GO VOTE!

TODAY IS ELECTION DAY - GO VOTE!

Today, November 2^nd, is Election Day! Make sure to get out and vote. Here is some important information you can use to ensure you'll be ready to vote for LAE Fund for Children and Public Education's recommended candidates.

LAE Fund for Children and Public Education recommends:

• Charlie Melancon for U.S. Senate
  
• Joseph Cao for U.S. Congress 2^nd Congressional District
  

Election Day voting

Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Please remember that identification is required:

• A driver's license,
  
• A Louisiana Special ID, or
  
• Some other generally recognized picture ID that contains your name, address, and signature. 
  
• Voters who have no picture ID may bring a utility bill, payroll check or government document that includes their name and address but they will have to sign an affidavit furnished by the Elections Division in order to vote. 
  

ELECTION DAY - NOVEMBER 2, 2010

What's At Stake?

Election Day is here.  Did you know that there are 37 Governors races, 37 U.S. Senate Races, 435 U.S. House Races, and dozens of ballot measures and initiatives that would affect public education, students, and educators?  The number of governorships up for election is more than the nation has ever seen in a single year.  6,118 state legislative seats will be chosen in 46 states.  In most states, it will be the governors and state legislators elected who will draw the lines of congressional districts that will stand for the next decade.    Visit NEA's Education Votes website for tools and resources to help education voters stand up for students and public education.

Developing plans for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond

You are cordially invited to the LAE Headquarters and the Condo Clubhouse for a "Survive & Thrive" conversation with the LAE President.     THEME:  Action Starts Here:  Developing plans for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond      WHO:               New Presidents and Experienced Presidents     WHY:               Training, dialog around local issues and sharing ideas     WHEN:             November 21 – 22, 2010     WHERE:           Baton Rouge Headquarters                         Condo Clubhouse     TIME:               November 21, 2010, beginning at 12:00 noon                         November 22, 2010, ending by 2:00 p.m.     ISSUES:           Presidents' Essential Binder                         How Presidents' Survive & Thrive     STATE FUNDING:        Hotel accommodations for November 21, 2010, at the Drury Inn                                     All Meals     LOCAL FUNDING:        Travel expense         Please let RSVP to Laurie Guillot at laurie.guillot@lae.org if you are able to attend by November 10, 2010.     We hope that you will take advantage of attending this special meeting designed specifically for LAE Local Presidents.     Plenty of food, fun and conversation

 

Letter from Joyce Haynes, LAE President / Vote Charlie Melancon for US Senate

Letter from Joyce Haynes, LAE President   Vote Charlie Melancon for US Senate

Dear LAE Member, Your vote makes a difference.  The LAE Fund for Children and Public Education recommends that you vote Charlie Melancon for U. S. Senate on November 2nd.  We need Melancon in the U.S. Senate as another vote to help protect the Louisiana Public School system.  As employees of the public schools, we know best what it will take to improve and reform our system.  Charlie Melancon will be our ally.  Melancon has proven that he will help keep our schools open, provide federal funding to protect jobs for teachers and education support professionals, and ensure that every child has access to a great public school. Charlie Melancon voted as a member of congress to provide federal funding to prevent 2,200 educators in Louisiana from being laid-off. Charlie was there to support us by fighting against school voucher schemes and privatizing ESP jobs. Charlie was there to support us by opposing the use of test scores as the primary means of evaluating teachers. Now Charlie needs our support. Please join me in voting for Charlie Melancon on Tuesday, November 2nd. Together, we can elect a U.S. Senator who shares our belief in great public schools for every child. Joyce Haynes, President Louisiana Association of Educators

Jazz Funeral for Higher Education - The Daily Reveille

Jazz Funeral for Higher Education - The Daily Reveille

Carla Lowe Lobbies at the White House - July 2010

Mrs. Lowe went to Washington

Laid-off St. Helena Central High guidance counselor urges Sens. Landrieu and Vitter to save education jobs

By: Stacy Grissom

WASHINGTON—With the start of school just around the corner, many educators are in serious planning mode for the upcoming school year. That's not the case for Carla Lowe, a guidance counselor who was recently laid-off from St. Helena Central High in Greensburg, La. Rather than heading back to her high school, she is headed to the nation's capitol to urge Louisiana Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter to pass the "Education Jobs Fund," a $10 billion emergency aid package that would help keep teachers in classrooms and provide educational support services targeted to low-income and at-risk students. 

Without this infusion of money into state education budgets, the National Education Association (NEA) estimates up to 130,000 educators across the nation could lose their jobs.  In Louisiana, the bill could bring $147 million, funding some 2,242 jobs. The House passed a similar measure before the Fourth of July recess.

When Lowe, who lives in Kentwood, La., with her husband and seven-month-old son, was told that her contract would not be renewed, she worried both about her students and her family. 

"My students need me and other educators to be with them in school, not on the unemployment line," said Lowe. "My community needs me to be able to pay my mortgage, and my family needs health insurance and groceries. Louisiana has been through so much these last few years so I hope that Sens. Landrieu and Vitter will get behind this bill because this is one disaster that can be avoided."

WHO: Carla Lowe of Kentwood, La., laid-off guidance counselor at St. Helena Central High School

WHAT: Lowe is traveling to Washington, D.C., meeting on Capitol Hill with Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter to urge their support for a $10 billion emergency aid package to save education jobs.

WHY: This bill could help keep upwards of $130,000 educators in the classroom. NEA estimates the bill would bring $147 million to Louisiana, funding some 2,242 jobs.

WHEN: Wednesday, July, 21, 2010

WHERE: Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

For more resources on education funding, please go to www.nea.org/funding

For more information on saving educators' jobs, visit www.educationvotes.nea.org/

Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/NEAMedia

# # #

LSUnited and LAE gears up ‘Defend Public Education Day at LSU

LSUnited and LAE gears up 'Defend Public Education Day at LSU

 

(Baton Rouge) Louisiana educators will remind elected officials that public higher education is an engine of economic growth that benefits all communities at large during "Defend Public Education Day," October 7, 2010 at Louisiana State University. The event will use the sacred Louisiana tradition of a jazz funeral procession to illustrate how the current budget crisis facing higher education results in "loss" of funding, educators, and access for working families.

 

The historic actions and protests of last Fall and Spring demonstrated that Louisiana students, teachers, staff and communities stand in solidarity to fight against the cuts, layoffs, fee hikes that shrink access to public education and services.

 

In addition to LSUnited and LAE, Proud Students, LSU Graduate Student Association, and the LSU Faculty Senate, with the support of concerned students and faculty, sponsor this event.

 

WHO: Joyce Haynes, LAE, Patricia O'Neill, LSUnited, Ryan Orgera, LSU Graduate Student Association and Bradley Wood, Proud Student Organization

WHAT: Defend Public Education Day

WHERE: October 7, 2010, Louisiana State University Parade Grounds, 12pm Noon

WHY: The event will use the sacred Louisiana tradition of a jazz funeral procession to illustrate how the current budget crisis facing higher education results in "loss" of funding, educators, and access for working families.

Education Jobs Bill

NEA Alert:

Thanks to you, the Senate cleared a key hurdle to save 138,000 education jobs. Read more at educationvotes.nea.org and keep up the fight!

This morning, the U.S. Senate voted to move forward on a bill that would save 138,000 educators' jobs jeopardized by state budget cuts. By a vote of 61-38, senators voted for cloture, which allows debate on legislation containing $10 billion for education jobs funding to proceed.

"The educators, students and parents who have fought hard for crucial funding are now one step closer," NEA President Dennis Van Roekel said. "This bill is fully offset, and will actually reduce the budget deficit over the next ten years. It's a no-brainer."

According to a National Education Association analysis, the fund will preserve the jobs of approximately 138,000 educators. Both the education jobs funding and the FMAP extension are fully offset, The Congressional Budget Office confirmed yesterday that H.R. 1586 will actually reduce the budget deficit by $1.4 billion over the next decade.

NEA and a coalition of more than 180 education and community groups continue to push for a real, unobstructed vote on the education jobs fund in the Senate. The White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), and Reid have all expressed their desire to pass this critically needed legislation before Congress leaves for recess.

Email your Senators and urge them to vote yes on final passage of the education jobs bill.

 

Urge your Senator to vote “YES”!

NEA ACTION ALERT!!!!!!!

 
 

Senate vote expected on $10 Billion for Education Jobs tomorrow morning. 

The federal "Jobs Bill" is still very much alive and we need as much visible and vocal support as we can muster.  This bill could save the jobs of some 135,000 educators and extend enhanced Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) for six months.
We need to make sure that Senators Landrieu and Vitter "Do the Right Thing" and help keep public school employees working.

     

Phone calls & emails to Senator Landrieu and Senator Vitter DC will aid our effort in showing support.  Please encourage colleagues, friends and family to help.

 
 

Urge your Senator to vote "yes" by calling (866) 608-6355.

Urge your Senator to vote YES on cloture and YES on the bill for the sake of compassion and sound economics. By voting YES, they will help:

• Contain class size and sustain vital programs in our nation's schools. Without this bill, many students, especially the most vulnerable, will have bigger classes (35 to 40); no after-school programs; and no art, music, physical education, reading specialists, librarians, technology experts, nurses, or counselors.
  

 

• Keep Americans working instead of raising the unemployment rate. For every 100,000 education jobs that are lost, local communities will lose an additional 30,000 private sector jobs, according to the Economic Policy Institute.  
  

 

• Add not one penny to the federal deficit. Both the Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) and education jobs provisions of the bill are fully offset.
  

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY!

The vote is Monday August 2

SENATE VOTE SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY ON EDUCATION JOBS This week, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) blocked the Senate from voting on an education jobs amendment as part of a larger bill on small business. But, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has scheduled another vote for Monday evening, August 2. The package being considered will provide $10 billion to save over 135,000 education jobs. It will also provide funds for Medicaid to help prevent more deep cuts to the programs that serve our most vulnerable populations. We are facing an education crisis, with hundreds of thousands of educators being laid off, class sizes growing, and programs critical to students' success being cut or eliminated. Our students' education and the future of our nation are at stake! EVERY VOTE COUNTS and every Senator needs to hear a strong message of support. Tell your Senators to stand up for what is right! CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY: E-mail your Senators. Tell them to VOTE YES on a $10 billion education jobs package (H.R. 1586). Call 1-866-608-6355 to contact your Senators. You will hear talking points and will be connected to the United States Capitol Switchboard – ask for one of your Senators. Tell your Senator that public education faces a budget catastrophe and that he/she should VOTE YES on a $10 billion education jobs fund. Remember to call back to speak with your other Senator. Ask your colleagues, friends, and family to call and e-mail the Senate too.

Education Jobs

"Urgent Vote on Education Jobs"

The U.S. Senate will vote IMMINENTLY on an amendment to the small business bill (H.R. 5297) that would provide $9.7 billion to save approximately 135,000 education jobs jeopardized by state and local budget cuts. This amendment is fully paid for and is DIFFERENT than the House-passed education jobs fund.
Contact your Senator NOW. Urge your Senator to vote YES to education jobs amendment to the small business bill (H.R. 5297)."

LOUISIANA TO RECEIVE $67.6 MILLION TO TURN AROUND ITS PERSISTENTLY LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLS

Office of Communications & Outreach, Press Office              

400 Maryland Ave., S.W.              

Washington, D.C. 20202       

 
 

FOR RELEASE:              

July 2, 2010

 
 

Contact: Sandra Abrevaya              

         press@ed.gov or (202) 401-1576

 
 

 
 

LOUISIANA TO RECEIVE $67.6 MILLION TO TURN AROUND ITS PERSISTENTLY LOWEST ACHIEVING SCHOOLS

 
 

      U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that Louisiana will receive $67.6 million to turn around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the School Improvement Grants (SIG) program. These funds are part of the $3.5 billion that will be made available to states this spring from money set aside in the 2009 budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

 
 

      "When a school continues to perform in the bottom five percent of the state and isn't showing signs of growth or has graduation rates below 60 percent, something dramatic needs to be done," said Duncan. "Turning around our worst performing schools is difficult for everyone but it is critical that we show the courage to do the right thing by kids."

 
 

      The $67,608,523 made available to Louisiana is being distributed by formula to the state and will then be competed out by the state to school districts. In order for a school district to apply for these funds, it must have a state-identified "persistently lowest achieving" or a Tier III school -- a school that has failed to meet annual yearly progress for two years and is not identified as a persistently lowest achieving school.

 
 

      However, Tier III schools can only receive funds once all of the state's persistently lowest achieving schools have received funds. Louisiana's application, which includes its list of persistently lowest achieving schools, as defined by the state, can be found here: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/summary/index.html.

 
 

      School districts will apply to the state for the funds this spring. When school districts apply, they must indicate that they will implement one of the following four models in their persistently lowest achieving schools:

 
 

•     TURNAROUND MODEL: Replace the principal, screen existing school staff, and rehire no more than half the teachers; adopt a new governance structure; and improve the school through curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.

 
 

•     RESTART MODEL: Convert a school or close it and re-open it as a charter school or under an education management organization.

 
 

•     SCHOOL CLOSURE: Close the school and send the students to higher-achieving schools in the district.

 
 

•     TRANSFORMATION MODEL: Replace the principal and improve the school through comprehensive curriculum reform, professional development, extending learning time, and other strategies.

 
 

      Once schools receive SIG funds, they will be able to begin to spend them immediately to turn around schools this fall. States may apply to the Education Department for a waiver to allow them to spend funds over a three-year period. An additional $545,633,000 has been provided for SIG in 2010 and will be awarded to states to fund additional schools in the 2011-12 school year. The department has also made a request for an additional $900 million for the program in the 2011 budget.

 
 

###

LAE Lobby Day - May 27, 2010

LAE Lobby Day - May 27, 2010

Message from Joyce Haynes, LAE President

Dear LAE members,

 
 

Thank you for making Lobby Day a huge success. 

 

LAE has done itself proud this week. Many hundreds of members have telephoned and e-mailed their legislators, and on Thursday, some 200 teachers and education support professionals came in person from every corner of the state to voice their views on important education bills at issue before the legislature.  

 

Members who traveled to attend this week's postponed hearings have, by and large, expressed their resolve to return with more colleagues next week. As of now, the legislative calendar calls for HB 1368 to be heard by the Senate Education Committee on Friday, and for HB 1229 to be heard by the House Retirement Committee on Wednesday afternoon.

 

HB 1229 will be heard in the House Retirement Committee on Wednesday, June 2, 2010, upon adjournment of the House Chambers.   We are requesting LAE members to meet at the Capitol Steps at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon and join us to lobby against HB 1229. 

 

HB 1368 will be heard in the Senate Education Committee on Friday, June 4, 2010, at 9:00 a.m.  We are requesting all LAE members to meet at the Capitol Steps at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 4, 2010.  We will then proceed to the Senate Education Committee room.

 

It is very important that LAE members show up in opposition to these bad bills. Please coordinate participation within your locals and let your area UniServ Director know that your local will be represented next week.

 

For more information, please contact the LAE office at 225-343-9243.

 

Thanks to all who have joined this effort!  Your involvement counts!

 

Joyce Haynes, LAE President

LAE LOBBY DAY

LAE Lobby Day

Leading up to the HB1368 hearing on Thursday, May 27th, LAE needs your help to unleash an overflow of educator voices against this anti-public education bill!

Take action NOW and pledge to do these three things:

     (1) Spread the word. Call, e-mail, text your colleagues and encourage them to contact their state senators and vote "no" against HB 1368.

     (2)  Lend your voice. Make calls to your legislators.

     (3)  Be a part of the "pack."  Join your fellow LAE members from all across the state as we "pack" the hearing room.  Get the latest news and talking points beforehand at LAE LOBBY DAY.

 

 WHAT: LOBBY DAY (Theme: "Don't waive our rights")

 WHEN: THURSDAY, MAY 27, 2010 – 8:00 A.M.

WHERE: CAPITOL STEPS

       (Important:  Please dress in black) 

 

 If we're going to counter this anti-public education climate, we must wage "LAE power" against Jindal-power.  Stay tuned to CapWiz and your e-mail on how you can help in the fight to protect Louisiana public schools!

YOUR RIGHTS, YOUR RETIREMENT AT ISSUE ON THURSDAY!

YOUR RIGHTS, YOUR RETIREMENT AT ISSUE ON THURSDAY
We expect action on two bad bills, HB 1368 and HB 1229, in the Legislature on Thursday. Lawmakers need to hear from you before they vote.   HB 1368 would allow superintendents to apply for and receive waivers of most Louisiana education laws and state board policies. This includes rules ensuring sick leave, class-size limits, group health insurance coverage, and reduction in force protections. The bill has passed the House, and will be heard Thursday in the Senate Education Committee. Tell the committee members to oppose HB 1368.   Call or email one or more of these Senators today:   Senator Ben Nevers (Chairman) (985) 732-6863 neversb@legis.state.la.us Senator Eric LaFleur (Vice-Chairman) (337) 363-5019 lafleure@legis.state.la.us Senator Conrad Appel (866) 946-3133 appelc@legis.state.la.us Senator Jack Donahue (985) 727-7949 donahuej@legis.state.la.us Senator Yvonne Dorsey (225) 342-9700 dorseyy@legis.state.la.us Senator Ann Duplessis (504) 243-7795 lasen2@legis.state.la.us Senator Gerald Long (318) 628-5799 longg@legis.state.la.us     2.    HB 1229 is scheduled for its first hearing in the House Retirement Committee on Thursday. This bill would replace elected board members of the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) with political appointees who would control the investments of all four state retirement plans. LAE has long opposed any legislation that would dilute membership control of TRSL investments and has opposed consolidation of the assets of TRSL with any other retirement system. TRSL is currently among the most stable pension funds in the nation. Make sure the members of the House Retirement Committee hear from you by phone before Thursday's vote. Ask them to oppose HB 1229.   The Committee members are:     Rep. Kevin Pearson, Chair (985)646-6487 pearsonk@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Jean Doerge, Vice Chair (318)371-3092 larep010@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Patrick Cortez (337)993-7430                                                    cortezp@legis.state.la.us     Rep. George Gregory Cromer (985)645-3592 cromerg@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Hollis Downs (318)251-5039 larep012@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Reed Henderson (504)278-6599 hendersr@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Frank Hoffmann (318)362-4130 hoffmanf@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Juan LaFonta (504)282-0265 larep096@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Jack Montoucet (337)783-2999 montoucj@legis.state.la.us     Rep. J. Rogers Pope (225)667-3588 poper@legis.state.la.us     Rep. Joel Robideaux (337)984-1091 larep045@legis.state.la.us

A+PEL Backs Teacher Assessment

A+PEL doesn't have a clue!!!! If you are a member of this organization…..think twice.

The Advocate Newspaper; Published: May 25, 2010 - Page: 6B

The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL) has a long history of supporting Louisiana educators who are committed to providing students the best possible education. We support legislation that empowers educators and gives them the appropriate tools to best serve their students. To that end, A+PEL supports HB1033, value-added legislation under consideration by the state Senate, which will spur efforts to have an effective teacher in every classroom.

For more than 30 years, 98 percent of all Louisiana teachers receive "satisfactory" ratings under the current teacher evaluation system, even in schools where students consistently fail to meet basic academic standards. As educators, we cannot sit idly by while over 200,000 schoolchildren — one-third of all Louisiana schoolchildren — are performing below grade level. HB1033 addresses this disconnect and establishes a more quantitative and less subjective evaluation system for all educators.

Despite widespread misinformation, HB1033 does not impact teacher pay nor does it rely solely on student test scores. Instead, the bill requires value-added assessment that levels the playing field by focusing on student growth rather than achievement. Using a complex statistical analysis of test scores, it tracks individual student improvement year to year and uses that progress to estimate the effectiveness of individual teachers, principals, and schools. This model of teacher assessment is growing nationwide, and research has shown that HB1033 is on track with what other states are already doing. Further, the value-added model has been successfully used in 75 schools in Louisiana for the past three years.

For subjects and grades where tests or value-added data are not available, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will determine other measures of student growth that will be just as quantifiable as those in tested grades and subjects. Additionally, the assessment data will be useful for educators, helping to identify and focus on specific professional development activities that will give them meaningful opportunities to improve their instruction and impact student learning.

As a professional educators' organization, A+PEL seeks to strike the delicate balance between the needs of educators and the needs of students. The data clearly show that we need to improve how we are educating children, and Louisiana voters are demanding it. Elected officials are showing the political will to challenge the opposition and make decisions that put children first. We are indeed at a tipping point in education. As educators, we firmly believe that we must be part of the solution.

Kathy Campbell, executive director
Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana Baton Rouge

Bills of Interest

Bills of Interest

The table provides a summary of education bills and LAE's position. Additional information can be found at: http://www.legis.state.la.us/ Prepared by LAE's Government Relations Department - March 31, 2010 HOUSE and SENATE BILLS 2010 HB 49 HUTTER SUPPORT APPROPRIATIONS: Provides funding to the St. Bernard Parish School Board to assist with the payment of Office of Group Benefits insurance premiums for certain employees HB 177 POPE SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires the state to pay the transportation costs for students attending approved nonpublic elementary and secondary schools. HB 210  LEGER NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Establishes and provides for LA Statewide Education Facilities Authority. HB 216 FOIL OPPOSED EDUCATION: Provides for a school choice pilot program for certain students with exceptionalities. HB 251 SMITH, P SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires the state superintendent of education to possess certain qualifications at the time of appointment by BESE. HB 388 SMITH, P SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides relative to teachers transferring to a charter school from a local school system. HB 399 PEARSON  OPPOSED EDUCATION: Exempts, under specified fiscal conditions, a local school board from complying with the requirement that the board grant certain requests for sabbatical leave. HB 400 PEARSON  OPPOSED EDUCATION: Exempts, under specified fiscal conditions, a local school board from complying with the requirement that the board permit certain employees to take up to 90 days of extended sick leave. HB 405 DIXON NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Requires BESE to adopt rules and regulation for the use of seclusion and physical restraint of students. HB 420 LEGER OPPOSED EDUCATION: Provides relative to charter school funding. HB 421 JACKSON, M NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Provides relative to the authority of a local school board to deny admission or readmission to school of certain students. HB 422 DOWNS NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Provides relative to children exempted from the compulsory school attendance law. HB 433 HARDY OPPOSED EDUCATION: Requires BESE to establish a uniform grading scale for use in public schools. HB 681 HARDY NEUTRAL EDUCATION:Provides that the conduct of extracurricular interscholastic activities in public schools are subject to BESE regulation by rule adopted in accordance with the APA. HB 682 HARDY NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Requires local public school boards to provide transportation to certain students in BESE-approved alternative education programs for suspended or expelled students.  HB 709 BROSSETT   NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Provides relative to the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. (NOCCA)  HB 732 NORTON  MONITOR-OPPOSED  EDUCATION: Prohibits corporal punishment in public elementary and secondary schools.  HB 739   HOFFMAN  NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Provides relative to the employment as a full-time teacher of a member of the Teachers' Retirement System of LA who is retired.  HB 1006 HARRISON   SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides that the state superintendent of education shall be elected rather than appointed.   HB 1016  WILLIAMS  NEUTRAL EDUCATION: Requires proof of annual physical examination and a physician's authorization as a condition of a child's participation in physical activity.   HB 1029 HOFFMAN  SUPPORT  EDUCATION: Provides relative to instruction in Civics and Free Enterprise.  HB 1033 HOFFMAN  OPPOSED  EDUCATION: Provides relative to evaluation and assessment programs for teachers and administrators.  HB 1049 HARRISON  OPPOSED  EDUCATION: Provides relative to public/private partnerships between school boards and the private sector. HB 1128  LEGER   SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides relative to charter schools.  HB 1135 GREENE  NEUTRAL  EDUCATION: Provides school start and end dates for public and approved nonpublic schools.  HB 1154 CARTER  OPPOSED  EDUCATION: Provides for the creation and establishment of the LA Charter Schools Commission and for the transfer of certain BESE powers, duties, and authority to the commission. HB 1170  LANDRY  OPPOSED  EDUCATION: Disqualifies commercial diver's license holders from operating school buses after conviction of DWI offenses.   HB 1180 SMITH, P  MONITOR-SUPPORT  EDUCATION: Authorizes local public school boards to use state funds to purchase instructional technology and related hardware.  HB 1209 JONES, R  OPPOSED  EDUCATION: Creates the LA Educator Professional Practices Commission to investigate complaints and allegations of educators sexual misconduct in schools with authority to suspend or revoke teaching and principal's certificates subject to appeal to BESE.  HB 1225 DIXON  MONITOR-SUPPORT  EDUCATION: Provides relative to BESE standards for approving alternative schools and alternative education programs for students suspended or expelled from public K-12 schools. HB 1239 DIXON  NEUTRAL  EDUCATION: Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to adopt rules and regulations relative to the physical abuse of public school teachers and employees by students.  HB 1250  CARTER   MONITOR- OPPOSED EDUCATION: Provides relative to permanent teachers and procedures for termination. HB 1368  SMITH, J MONITOR- OPPOSED EDUCATION: Authorizes BESE to exempt a school board from certain laws, rules, and regulations pursuant to a request and proposal for increasing quality of instruction and academic achievement from the school board. SB 11 APPEL OPPOSED RETIREMENT: A Constitutional Amendment to provide for forfeiture of retirement benefits by public officials and employees who are convicted of felony acts associated with their positions. SB 12 APPEL OPPOSED RETIREMENT: Requires forfeiture of retirement benefits by any public employee or elected official who is a member of a public retirement system and is convicted of certain state or federal felony acts associated with his office. SB 13 GAUTREAUX SUPPORT RETIREMENT: Allows garnishment of Louisiana public retirement or pension system, plan, or fund benefits of an elected official to pay fines or retitution imposed for a felony associated with his office. SB 66 MORRELL SUPPORT EDUCATION: Created a charter school enrollment perference for neighborhood students. SB 74 MORRELL SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides for the creation of community advisory committees for schools in the Recovery School District. SB 83 APPEL NO POSITION EDUCATION: Expands the test type options used in grades three, fix, six, seven and nine as part of LEAP. SB 100 GAUTREAUX  OPPOSED ORDERS: Provides for a five-year final average compensation period in the Parochial Employees' Retirement System. SB 157 MURRAY SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires binding arbitration for certain disputes between the Recovery School District and a charter school or a local school board. SB 191 GAUTREAUX  MONITOR-SUPPORT RETIREMENT: Provides relative to compliance with applicable federal tax qualification requirements for Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System, and State Police Pension and Retirement System. SB 240 MURRAY SUPPORT EDUCATION: Allows the Orleans Parish School Board to exclude certain costs from the amount of local funds that it would otherwise be required to transfer to the RSD. SB 258 MURRAY SUPPORT FINANCE: Provides for eligibility of New Orleans School Board retirees to participate, as a group, in insurance sponsored by the Office of Group Benefits. SB 274 HEITMEIER  NEUTRAL RETIREMENT: Requires a charter school teacher who is an active member of the system to remain an active member for the duration of employment at the charter school under certain circumstances. SB 307 GAUTREAUX  NEUTRAL RETIREMENT: Excludes pay to school bus drivers for certain school-related extracurricular activities performed under private contracts from the definition of earnable compensation. SB 315 MORRISH NEUTRAL RETIREMENT: Authorizes certain person who entered the Deferred Retirement Option Plan of the system before July 1, 2001, to have their pre-DROP retirement benefits recalculated at an accrual rate of 3 1/3% per year under certain circumstances. SB 344 DUPPESSIS OPPOSED EDUCATION: Provide relative to submission and review of charter school proposals and charter renewals. SB 353 NEVERS SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires a vote of the people before any local revenues can be transferred or allocated to a charter school. SB 422 NEVERS SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides relative to the functions and duties of the state superintendent of education. SB 485 MORRELL SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides relative to the provision of special education and related services in charter schools. SB 489 NEVERS SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires the Department of Education to reimburse local school boards for salary supplements paid to certain nationally board certified school personnel. SB 490 NEVERS SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides that Career Diploma Curriclum end-of-course exam questions reflect course content and method of instruction. SB 491 NEVERS SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires the state superintendent of education to secure funding to provide an annual increase of at least 2.75% in the MFP. SB 492 NEVERS SUPPORT Brings the governing boards of charter schools under the financial disclosure requirements of the Ethics Code. SB 495 NEVERS SUPPORT EDUCATION: Provides relative to the duties, functions, and responsibilities of BESE. SB 517 WALSWORTH OPPOSED EDUCATION: Recognizes that a diploma issued to a student who has successfully completed an approved home study program carries the same privileges as one issued by a public school or a private school. SB 527 BROOME MONITOR - SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires local school districts to provide certain classroom management training to school personnel. SB 522 533 MICHOT LAFLEUR NO POSITION EDUCATION: (IDENTICAL BILLS) Requires BESE to increase the availability of electronic textbooks and instructional materials. SB 553 LAFLEUR MONITOR - SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires BESE to develop an early high school graduation policy. SB 594 GAUTREAUX MONITOR - SUPPORT RETIREMENT: Relative to public retirement systems, provides to investments. SB 602 GAUTREAUX OPPOSED ORDERS: Relative to Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System, Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, and Louisiana School Employees' Retirement System, places restrictions on participation in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan.  SB 628 DUPLESSIS OPPOSED EDUCATION: Provides relative to student suspensions and expulsions.  SB 632 GAUTREAUX  NEUTRAL  RETIREMENT: Provides a regular schedule for permanent benefit increases for retirees of the state retirement system.  SB 658  HEBERT  MONITOR - SUPPORT EDUCATION: Requires the Dept. of Education to ensure that the amount it annually expends for certain salaries does not exceed the amount expended by the department of salaries in such category in effect on January 1, 2007.  SB 694  GAUTREAUX  SUPPORT RETIREMENT: Requires membership in the Teachers' Retirement System for charter school teachers.  SB 695  DUPLESSIS  OPPOSED EDUCATION: Authorizes BESE to exempt a school board from certain laws, rules, and regulations pursuant to a request and proposal for increasing quality of instruction and academic achievement from the school board.