The Louisiana Senate has approved a bill that would provide state money for 1,500 low- to middle-income students in New Orleans to attend private schools. A similar version passed the House last month.
The New Orleans public school system has been known for corruption, bad management and poor student performance, The Associated Press reported.
Candi Cushman, education analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said other states can learn lessons from Louisiana.
“The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina has allowed the governor and legislators a rare opportunity to build a school system from scratch,” she said. “They have been able to cut through the obstacles formerly put up by union leaders and entrenched in bureaucracy, and are empowering lower- and middle-income families to make the best education choices for their kids.”
Research by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice found that just 10 percent to 19 percent of parents would choose public schools for their children if given the choice. The survey was conducted in Idaho, Illinois, Nevada and Tennessee.
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Turn Signal highlights another key Louisiana bill.
