commission, SAC, ECAC, SEAP members, and other stakeholders to develop policy around the state’s plan. Full implementation of the ESSA will happen in the 2017-2018 school year.
For more information on the ESSA and Louisiana’s plan, please click here.
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