HLS 14RS-1676 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 156
BY REPRESENTATIVES SMITH, BARROW, AND ST. GERMAIN
EDUCATION: Requests that the state Dept. of Education and public school governing
authorities implement certain measures based on the La. Women's Policy and
Research Commission's recommendations pertaining to science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM) education in its 2013 report to the governor
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the state Department of Education and the governing authority of each2
public elementary and secondary school to implement certain measures based on the3
Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission's recommendations pertaining4
to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in its 2013 report5
to the governor.6
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission, pursuant to7
R.S. 46:2525, has submitted to the governor its annual report; and8
WHEREAS, the commission's 2013 report to the governor addresses the9
commission's duties: monitoring the status of Louisiana women for the purpose of evaluating10
their economic, educational, and health concerns, needs, and hardships; identifying and11
analyzing trends that impact the health and prosperity of Louisiana women; and advising the12
governor on particular hardships, concerns, and needs that challenge Louisiana women and13
their possible solutions; and14
WHEREAS, one of the main areas of focus in the 2013 report is "Women, Education15
and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)"; the commission focused its16
education research this year on the importance of preparing more female students for college17
and high-need, high-wage jobs; and18
WHEREAS, this aspect of the commission's report focuses on efforts underway in19
Louisiana to increase the number of girls succeeding in STEM studies and the number of20 HLS 14RS-1676 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 156
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Louisiana women entering STEM career fields, in which the gender wage gap tends to be1
narrower and the wages higher than in other fields; and2
WHEREAS, the report finds that increasing girls' exposure and access to hands-on3
activities and high-quality science labs and technology can help increase the number of4
young women pursuing careers in STEM fields and further provides that education leaders5
should work to identify new resources to help provide additional skills development6
opportunities for teachers and students.7
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby8
urge and request the state Department of Education and the governing authority of each9
public elementary and secondary school to implement the following measures based on the10
Louisiana Women's Policy and Research Commission's recommendations pertaining to11
science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education in its 2013 report to the12
governor: 13
(1) The legislature urges and requests the state Department of Education to seek14
funding and public-private partnerships to increase access to technology at all public15
schools.16
(2) The legislature urges and requests the governing authority of each public17
elementary and secondary school to make capital investments in building and upgrading18
science labs for middle and high school students a budget priority, to aggressively seek19
public-private partnerships to increase the availability of professional development20
opportunities for teachers in the sciences, especially engineering, and to encourage middle21
and high schools to establish STEM-related clubs for students and actively encourage female22
students to join them.23
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted24
to the state superintendent of education, the president of the State Board of Elementary and25
Secondary Education, the executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association,26
and the executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools.27 HLS 14RS-1676 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 156
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Smith HCR No. 156
Requests that the state Dept. of Education (DOE) and public school governing authorities
implement the following measures based on the La. Women's Policy and Research
Commission's recommendations pertaining to science, technology, engineering, and math
(STEM) education in its 2013 report to the governor:
(1) The legislature requests that DOE seek funding and public-private partnerships to
increase access to technology at public schools.
(2)The legislature requests that public school governing authorities make capital
investments in building and upgrading science labs a budget priority, seek
public-private partnerships to increase the availability of professional development
opportunities for teachers in the sciences, and encourage middle and high schools to
establish STEM-related clubs and actively encourage female students to join them.