2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 10
BY SENATOR FIELDS
A RESOLUTION
To commend John Charles White for eight years of service as Louisiana's State
Superintendent of Education.
WHEREAS, in January 2012, John White was appointed to the position by the
Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; and
WHEREAS, prior to this appointment, John White served as the Superintendent of
the Louisiana Recovery School District, which included Orleans Parish schools
post-Hurricane Katrina; and
WHEREAS, John White has been described as a hard-charging education reform
evangelist, who launched Louisiana Believes, the state plan to ensure that every child is on
track to college or a professional career; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with that plan, he helped usher in statewide expansion
of school vouchers, tougher annual evaluations for public school teachers, and stricter rules
on how public schools are rated; and
WHEREAS, John White worked to unify the state's fragmented early childhood
system; and
WHEREAS, he modernized the curriculum and professionalized the preparation of
educators in an effort to provide and enhance the pathways to prosperity for all high school
graduates; and
WHEREAS, John White's efforts resulted in Louisiana being better educated today
than at any time in the state's history; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, Louisiana boasted an increased graduation rate of 81% which
translates to about 5,000 more students graduating, enrolling in community colleges, or
universities; and
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WHEREAS, Louisiana ranked No. 1 in 2019 on the National Assessment of
Education Progress (NAEP) for improvement in eighth grade mathematics and it ranks in
the top 10 among states for improvement on all four main NAEP tests; and
WHEREAS, more Louisiana graduates than ever before have earned TOPS
scholarships to ease the financial burden of a college degree; and
WHEREAS, John White has vacated his position as Louisiana's State Superintendent
of Education effective March 11, 2020; and
WHEREAS, John White stated that, "his greatest blessing and privilege of his career
was being named state superintendent of education for Louisiana".
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend John Charles White for eight years of service as Louisiana's State
Superintendent of Education and wish him the best in his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
John Charles White.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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