Louisiana House Bill HCR7

Louisiana 2014 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/10/14
• Refer: 3/11/14

Caption

Requests the state Dept. of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and adopt academic standards that are rigorous and effective for all La. students

Impact

The resolution's implications are significant for the state's educational framework. By insisting on rigorous standards, the document seeks to elevate the quality of education across Louisiana's public schools. It reinforces the role of the state in education governance, specifically aiming to prevent the delegation of authority to national organizations or groups. This approach could potentially enhance the local control enjoyed by school districts and allows tailored responses to educational challenges that reflect community values and expectations.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution No. 7 (HCR7) urges the Louisiana Department of Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop and adopt rigorous academic standards for public school students. The resolution emphasizes the need for these standards to be effective and tailored to the specific needs of Louisiana students, maintaining a commitment to high expectations for educational outcomes. Its primary focus is to ensure that the educational standards are locally accountable and not influenced by external national standards or federal mandates, fostering a sense of state sovereignty in educational matters.

Sentiment

Sentiment around HCR7 appears to be largely supportive among state legislators advocating for local control and tailored educational practices. There is a strong emphasis on the desire to craft standards that resonate with Louisiana's unique context. However, concerns from some community members regarding the implications of standardized testing and the potential narrowing of curriculum due to rigid standards may contribute to reservations held by opponents of prescriptive measures in education.

Contention

Several points of contention surface around the adoption of specific academic standards, particularly regarding the tension between state requirements and local autonomy. Critics of nationwide standards, including the Common Core Initiative, have expressed worries over federally mandated assessments potentially infringing on local educational policymaking. HCR7 explicitly calls for consultations with various stakeholders, such as parents and educators, to ensure that any new standards are not burdensome or intrusive. This highlights the ongoing debate between maintaining academic rigor and ensuring the flexibility needed for diverse student populations.