Background
The Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and the Louisiana Department of Education (Department) are committed to ensuring that every student is on track to be successful in post-secondary education and the workforce through their comprehensive plan – Louisiana Believes. Louisiana Believes is built on the premise that Louisiana students are just as capable as any students in America, and that those closest to children – parents and teachers – are best positioned to help students achieve those expectations. Based on this belief, the Department is focused raising expectation and educational outcomes for students for Louisiana students in five major focus areas:- Unification of child care, Head Start and Pre-Kindergarten to ensure that all students are ready for Kindergarten
- Alignment of standards, curriculum, assessments, and professional development to provide students and teachers with the tools they need to meet new standards
- Preparation of every aspiring educator under the guidance of an effective mentor, in the classroom, on the job
- Creation of opportunities for every graduate through Jump Start career education and college-level Advanced Placement or dual enrollment coursework
- Focus on students in persistently struggling schools by transforming those schools and creating new options for their families
- Preparation: Through the Believe and Prepare program, teacher preparation providers and school districts are partnering to recruit and prepare Louisiana’s next generation educators.
- Certification: Effective educators are at the heart of every school and classroom.
- Workforce: Through support and recognition programs, Louisiana is elevating the education profession and supporting school districts in meeting Louisiana’s educator workforce needs. This includes ensuring that all students have access to excellent educators.
Goals and Objectives
The campaign will accomplish the following goals, with particular focus on areas of the state participating in the federal Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grant:- build prestige of the teaching profession in Louisiana;
- increase the number of Louisiana high school graduates and current college students who are pursuing education degrees;
- create awareness of the Believe and Prepare program and new education preparation approaches that provide aspiring teachers with more on-the-job learning opportunities and support from veteran, high-quality teachers; and
- create awareness of the quality of Louisiana educator preparation programs and the value of a degree in education.
