Suspends certain laws relative to school closures due to COVID-19.
If enacted, SCR23 would suspend specific provisions of Louisiana's education laws, particularly those relating to mandated instructional minutes (R.S. 17:154.1 and 154.3) and student assessments (R.S. 17:10.1, 24.4, and others). The resolution also instructs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to seek a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, ensuring that the suspension does not affect the state’s eligibility for federal education programs. This suspension signifies a shift in focus from performance metrics towards adapting to the immediate needs posed by the pandemic, indicating a legislative response aimed at flexibility during a health crisis.
SCR23, also known as the Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 23, was introduced in response to the public health emergency declared due to COVID-19. The resolution aims to suspend certain laws regarding school closures, instructional minutes, and statewide student assessments for the 2019-2020 school year. The intent is to prioritize the health and safety of students and educators over student assessment results during this unprecedented situation, as schools were mandated to close to mitigate the spread of the virus. The resolution highlights the concerns around the impact of closed schools on student learning and testing outcomes, stressing that student well-being should come first.
The sentiment surrounding SCR23 was largely supportive, as it resonated with the urgency of addressing public health while recognizing the challenges faced by education during the pandemic. Policymakers and stakeholders were in agreement that the traditional focus on testing and performance metrics could not take precedence in times of crisis. Advocates emphasized that this action was necessary to relieve undue pressure on students and teachers, many of whom were already experiencing anxiety and distress as a result of the pandemic.
While SCR23 garnered broad support, some stakeholders raised concerns about potential long-term implications of suspending educational guidelines. Critics worried about the precedent it sets for future emergency responses and the possible impacts on educational standards if not carefully managed. Additionally, there were discussions regarding how the resolution might affect accountability measures for schools and whether the decision could lead to disparities in educational quality when normalized instruction eventually resumed.