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Financial crisis could wipe out gains made over the years, says LFT president (Baton Rouge – October 30, 2010) A recent announcement that average teacher salaries in Louisiana have risen by 85% over the past 15 years may be a tribute to the accomplishments of the past, but says little about the challenges of the future, according to Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan. Read More

(Baton Rouge – October 20, 2010) As the state’s top school board begins grappling with the prospect of even more cuts to public education, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan urged board members “to see that the crisis we are in is real” and to embrace choices that strengthen communities and schools. Read More

(Baton Rouge – October 18, 2010) Unless Governor Bobby Jindal and the legislature can agree on some new funding sources, “the dismantling of education will be the coffin that we bury Louisiana in for decades to come,” Senator Ben Nevers (D-Bogalusa) told the Press Club of Baton Rouge today. Read More

How much do you know about Louisiana's state budget? Answer five questions, and you could win a prize! We’ve created a simple, five-question test about the state budget. Knowing the answers to these questions will get us started down the road to a secure future for our schools and our state. Please take this short quiz, and if you get all five questions right, you will be entered in a drawing for an LFT briefcase loaded with school supplies. In an upcoming edition of the LFT E-News, we’ll print the correct answers and name the winner. Click here to take Read More

In an effort to overturn a decision against a recruiting company charged with victimizing Filipino teachers hired to work in Louisiana schools, attorney Murphy J. Foster went on the offensive Monday against the unions representing the foreign teachers. Read More

Hundreds of Filipino guestworkers lured to teach in Louisiana public schools were cheated out of tens of thousands of dollars and forced into exploitative contracts by an international trafficking ring run by labor contractors, according to a class action lawsuit filed August 5 by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and Covington & Burling LLP. Read More

As promised, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Act 749, Governor Bobby Jindal’s “Red Tape Reduction and Local Waiver Empowerment Program.” Joining LFT in the lawsuit, filed in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge, are the East Baton Rouge Federation of Teachers and the Jefferson Federation of Teachers. Read More

(Baton Rouge – June 18, 2010) The Louisiana Federation of Teachers will file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of HB 1368, the so-called “Red Tape Reduction and Local Waiver Empowerment Program,” Federation President Steve Monaghan announced today Read More

(June 16, 2010) On Tuesday evening, the Senate joined the House of Representatives in surrendering its lawmaking authority to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. By a 23-14 vote, the Senate approved HB 1368 by Rep. Jane Smith (R-Bossier City), the so-called Red Tape Reduction and Local Waiver Empowerment program. LFT strongly opposed the bill, calling it a "misnamed and misleading" assault on public education and the separation of powers in state government Read More

How bad can things get for public education in Louisiana? As the old song says, “You ain’t seen nothing yet.” Read More

Undeterred by the objections of teachers, the House of Representatives approved Gov. Bobby Jindal’s signature education legislation, HB 1368 by Rep. Jane Smith (R-Bossier City), by a 68-20 margin. The fight to stop this misleading and mislabeled bill will now move to the Senate, with its first stop at the Education Committee. Read More

Where we stand and who we are This is a session that cries out for tough, smart, clear-eyed leadership from the union that represents professional educators. It calls for leaders who are willing to do the hard work of researching the issues, forming the positions, and building the coalitions it takes to make an impact in the legislature. Read More

LFT President Steve Monaghan discusses the Federation's support for teacher tenure, and talks about ensuring tenure's role as a professional distinction and mark of excellence. Read More

Universal Placement International to repay $1.8 million in illegally charged fees. (Baton Rouge – April 16, 2010) A Louisiana Workforce Commission administrative law judge has ruled in favor of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, the American Federation of Teachers and Filipino educators who were victims of an illegitimate California-based recruiting firm. Read More

LFT president: Recruiter’s behavior “disgusting and an affront to basic American values.” (Baton Rouge - April 6, 2009) Filipino teachers in Louisiana saw the wheels of justice take a turn on Monday when the state’s Workforce Development Commission held a hearing on the validity of contracts that allegedly violate state and federal law. Read More

Watch LFT President Steve Monaghan briefly describe the budget crisis facing public education in Louisiana. Then click here to learn more about the issue, and to see what you can do to help solve the problem! Read More

(Baton Rouge – February 23, 2010) Governor Bobby Jindal should rethink budget plans that would force local school boards to shoulder millions of dollars of expenses that should be paid by the state, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today Read More

(Baton Rouge – February 9, 2010) Instead of imposing even more top-down regulations that suggest little concern for the perspective or expertise of classroom educators, Gov. Bobby Jindal should work with educators as he crafts his legislative agenda for the coming session, Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan said today. Read More