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• Alleged Assault Investigated at Krotz Springs Elementary Play Video

  May 16, 2013 7:35 PM

  Police are investigating an alleged assault at a St. Landry Parish school. A substitute teacher at Krotz Springs Elementary is accused of throwing the top of a desk across the classroom and flipping a student out of his seat. Both the school board and the police department wouldn't... more »

• Four Charter Schools Could be Built in Lafayette

  May 14, 2013 7:12 PM

  Four charter schools could soon be on the way for Lafayette Parish. Wednesday afternoon, the school board will consider partnering with Charter Schools USA. Like other charter schools, those with this company would run on private donations and some public funds. Charter USA requires parental involvement and teacher... more »

• Voters to Decide on Property Tax to Support Basile High Play Video

  May 3, 2013 7:04 PM

  In Acadia and Evangeline Parishes, voters will decide whether to renew a 10-year property tax to fund the Basile High School Athletic Department. The tax generates roughly 74-thousand dollars for the school. The property tax, enacted nearly thirty years ago, has been renewed three times. The money allows the... more »

• Police Looking for Clues into Pressure Cooker Bomb Threat Play Video

  May 2, 2013 6:31 PM

  The search is on for whoever threatened to blow up Broussard Middle School using a pressure cooker bomb. The campus is on South Morgan Street off the Amabassador Caffery Extension. Around 9:30 Thursday morning, Broussard Police evacuated students to a nearby church. After a two hour search, nothing... more »

• State Debating Higher Education Tuition Hikes Play Video

  April 30, 2013 7:26 PM

  Depending what happens in the legislature, tuition could rise for thousands of students at universities across the state. Tuesday, the House Education Committee held a hearing on a proposed bill which would allow universities to raise tuition without legislative approval. "We're trying desperately to maintain quality and performance... more »

• Acadiana Teachers Rally at State Capitol Play Video

  April 24, 2013 10:26 PM

  Teachers from all over Acadiana hit the steps of the Capitol calling for change. They made it very clear they don't support Governor Bobby Jindal's education proposals, specifically the Act One Legislation. That plan consists of a number of education bills, some deal with teacher evaluations and others would... more »

• Math Program Teachers selected for math education program

  April 18, 2013 8:46 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Fourteen math teachers from Iberia, Lafayette and Vermilion parishes have been selected for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's "Louisiana Mathematics Masters in the Middle," a professional development program. The Advocate reports the university received a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to provide... more »

• 10-Thousand Books Will be Delivered to Area Students Play Video

  April 16, 2013 6:39 PM

  KATC and the United Way of Acadiana are handing out more than ten thousand books this week to students at schools across Acadiana. This is made possible because of Acadiana's generosity during our second annual Day of Literacy in March. Hundreds of new and gently used books were donated... more »

• Louisiana Schools Will Transition to Online Testing Play Video

  April 9, 2013 7:06 PM

  For years, standardized testing has been the same in Louisiana, the Leap and the I-Leap. Soon, those tests will be a thing of the past. The new test, Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or "PARCC" will be online. The test is designed to track students'... more »

• LPSB Overpaid Overtime Play Video

  April 2, 2013 6:59 PM

  The Lafayette Parish School Board is looking to change its overtime policy after tens of thousands of dollars were improperly paid in overtime. They are blaming it on a policy change eight years ago that they say led to employees mis-interpreting the policy's true meaning. The human resources... more »

• Pre-K is Helping Students Succeed in the Classroom Play Video

  March 14, 2013 6:32 PM

  The Lafayette Parish School System could receive a nearly 350-thousand dollar state grant for children in pre-k. The majority of funding for pre-k in Lafayette Parish comes from grants and what's called title one funding. If the parish receives the new grant, it'll provide money for the first year... more »

• One School is Taking Discipline Issues to the Courtroom Play Video

  March 7, 2013 6:23 PM

  One Acadiana high school is taking a unique approach to discipline students. Their own peers are deciding how they should be punished. Teen Court is an alternative to school board policy. It keep students in the classroom and avoids school suspension or after school detention. Every Tuesday and... more »

• Assistant hire continues driving drama at LPSS Play Video

  March 5, 2013 6:33 PM

  While Lafayette Parish Public Schools Superintendent Pat Cooper has repeated his support for Special Assistant Thad Welch, the hiring of his former school maintenance and transportation director from McComb, Miss., has raised questions among school board members, especially after they learned that Welch does not have a high school diploma... more »

• Lawmaker Goes Undercover in the Classroom Play Video

  February 22, 2013 7:31 PM

  Acadiana teachers are hopeful after an education forum sponsored by the Louisiana Association of Educators and KATC. More than one hundred twenty people attended Thursday night's forum at the David Thibodeaux Stem Academy in Lafayette and it was one of the largest crowds so far. Louisiana Association of Educators... more »

• St. Martin, Vermilion Superintendents Fire Back Against Accusations from State Play Video

  October 18, 2012 10:49 PM

  St. Martin Parish Schools Superintendent Richard Lavergne is fighting back after the Louisiana Department of Education publicly called out his school system for not following the law. The law is part of the education reforms pushed through by Governor Bobby Jindal earlier this year and it takes away seniority... more »

• Tools for Schools Drive is Well Underway Play Video

  July 31, 2012 9:13 AM

  Many Acadiana children could use your help getting basic school supplies. With school just weeks away parents are gearing up and hitting the ground running looking for the best deals to make sure their child has the right tools for school. "It's a pretty long list and I... more »

• Louisiana Federation of Teachers Filing Lawsuits Against the State and BESE Play Video

  June 7, 2012 7:14 PM

  The Louisiana Federation of Teachers files two lawsuits against the state and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The agency says the way the legislature handled Governor Jindal's education package was unconstitutional. Governor Jindal signed a series of bills changing public education, which include allowing the state to pay... more »

• Legislative Session Comes to an End Play Video

  June 4, 2012 8:08 PM

  Legislative session wrapping up today, ending three months of disputes over budgets, retirement, and education. Governor Jindal lost on his push to change the state's pension plans, instead a new retirement plan will be on the table for those hired in 2013 and beyond.The governor, however, did win support on... more »

• Caddo looks to outsource alternative education

  May 7, 2012 9:13 AM

  SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - An effort to boost student success in the Caddo Parish alternative public schools may come through outsourcing them to a company nationally recognized company. The board currently is reviewing a proposal by Superintendent Gerald Dawkins to contract with Ombudsman Educational Services, a division of Educational Services... more »

• Lawmakers seek more education about refund cards

  April 11, 2012 6:00 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - JPMorgan Chase officials said Tuesday that they will do more to educate Louisiana residents receiving tax refunds on debit cards about how they can avoid fees for accessing their money. Louisiana's revenue department has replaced refund checks with pre-paid Chase Visa cards for taxpayers who... more »

• Senate poised for historic education vote

  April 4, 2012 9:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's Senate is nearing a vote that could end the Legislature's historic resistance to state-funded tuition for students in private schools. A House-passed measure on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon would expand a pilot program in New Orleans into a statewide voucher system for students... more »

• Senate panel Oks Jindal education bills

  March 30, 2012 9:13 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Complex legislation that paves the way to more easily create public charter schools and establishes a statewide private school voucher system - key parts of the governor's education package - was unanimously approved by a state Senate committee on Thursday. The measure also curbs local... more »

• Jindal education bills up for House debate

  March 22, 2012 11:04 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Debate has begun in the state House on bills making broad changes to Louisiana education law. Thursday's debate began with consideration of a bill to make government-funded private school tuition available for low-to-moderate income families whose children now attend low-performing public schools. That provision is... more »

• La. Senate backs early childhood education grades

  March 22, 2012 6:09 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's mishmash system of prekindergarten and early childhood education programs would be coordinated and graded on performance under a Jindal administration proposal that received unanimous backing Wednesday from the Louisiana Senate. The proposal would assign letter grades to preschools, streamline governance and pull funding for... more »

• More to education bills than vouchers, tenure

  March 22, 2012 6:06 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Vouchers, charters and tenure are the buzz words in legislation coming up for debate in the House on Thursday but the details in the complicated bills are more far-reaching than the often-brief descriptions in news stories might indicate. If passed, they would continue an erosion... more »

• Education program is a prelude to Nicholls fest

  March 12, 2012 6:37 AM

  THIBODAUX, La. (AP) - Artists, historians and craftspeople will speak to and perform for 2,000 primary, middle and secondary students at the "Tresors du Bayou" program Friday at Nicholls State University. The students also will learn Cajun versions of the waltz, two-step and jitterbug. The program is a prelude to... more »

• Education Summit Set in Lafayette

  February 12, 2012 2:19 PM

  Public input on the direction of public education will be sought in a conference set Feb. 28 in Lafayette. The Advocate reports ( http://bit.ly/AvKEW1 ) the session will include community members, business leaders and educators. Angela Morrison, chief of community impact for the United Way of Acadiana, said the program... more »

• Analysis: La. education debate mired in rhetoric

  January 27, 2012 6:45 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - With nearly two months before lawmakers even consider a single education bill, the rhetorical fight is hot and heavy between Gov. Bobby Jindal and the teacher unions who oppose his plans. Both sides accuse the other of offensive remarks, demeaning parents or teachers depending on... more »

• State higher education spending sees big decline

  January 23, 2012 10:16 AM

  MIAMI (AP) - State funding for higher education has declined because of a slow recovery from the recession and the end of federal stimulus money, according to a study released Monday. Overall, spending declined by some $6 billion, or nearly 8 percent, over the past year, according to the annual... more »

• Jindal outlines his education agenda Tuesday

  January 17, 2012 10:58 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - After months of behind-the-scenes meetings, Gov. Bobby Jindal is unveiling his education proposals for the upcoming regular session, the centerpiece of his legislative agenda this year. Jindal has repeatedly said he wants to give more choice to children in failing schools. He is expected to... more »

• LEF's 14th annual Teacher Awards Play Video

  January 16, 2012 9:29 AM

  Lafayette Education Foundation presents the 14th annual Teacher Awards!! It will be held at the Heymann Performing Arts Center on January 26, 2012. The event starts at 7:30pm, but students, family and fans should arrive around 7 to welcome all the nominees!! For more information please visit: www.lefoundation.org or... more »

• Education documentary to be shown free in La.

  January 12, 2012 10:52 AM

  METAIRIE, La. (AP) - A documentary narrated by actor Matt Damon that addresses problems facing the nation's public education system is being shown free of charge in Metairie, La. The film, "American Teacher," is being circulated among education officials nationwide. On Monday, a free screening is being offered in Louisiana... more »

• Some Acadiana Schools Doing More With Less

  September 20, 2011 6:46 PM

  If your school district receives more money than others, does it mean your child is getting a better education? A new study reveals some of the parishes that spend the most per pupil are not performing as well as others who have less cash flow. Here is a list... more »

• 'Glee' DVD Maker Donates to Music Education

  September 9, 2011 10:12 AM

  NEW YORK (AP) - The maker of the "Glee" DVDs is donating $1 million to school arts programs across the country. Twentieth Century Fox Entertainment announced the donation Friday, saying it will work with the National Association for Music Education to get the money to schools. The company says 73... more »

• Congratulations Class of 2011

  May 22, 2011 12:32 AM

  Congratulations to the class of 2011! Saturday, all Lafayette Public School seniors got to walk across the stage, and slide their tassels over. Graduation ceremonies were held at the Cajundome where thousands of diplomas were handed out to the now high school grads. more »

• Board Ends Block Scheduling, Students Outraged

  May 19, 2011 4:34 AM

  Wednesday night, the Lafayette Parish School Board voted to end block scheduling at high schools in the parish. That scheduling format has been in place in Lafayette high schools since 2004, allowing students to take 4 classes each day, every other day. That allowed them the opportunity to take... more »

• Two Charter Schools Proposed in Acadiana

  March 10, 2011 7:27 PM

  A proposal for a new charter school is in the works in St. Landry and Lafayette Parish. The charter school in Lafayette, Harvest Prearatory Academy, has been denied twice, but a proposal was resubmitted a few weeks ago. Tiffanie Lewis, Executive Director of Outreach Community Development Corporation, said children deserve... more »

• LPSB Stimulus funds End

  February 24, 2011 7:39 PM

  A money pool for the Lafayette Parish School Board has dried up. In the past two years, $16 million in federal stimulus money has helped fund several school programs, but that ends this June. That means, unless another source of money, like grants, is found, those programs may have... more »

• Role of Counselors

  February 18, 2011 7:22 PM

  An educational committee in Baton Rouge is pushing for new guidelines to better define the role of school counselors. The Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence is a group of teachers, lawmakers, superintendents, business leaders and college faculty. They tackle school issues, finding solutions to the problems and present their... more »

• Teachers Honored at Oscar-Style Ceremony

  January 27, 2011 11:42 PM

  Teachers stepped out of the classroom and onto the red carpet Thursday night for the 13th annual Lafayette Education Foundation Teacher Awards. The Oscar-style ceremony took place at the Heymann Performing Arts Center to honor and recognize the teachers in Lafayette Parish. "It's really neat to be made over... more »

• "Waiting for Superman" Screening Spurs Education Discussion

  January 13, 2011 12:03 AM

  Educators from across Acadiana are taking a hard look at our public education system Wednesday night -- by watching a film. Hundreds of people, from teachers, superintendents, school board members to parish leaders filled the Grand Theater in Lafayette to watch the documentary "Waiting for Superman." After the screening there... more »

• 3 Sworn in on UL Board

  January 8, 2011 10:57 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two new members have taken their posts on the governing board of the University of Louisiana system, while another has started another term. During the board's Friday meeting in Baton Rouge, Carl Shetler, of Lake Charles, began his new six-year term. He has been on... more »

• 1st Full-Time Culinary Arts HS Program in NO

  December 26, 2010 11:50 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - With a strong assist from former Notre Dame basketball coach Digger Phelps, John McDonogh High School is planning to offer New Orleans' first full-time culinary arts program for high school students. Beginning next fall, about 100 sophomores from across the city will enroll in the program,... more »

• Opelousas General Health Systems Partners in Education Receive Gifts

  December 21, 2010 10:30 AM

  Opelousas, LA - Opelousas General Health System delivered gifts Friday to their two "Partners in Education" schools. Grolee Elementary and Park Vista Elementary teachers and faculty were presented with note caddies as a token of appreciation for what they do all year for the children. The Holiday season is the... more »

• Education board considers new biology textbooks

  December 7, 2010 9:29 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state's education board is considering whether to approve new high school biology textbooks for public school students, in a debate tied up in complaints about the teaching of evolution. Critics of the books have said they fail to explain the many scientific challenges to... more »

• NP Moss will be Converted to Thibodaux Career and Technical College

  November 16, 2010 7:19 PM

  It's official NP Moss Middle School will be the new site for the Thibodaux Career and Technical School. This decision comes after months of school board members looking all over Lafayette for the best location. The technical school has been in the works for 16 years now, finally after... more »

• $147 Million In Federal Education Money Will Now Go To Fill In Budget Gaps

  November 10, 2010 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek has told school superintendents their districts won't receive an expected infusion of $147 million in federal education money. Instead, The Associated Press has learned that Pastorek told the superintendents in a Wednesday conference call that the Jindal administration plans... more »

• Ark. school official accused of anti-gay comment

  October 27, 2010 6:40 PM

  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A member of a northern Arkansas school board, commenting on a campaign to get people to wear purple to show support for bullied gay and lesbian youth, purportedly posted on Facebook that the only way he would wear purple is "if they all commit suicide."... more »

• Lafayette Education Foundation Teacher Awards 2011

  October 26, 2010 9:48 AM

  Lafayette Education Foundation Teacher Awards 2011 will be at the Heymann and Performing Arts Center on January 27, 2011 from 7:30PM-9:30PM. LEF Teacher Awards is a special awards event complete with limousines and red carpet. The Academy Awards style event was designed to honor Lafayette Parish School teachers for... more »

• Eunice Elementary Receives National Award

  October 22, 2010 6:42 PM

  Eunice Elementary is one of only four schools in Louisiana to be named a Blue Ribbon School. Kindergartener Abigail Sonnier said, "there's really good students here and they have been working really hard to learn." Sonnier has one more reason to be proud of Eunice Elementary...she can now... more »

• Obama Signs Executive Order to Boost Hispanic Education Achievement

  October 19, 2010 3:42 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama signed an executive order Tuesday intended to boost Hispanic education achievement, a priority for a key voting bloc two weeks ahead of critical midterm elections. The measure is intended to widen the scope of a long-standing White House initiative on Latino education by... more »

• Higher Education Budget Cuts

  October 18, 2010 7:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The head of the state Senate's education committee said Monday he supports temporary tax increases or delays in tax breaks to stop budget cuts to public colleges and other educational programs. Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, said he favors a reversal of tax breaks for... more »

• 4 Star School

  October 7, 2010 7:47 PM

  School performance scores were released Thursday by the Louisiana Department of Education. Among the results, was some good news for the Lafayette Parish School System. The district is now home to six 4-star schools, more than any other district in Acadiana. Joining Woodvale Elementary and Paul Breaux Middle, from last... more »

• State Releases School Scores Today

  October 7, 2010 3:44 PM

  2010 State, District and School Performance Scores are released by the Louisiana Department of Education today. KATC will have the numbers for Lafayette tonight at 5 and 6. News Release: BATON ROUGE, La. – More Louisiana schools and districts are making the grade. The number of schools... more »

• Seven Million Dollar Building Coming to LSU Eunice

  September 23, 2010 7:14 PM

  It took 20 years of waiting but today, LSU Eunice finally broke ground on a new building to house the school's continuing education offices, classrooms and auditoriums. It's a 7.4 million investment in community education. The 42,000 square foot building will provide additional classrooms, which sophomore Erica Lebert said... more »

• Lafayette's Don Trahan Leaving Department of Education

  September 23, 2010 9:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - Officials say a former state legislative leader who joined the state Department of Education is leaving the agency. Don Trahan, former chairman of the Louisiana House Education Committee, was hired in 2008 at $110,000 per year to spread the department's message to business leaders and others.... more »

• LA's Top Education Leader Won't Take His Pay Raise of $22,000

  September 15, 2010 4:53 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's top education leader won't take his pay raise this year because of the state's budget troubles. Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek will keep his $377,000 pay package, without adding the 6 percent boost he could have gotten. The raise would have given him another... more »

• Lafayette Parish Teachers Learning Suicide Prevention

  August 4, 2010 6:04 PM

  Comeaux High teacher, Hilary Leblanc, said "I once had a young golfer who committed suicide and it was a traumatic event for me and the members of our golf team." Leblanc has seen the devastation of suicide first hand and says he never noticed any warning signs. "A... more »

• Broussard Middle Getting Ready for the New Year

  August 3, 2010 7:11 PM

  School hasn't officially started yet, but teachers and faculty at Broussard Middle School are hard at work getting ready for the new school year. Chad Guillory, 6th grade math teacher, said "it's a long process, but that's why you come in early, try to put in those... more »

• Three School Board Members Retire

  July 8, 2010 7:40 PM

  Within weeks of each other--three veterans of the Lafayette Parish School Board announced their retiring. Between the three of them there's fifty-seven years of experience. Mike Hefner, Edward Sam, and Carl LaCombe have all decided this is their last year. LaCombe said, "Mr. Sam and Mr. Hefner getting... more »

• Interim Commissioner Of Higher Education

  July 8, 2010 12:43 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana could have an interim commissioner of higher education next week and the position should be permanently filled in October, according to a tentative timeline approved Wednesday. The Louisiana Board of Regents also is moving forward with plans to hire a national headhunter firm to... more »

• Jindal Education Bill: Lawsuit Filed By Teachers Union

  July 1, 2010 1:04 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A teachers union has sued over a new law pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal to let public schools waive certain state education regulations. The lawsuit was filed by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers on Thursday - one day after Jindal signed the bill into law.... more »

• Education Department to Lay Off 31

  June 11, 2010 2:28 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Department of Education is laying off 31 employees because of budget cuts. The department announced the layoffs Friday. They will take effect July 1 and include positions in management and finance, the regional education centers, and the school and community support office. Superintendent... more »

• Safe & Drug Free Schools Program: Funding Cut

  May 19, 2010 6:37 PM

  Another educational program feels the blow of budget cuts. The State's "Safe and Drug Free Schools" Program will not receive federal funding for the upcoming school year. The program has been implemented in Lafayette Parish for over 30 years. Supervisor of the Lafayette Parish program, Maxine Hamilton, says parents... more »

• House Committee Backs Gov. Jindals Education Bill

  May 7, 2010 9:37 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - A House committee has backed one of Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature education bills that would let public schools function more like charter schools, allowing them to waive state laws and education policies. The bill by Bossier City Rep. Jane Smith would let school superintendents apply for... more »

• Commissioner of Higher Education: Voluntarily Cutting Her Pay

  April 26, 2010 5:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's commissioner of higher education is voluntarily cutting her pay by more than half in the upcoming budget year, as colleges have been hit with several rounds of cuts. Sally Clausen is reducing her salary from $377,000 a year to $199,000. And she won't take... more »

• Jindal Describes His Education Agenda

  April 19, 2010 12:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal clearly isn't trying to make friends with Louisiana's teacher unions. The governor describes his education agenda this legislative session as a way to improve school, teacher and student performance. It could just as easily be described as a list of everything the... more »

• Lafayette Parish Teachers of the Year

  April 1, 2010 2:10 PM

  Outstanding teachers in are recognized each year for their hard work by receiving the Lafayette Parish "Teacher of the Year" awards. School Board members surprised three teachers with awards Thursday morning. The winner are: Julia Williams from Lafayette High School Debbie Reed from Broussard Middle School... more »

• Louisiana's Education Chief Defends Jindal

  March 24, 2010 1:49 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's education chief defended Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal to shift $20 million in expenses paid by the state today to local school districts next year. Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek says districts have fund balances and stimulus dollars available to them that can help cover... more »

• New Teachers Get More Effective Training

  March 15, 2010 2:29 PM

  Louisiana is fixing education problems before they begin, as the first state to start what's known as a "value-added research project." This program determines the future of Acadiana students. University of Louisiana at Lafayette and other colleges throughout the state see this as an initiative to help find... more »

• LA Makes Short List In Nationwide Education Honors

  March 4, 2010 4:22 PM

  Baton Rouge, La. - Louisiana is among the finalists for the first round of the federal $4.35 billion Race to the Top (R2T) grant program. The list of states, released by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) today, identifies 16 finalists from the initial pool of 41 applicants. The competitive... more »

• Pastorek: Stipend cuts OK

  February 24, 2010 8:06 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek has reversed course on the merits of a national certification program that adds at least $5,000 a year to teachers' paychecks. Pastorek touted the achievement last year as vital to creating a world-class education system. He said Tuesday that... more »

• Trooper Duane Dalton Children's Education Fund

  January 13, 2010 1:39 PM

  Louisiana Trooper Charities, the charitable arm of the Louisiana State Troopers Association, has established the Trooper Duane Dalton Children's Education Fund to benefit the three sons of the fallen trooper. Anyone wishing to make a contribution may do so at any Chase Bank. Louisiana Trooper Charities Trooper Duane Dalton... more »

• $10 Million to Lafayette Schools

  January 4, 2010 2:14 PM

  Lafayette Parish schools are getting $10 million in bonds for repairs and maintenance work over the next 3 years, starting now. They are getting much needed work done thanks to a federal stimulus program. The funding is from the Qualified School Construction Bond Program. "The stimulus money is... more »

• Teachers Nominated for LEF Awards:

  December 2, 2009 12:05 PM

  It started out as an average school day Tuesday, but some Lafayette teachers got a pleasant surprise. The Lafayette Education Foundation sent volunteers to tell teachers they have been nominated for the 2010 Teacher Awards. Volunteers from business sponsors worked as the "pin patrol", pinning ribbons on the teachers... more »

• Education salaries grow $8M under Pastorek

  November 27, 2009 2:32 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Salary costs at Louisiana's education department have jumped 21 percent, and the number of people drawing six-figure paychecks has more than doubled in the two years since Paul Pastorek took charge of the agency. Even as the number of full-time employees dropped, payroll at the... more »

• Conquest of the Coastlands

  November 23, 2009 11:16 AM

  UL's Center for Innovative Learning and Assessment Technologies is working on a variety of science-based educational video games for middle school students. I spoke with the director, Doctor Douglas Williams, about its most recent game called Conquest of the Coastlands. Williams says that educational video games are a much more... more »

• Prematurity Awareness Day

  November 17, 2009 10:41 AM

  Premature birth defects affects 1 in 8 babies born in Louisiana and is the leading cause of infant death in our state. In light of this issue a "mom and Baby" mobile van will be in various locations in the Lafayette area administering FREE pregnancy test, FREE blood pressure screening,... more »

• E-mail Sends Wrong Message

  November 16, 2009 4:38 PM

  School leaders are asking State Representative Ricky Hardy to reconsider giving the "OK" for lafayette schools to receive ~$746,000. School board member Mike Hefner says Hardy wanted more than just a phone call. "Even though they have been approved by the Department of Education approved by the Legislative... more »

• Gov. Jindal Announces a $30 Million Commitment for LSU's New Business Education Complex

  November 5, 2009 2:38 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Governor Bobby Jindal held a press conference today to make two announcements: a commitment of $30 million in capital outlay funds for LSU's new business education complex and $303.7 million in collections for the 2009 Louisiana Tax Amnesty Program, surpassing initial estimates for collections. $30 Million... more »

• Carencro HS students lead fiber optic work

  October 29, 2009 8:11 AM

  CARENCRO, La. (AP) - High-speed fiber optic technology offers a new frontier in computing. Among the explorers: students at Carencro High School's Academy of Information Technology. "The increase in speed and quality will revolutionize everything we do in the classroom," said Elijah Parker, 17, a junior at Carencro. Parker is... more »

• Department outlines policy for food program

  October 27, 2009 9:04 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana State Department of Education, Division of Nutrition Assistance, has announced its administration of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), in accordance with Federal Law and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy. All participants in attendance will be offered the... more »

• Cargill supports Breaux Bridge community through donations to education programs

  October 19, 2009 3:00 PM

  BREAUX BRIDGE, La. - As part of its longstanding commitment to supporting the communities in which it does business, Cargill announced today it has donated a total of $9,300 to two local education programs. Funds from Cargill will help send Comeaux High School students, along with other students from... more »

• LDOE to eliminate 50+ positions over next six months

  October 19, 2009 2:30 PM

  As Louisiana faces a potential budget deficit of $2 billion, leaders at the Louisiana Department o f Education (LDOE) say they are working to identify potential reductions in the agency's budget - not only for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, but as they begin the process of planning for the 2010-2011... more »

• Louisiana graduation rate falls

  October 19, 2009 8:46 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A new report says Louisiana suffered the biggest drop in its public high school graduation rate of any state in the Southern region over a five-year period. The study says 13 of 16 Southern states reviewed showed graduation gains between 2002 and 2006, a big... more »

• Acadia Parish 2009 District/School Performance

  October 14, 2009 12:55 PM

  As measured by the state's accountability system, student achievement continues to improve in the Acadia Parish Public School System. Superintendent John E. Bourque stated, "Our schools and the district continue to improve which is a goal we all strive for. There is a concerted effort on our part to work... more »

• Louisiana Receives Federal Grant for Struggling Readers

  October 2, 2009 3:19 PM

  One of Louisiana's primary education initiatives is ensuring literacy for all students. A recently announced grant of more than $1 million will help enrich the state's current efforts. Louisiana is one of eight states to earn a portion o f the highly competitive Striving Readers grant. Awarded by the United... more »

• Louisiana School Tuition and Expense Tax Deduction

  September 29, 2009 3:59 PM

  The Louisiana School Tuition and Expense Tax Deduction is in effect for educational expenses paid during 2009. This is a tax deduction that can reduce the amount of your Louisiana taxable income. It is not a tax credit. The deduction is for 50 percent of the money you spend on... more »

• Career Diploma Continues to Fuel Debate

  September 28, 2009 8:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Three months after the state Legislature authorized a new diploma to trim the high school dropout rate, arguments keep swirling around the issue. The state's top school board voted earlier this month to delay final approval of some of the rules that will govern the... more »

• Grambling School Grants

  September 21, 2009 9:49 AM

  GRAMBLING, La. (AP) - Grambling State University has gotten $1.5 million to attract more minority students to biomedical science programs. The National Institute of General Medical Sciences grant is for training opportunities to students majoring in biology, chemistry, physics, math or computer science. M.A. Himaya, head of the university's physics... more »