The budget crisis
There is grim news for our schools in Governor Bobby Jindal's budget.
Because of bad choices made over the past few years, the state is facing a huge deficit. The governor’s budget “fixes” the problem by freezing or cutting funds for public education.
Already, the governor has frozen the modest 4% merit increase for state
employees.
If the governor’s budget passes as is, it will mean:
- No more state stipends for nationally certified teachers, guidance counselors, librarians, and therapists.
- Over $100 million in Minimum Foundation Program growth funds will be eliminated.
- Local school systems will be forced to pay for transportation of private and religious school students.
- Nearly $13 million in mid-year education budget cuts will be annualized.
But at the same time, the governor’s budget increases funds for religious school vouchers in New Orleans and quasi-public charter schools. The department of education will get $73 million for a whole new bureaucracy.
The Louisiana Federation of Teachers believes these budget choices are wrong for our teachers and school employees, wrong for our schools and wrong for the children we serve. We will work with lawmakers in the legislative session to halt the cuts to public education.
Take action! Send the House Appropriations Committee a message about the budget.
The first stop for the governor's proposed budget is the House Appropriations Committee. Please click this link and send committee members this message: Don't starve public education!
The message you send to lawmakers will state, in part, "Your committee is our first line of defense against bad budget choices. Please stand up against a budget that will starve our schools and threaten the progress we have made for our children."
Download a flyer about the budget crisis and share it with your colleague: Click here.
Read the accounts of the budget crisis published in the Federation's EdLog: Click here.
Read the State Department of Education's press release on the budget: Click here.
Read the LFT's recent convention resolution on the Minimum Foundation Program: Click here.