Legislation

Let's Talk About the Raise

Thousands of Louisiana educators wrote to their legislators asking them to reconsider the budget and fund larger pay increases, but on Thursday, May 27th the Senate finalized and approved the budget with no additional funding for schools or school employees.

The finalized budget has now been signed by both the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate and is awaiting signature from the Governor.

On Tuesday, June 8th the MFP (SCR 2) was approved by the full Senate .

After much back and forth, the MFP was finalized in the legislature and in the budget. It will provide for a 1.375% ($40 million) increase in per pupil funding (from $4,015 to $4,070 per student) as well as an $800 raise for every teachers/certified employee and a $400 for each non-certified support employee.

LFT members sent nearly 7,000 emails to Louisiana Senators asking them to oppose Senate Bill 22 – and your voices were heard! On Tuesday, April 27th Senate Bill 22 by Senator Peacock came before the full Senate and was returned to the calendar.

LFT strongly opposed Senate Bill 22 because it would have raised the age of retirement to 67 for all future employees. In order to receive full benefits, new teachers, school employees, bus drivers and other public servants would have to work 40 years, or until the age of 67.

House Bill 35 – Take SLT’s Out of Teacher Evaluations This Year

LFT worked with Senator Troy Carter to develop legislation that would ensure SLT’s and all measures of student growth could not be used as part of teacher’s evaluations for this year. After everything that teachers and students have been through this year, we know that these test results will not accurately reflect your abilities as an educator, but instead could add extra pressure and stress to an already difficult year.

House Bill 35 was on the schedule for the Senate Education Committee this week, but ended up being delayed. It’s vital that the Committee hears from dedicated educators like you before they consider this important legislation.

Click here to send an email to the Committee in support of SB 35.

Senate Bill 22 – Making it Harder to Retire

Senate Bill 22 would raise the age of retirement to 67 for all future employees. In order to receive full benefits, new teachers, school employees, bus drivers and other public servants will have to work 40 years, or until the age of 67.

On Wednesday morning, the Senate Education Committee will consider Senate Bill 35 by Senator Troy Carter. LFT worked with Senator Carter to develop this legislation to help protect teachers and students from circumstances beyond their control.

Ask the Senate Education Committee to VOTE YES on Senate Bill 35!

Thank you to the thousands of concerned teachers, school employees, and retirees who sent letters to the Senate Retirement Committee this weekend! Your outcry made a difference -- but despite our work, Senate Bill 22 did successfully pass through the Senate Retirement Committee.

Now, the bill must return to the Senate Floor, for a full vote of the Senate before moving on to the Louisiana House of Representatives for approval. Please take a moment to ask your Senator to VOTE NO on this unnecessary and damaging legislation.

Senate Bill 22 would raise the age of retirement to 67 for all future employees. In order to receive full benefits, new teachers, school employees, bus drivers and other public servants will have to work 40 years, or until the age of 67.

The 2021 Legislative Session began Monday, April 12th and LFT is tracking nearly 50 bills, all with the potential to impact Louisiana teachers, school employees, and their students. Our primary areas of focus include legislation around teacher & student evaluations, ensuring a pay raise for teachers & school employees, protecting employees’ union rights and protecting public funding sources for public education.

Here’s what you need to know:

On Monday, the Senate Retirement Committee will consider Senate Bill 22. This legislation would require teachers and state employees to work until the age of 67 in order to receive their full benefit, regardless of how long they have worked. It could result in slashed benefits for future employees, casting retirees into poverty.

Send a letter to the Senate Retirement Committee asking them to oppose Senate Bill 22.

Today, the MFP Task Force met to discuss the funding formula for Louisiana K-12 Public Schools. Each year, the task force meets to develop a recommendation for the school funding formula. That recommendation will be considered by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education when they develop their proposal for consideration by the Louisiana Legislature.

Today, Governor Edwards announced that he plans to include a small pay increase for teachers and school employees in his new Executive Budget. He proposed $400 for teachers and $200 for support employees. What remains unclear, is if this would result in a sustained raise or a one-time stipend, and whether or not there will also be additional monies put in level 1 of the MFP for schools to use more generally.

This week we conclude the second week in the ongoing Special Legislative Session, bringing us to nearly the half way point. Due to the oncoming Hurricane Delta, some meetings were moved up until earlier in the week, most notably both the House Education and Senate Education Committees conducted their weekly meetings at the same time on Wednesday morning. They both considered important legislation, but here are some of the highlights:

Let's Talk About the Raise

Senate Bill 22 Fails to Pass the Senate - But Can it Come Back?

Week 2 at the Legislature

House Bill 35 – Take SLT’s Out of Teacher Evaluations This Year

Senate Bill 22 – Making it Harder to Retire

Action Alert: We Need to Pass Senate Bill 35

Ask the Senate Education Committee to VOTE YES on Senate Bill 35!

Senate Bill 22 Passed Senate Retirement Committee

The Legislative Session is Underway!

Action Alert: Save Your Retirement System

MFP Task Forces Passes Recommendation on School Funding

Meager Pay Raise or Meager Stipend? Ask the BESE and the Governor…

2nd Special Session: Week Two!