03/26/2024
Last year, we asked teachers and support staff to take a series of surveys to gauge the priorities and concerns of educators in Louisiana. The results were not surprising. Your top concerns have not changed over the past decade.
Now is the time to stay vigilant! In the coming weeks, we will ask you to take multiple actions on the issues you told us are most important to you: a fair workload, a permanent pay raise, and discipline and safety.
COMPENSATION: Where is your raise??
LFT was the only organization to testify before the House Appropriations Committee last week, reminding legislators of their promise of a permanent pay raise to you and urging them to keep it. The governor has said there is money in the budget for another $2,000 teacher and $1,000 support staff stipend, but no line item ensures the money will actually make its way to your paycheck.
Last month, BESE said the legislature would not provide a permanent pay raise to teachers and support staff because of the 2025 fiscal cliff; they could only propose another one-time stipend.
Despite arguments that a permanent raise is not fiscally responsible, numerous bills for education savings accounts, tutoring programs, charter expansion, and other high-dollar agenda items are making their way through the legislature.
The House has yet to indicate if they will use the $197 million for teacher pay or another purpose. Please look for an action alert to make sure your legislator knows you want them to keep the promise made to you!
WORKLOAD: Several bills have been filed to remove non-core instructional requirements and mandated teacher training. BESE will have the final authority on training and instructional requirements and the authority to add additional requirements. Those in our schools are grateful for any attempt to lighten educators' workloads and appreciate any time given back to them. LFT will work with legislators as these bills move through the process to ensure your voice is heard.
✅SB 205 Miguez which would require additional compensation for teachers who work overtime or beyond their regular duties under specific circumstances, advanced through the Senate Education Committee last week and will be heard by the Senate on Monday, March 25.
DISCIPLINE: The Right to Teach Free from Distraction
✅HB 322 Stagni was filed in response to the frustration of educators who are disheartened with having their efforts to provide a quality learning environment for all students hindered because the current law is not followed or they are discouraged from taking disciplinary action to correct a student who violates school rules or interferes with an orderly education.
This bill has yet to be scheduled in House Ed. LFT is concerned that due to the shortened legislative session, it will not make it through the legislative process in time. Please be on the lookout for an action alert to tell your legislator that this bill is important to you!
School Support Staff:
✅SB 213 Jenkins provides for secure and adequate time to heal from injury for support personnel injured while helping students. This ensures that school staff injured while assisting students in preventing danger or injury have enough time to recover properly. Currently, teachers receive a full year to recover while support staff only receives 90 days. It has not been scheduled in Senate Education.
Read the full update:
Last year, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers asked teachers and support staff to take a series of surveys to gauge the priorities and concerns of educators in Louisiana. The results were not surprising. Your top concerns have not changed over the past decade: Compensation, Workload, and Disciplin...
