News

SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, NOW WHAT?

Earlier this month Governor Edwards announced that schools would remain closed through the end of the school year. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has provided some guidelines for local school districts, but for the most part administrators, teachers, and school employees have had to make it work in an impossible situation.

I want to personally thank all of you for your courage and resolve. We’ve seen teachers and para-educators scramble to build remote learning programs out of thin air in a matter of hours. Food service workers and custodians are risking their own health to ensure children don’t go hungry. Nurses continue to sacrifice to ensure their patients get quality care. I don’t know where our state would be without your dedicated perseverance.

LFT is working to compile an up to date list of resources available to families in Louisiana dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and school closure. Enclosed you will find information about 

• Meals for Kids
• LDOE Policy Updates
• Internet Discounts
• Online Education
• 211
• Utilities
• Unemployment 
• and More!

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On Friday, Governor John Bel Edwards proclaimed that all public schools in the state shall close beginning Monday, March 16th until Monday, April 13th and any gatherings of more than 250 people shall halt. Additionally, he has suspended the requirement for 63,720 instructional minutes per year.

The AFT has done numerous information sessions since the coronavirus emerged, and we’ll do the largest telephone town hall to date this Saturday at 1 p.m. Central. We will highlight what we know, provide our recommendations and answer your questions. You can sign up for the town hall here. In order to join the call, you must R.S.V.P. by midnight on Friday.

In March, BESE met to approve an MFP proposal with $80 million dollars in additional funding. They also examined the Jump Start program, talked about the process to hire John White's replacement and more. 

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This Lundi Gras we kick off National Public Schools Week!

Join LFT, AFT and the whole Learning First Alliance to celebrate and honor our nation’s public schools.

Nine out of 10 students in the United States attend public schools, so let’s call attention to the great work being done to give our nation’s children every opportunity to grow and succeed.

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After last year’s contentious elections, January brought our new and old representatives together to begin their work on behalf of the Louisiana voters. Governor Edwards was sworn in at a ceremony on the steps of the Capitol on January 13^th. On that same day the House and Senate convened an organizational session.