Originally published: . Volume 8, No. 3. Source pages: 15.
Louisiana Connects Education Leaders, Non-Profit Partners in January Redesign Summit
The Louisiana Department of Education is taking steps to improve the state's persistently struggling schools in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Officials hosted a first-of-its-kind School Redesign Summit in New Orleans in January. More than 350 educators and 150 representatives from nearly 50 partner organizations attended to exchange ideas and plan for action, according to government officals in a recent news release.
Louisiana has reduced the number of D and F- rated schools in recent years, benefitting thousands of students who otherwise would have been assigned to a struggling school. But there remain schools in the state whose challenges are significant, according to state officials. Under ESSA, school systems are required to develop plans to improve student achievement in low performing schools, and the state is charged with reviewing the plans and selecting the school systems with the strongest, evidence-based strategies to receive competitive grants.
One of the possible partners that may be involved is the Health & Education Alliance of Louisiana (formerly the Childhood and Family Learning Foundation). The Alliance addresses physical health, mental health and social barriers to success in education and consists of nurses and psychologists, school social worker, school nurse, a designated school leadership representative, and other disciplines as the need arises. Dr. Deborah Palmer-Seal, a member of the Alliance and a clinical psychologist, presented on the Whole Child, CDC model last year to a convention of psychologists in the state.
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