Letter: Race to Top opportunity for La.

• Published: Nov 5, 2009 - Page: 8B

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Over the past decade, Louisiana has made considerable progress in K-12 public education, particularly in efforts to narrow the achievement gap between races and classes. Undoubtedly, our gains are due to the commitment of students, educators and policymakers statewide.

At the same time, it’s daunting to realize Louisiana is still far behind most states. And sadly, despite our improvement, about 200,000, or one-third of our students, are below grade level. That harsh reality compels us to pry ourselves from the status quo — to discard what hasn’t worked and replace it with what does.

Louisiana will soon compete for a share of the $4.35 billion Race to the Top grant. While only a handful of states are expected to win, some may be surprised to learn Louisiana is a front-runner. Specifically, Louisiana’s Recovery School District and charter school program have been singled out as dynamic and effective reform models, garnering national attention even before Race to the Top surfaced. More importantly, both initiatives have significantly raised student achievement — primarily in schools plagued by decades of chronic failure.

In the RSD, after only two years of steady implementation in New Orleans, the gains made in the percentage of students scoring proficient from 2008 to 2009 outpaced state gains in 25 of 30 assessments. And in nearly half of the assessments the gains were double-digit.

Likewise, a recent Stanford University study highlighted Louisiana as one of five states where charter schools outperform traditional public schools. In New Orleans, where 60 percent of the students attend charters, the combined district score for the RSD and Orleans Parish School System has increased 24 percent since 2005, when most students attended traditional schools.

Thus, we are not surprised by the overlap between these models and reform ideas outlined in Race to the Top. All are based on demonstrated success — and all seek to transform schools through principal autonomy, innovation, teacher effectiveness and accountability.

But neither the Louisiana Department of Education nor Race to the Top is suggesting charters are the panacea. Charter conversion is an option, not a requirement. And the department’s current grant proposal allows districts to decide whether to participate, and, if so, whether to transition a school to a charter.

With awards projected at $2 million per school, Race to the Top offers Louisiana an unprecedented opportunity to implement sustainable improvement. We hope local districts and Louisiana’s education community will embrace this once-in-a-lifetime chance to fund the transformation of our schools. We encourage citizens to learn more about Race to the Top, and join us in advocating for policies and initiatives centered on the best interest of our children.

We can’t wait, Louisiana!

Paul Pastorek
state superintendent of education
Baton Rouge