SLS 20RS-396 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 59
BY SENATOR FIELDS
TEACHERS. Creates a task force to study issues related to teacher shortages in Louisiana.
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2 To create the Task Force on Teacher Shortages to study strategies and best procedures by
3 which state and local school districts can address teacher shortages and increase rates
4 of employment and retention of teachers and to provide a written report of findings
5 and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education and the House
6 Committee on Education not later than December 1, 2020.
7 WHEREAS, many local public school systems throughout the state of Louisiana
8 have experienced a decline in teacher applicant pools, especially in the subjects of
9 mathematics and science and in special education; and
10 WHEREAS, school systems would benefit from the employment of a more diverse
11 workforce, including African-American, American-Indian, Asian, and Latino teachers; and
12 WHEREAS, school systems must proactively seek to overcome employment
13 challenges by maintaining strong school leaders, positive work environments, and
14 competitive compensation packages; and
15 WHEREAS, the current shortage of teachers is a statewide concern among districts
16 and it is essential that Louisiana attract the most talented and ambitious teachers in the
17 country to our schools; and
18 WHEREAS, the members of the Legislature of Louisiana believe that structured
Page 1 of 4 SCR NO. 59
SLS 20RS-396 ORIGINAL
1 dialogue and engagement will illuminate the path forward in facing this challenge.
2 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby creates
3 the Task Force on Teacher Shortages to research strategies to overcome the state's teacher
4 shortage challenge and secure a stronger educator workforce.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
6 following members:
7 (1) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education.
8 (2) The chairman of the House Committee on Education.
9 (3) The superintendents of five school districts, designated by the Louisiana
10 superintendent of education.
11 (4) The superintendent of the Recovery School District or his designee.
12 (5) A representative of the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana,
13 designated by the governing authority of the association.
14 (6) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Colleges of Teacher Education,
15 designated by the governing authority of the association.
16 (7) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Educators, designated by the
17 governing authority of the association.
18 (8) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Principals, designated by the
19 governing authority of the association.
20 (9) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools,
21 designated by the governing authority of the association.
22 (10) A representative of the Louisiana Association of School Counselors, designated
23 by the governing authority of the association.
24 (11) A representative of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents,
25 designated by the governing authority of the association.
26 (12) A representative of the Louisiana Department of Education, designated by the
27 state superintendent of education.
28 (13) A representative of the Louisiana Educator Preparation Research Consortium,
29 designated by the governing authority of the consortium.
30 (14) A representative of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, designated by the
Page 2 of 4 SCR NO. 59
SLS 20RS-396 ORIGINAL
1 governing authority of the federation.
2 (15) A representative of the Louisiana State Association of School Personnel
3 Administrators, designated by the governing authority of the association.
4 (16) The Louisiana Department of Education 2020 Teacher of the Year.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state superintendent of education shall be
6 responsible for designating state Department of Education staff to assist the task force in
7 performing its duties and, by August 1, 2020, convening the task force for its first meeting,
8 at which meeting the task force shall adopt rules of procedure, a work schedule, and any
9 additional measures that it deems necessary for the timely performance of its duties,
10 including selection of officers.
11 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of
12 findings and recommendations to the Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee
13 on Education, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education not later than
14 December 31, 2020, and that such recommendations shall include the following:
15 (1) Information about areas in which teacher shortages exist in Louisiana, as
16 determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, including subject
17 area, grade level, and geographic area.
18 (2) Recommendations relative to retention of the educator workforce in Louisiana,
19 including any areas in which shortages exist.
20 (3) Information about what other states are doing relative to the hiring, preparation,
21 recruitment, and retention of teachers.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23 entities named in this Resolution to serve or be represented on the task force.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
SCR 59 Original 2020 Regular Session Fields
Creates the Task Force on Teacher Shortages to study strategies and best procedures by
which the state and individual school districts can secure a stronger educator workforce.
Provides for a written report of findings and recommendations to State Bd. of Elementary
and Secondary Education (BESE) and the senate and house education committees not later
than Dec. 31, 2020.
Page 3 of 4 SCR NO. 59
SLS 20RS-396 ORIGINAL
Provides that the task force shall have 20 members who shall serve without compensation:
(1)The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education.
(2)The chairman of the House Committee on Education.
(3)The superintendents of five school districts, designated by the La. superintendent of
education.
(4)The superintendent of the Recovery School District or his designee.
(5)A representative of each of the following organizations designated by the governing
authority of each:
(a)The Associated Professional Educators of La.
(b)The La. Assoc. of Colleges of Teacher Education.
(c) The La. Assoc. of Educators.
(d)The La. Assoc. of Principals.
(e)The La. Assoc. of Public Charter Schools.
(f)The La. Assoc. of School Counselors.
(g)The La. Assoc. of School Superintendents.
(h)The La. Educator Preparation Research Consortium.
(i)The La. Federation of Teachers.
(j)The La. State Assoc. of School Personnel Administrators.
(6)A representative of the La. Dept. of Education designated by the state superintendent
of education.
(7)The La. Dept. of Education 2020 Teacher of the Year.
Provides that the state superintendent of education shall designate staff to assist the task
force. Provides that the task force shall submit to BESE and the Senate and House education
committees a written report of findings and recommendations, including:
(1)Areas in which teacher shortages exist in La., as determined by the State Bd. of
Elementary and Secondary Education including subject area, grade level, and
geographic area.
(2)Recommendations relative to retention of the educator workforce in La. including
any areas in which shortages exist.
(3)Information about what other states are doing relative to the hiring, preparation,
recruitment, and retention of teachers.
Page 4 of 4