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(Baton Rouge – July 26, 2012) The Louisiana Federation of Teachers today asked the State Department of Education to hold a hearing at which critiques, comments and suggestions for improvements can be made in regard to accountability standards for private and religious schools that will accept vouchers this fall.

(Baton Rouge – July 24, 2012) Rules approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to impose accountability on the new statewide school voucher program are little more than a sham, spokesmen for the Louisiana Federation of Teachers said today.

Ruling does not mean voucher scheme is legal, judge says

(Baton Rouge – July 10, 2012) A state district judge today said that the law will not allow him to temporarily halt a state voucher program that threatens to divert millions of dollars from public schools into largely unregulated private and religious schools, course providers and homeschoolers.

Judge Tim Kelly of the 19th Judicial District based his ruling on two statements, signed by State Superintendent of Education John White and Commissioner of Administration Paul Rainwater. Their affidavits claim that the injunction requested by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and others would cause the state to have deficit spending.

The judge said that his ruling will have no effect on the ultimate outcome of the lawsuit, which claims that Gov. Bobby Jindal’s school voucher program is unconstitutional for a number of reasons.

Jefferson Federation of Teachers triumphs over School Board again

(June 25, 2012, Jefferson Parish, LA)  The 24th Judicial District Court of Jefferson Parish ruled today in favor of the Jefferson Federation of Teachers and against the Jefferson Parish School Board.  Judge Raymond Steib issued a permanent injunction stopping the School Board from applying its Reduction in Force (RIF) policy as implemented on July 13, 2011. 

A new public relations slogan from the state’s Department of Education claims that "Louisiana Believes." However, Louisiana educators don’t seem quite ready to believe that what's being pitched comes close to being "the real thing."

(New Orleans – June 20, 2012) A civil district court judge in New Orleans has determined that more than 6,800 teachers and school employees were illegally fired in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

We share the frustration of thousands of Louisiana citizens concerning the administration’s apparent disregard of the constitution and the rule of law, the misguided education agenda, and the assault on working families.

The sense of betrayal fueling the campaign to recall the governor is understandable.

UPDATE: School Board Association joins LFT lawsuit

(Baton Rouge - June 28, 2012) The Louisiana School Boards Association and 31 local school boards today filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Act 2 of 2012, sometimes referred to as the "voucher law."

(Baton Rouge - June 7, 2012) Challenging the legality of Governor Bobby Jindal’s signature education initiatives, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers today filed two lawsuits in Baton Rouge’s 19th Judicial District Court asking to have Acts 1 and 2 of the 2012 legislative session set aside.

(Baton Rouge - June 4, 2012) Calling today’s vote by the House of Representatives to fund Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education agenda “the fruit of a poisoned tree,” Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said the next stage for this sad saga will be in Louisiana courtrooms.

(Baton Rouge – May 10, 2012) The Legislature should reject a proposed $3.4 billion public education budget because it violates the state constitution and could enrich as-yet unidentified private companies at the expense of public schools across the state, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today.