SREB and Louisiana
SREB and Louisiana
An overview of SREB programs and services and how Louisiana participates in them.
Appropriations from member states support core SREB services. SREB leverages the longstanding commitment of member states to attract external funding for additional programs and services that benefit member states. States may also choose to join targeted networks for additional fees.
Policy
Goals for Education | Monitoring State Policies
Monitoring and reporting to assist education leaders and policymakers as they shape public policy. SREB tracks trends and analyzes the progress of all 16 SREB states in each area in the Challenge to Lead 2020 Goals for Education and provides Legislative Reports that detail legislative and budget actions in each state.
SREB’s Insights data tool allows leaders to explore actions across states, delve into a topic for a deeper understanding or select a detailed state report.
College and Career Readiness
Intensive work to help states implement essential components of SREB’s recommendations for statewide college and career readiness. These include assessing high school juniors to determine their progress toward the state’s readiness standards — and requiring those who are underprepared to take transitional courses in 12th grade.
Readiness in State Accountability Systems
SREB staff team distilled key elements of SREB states’ accountability systems under the Every Student Succeeds Act into interactive profiles at Insights.SREB.org.
In October 2018, SREB updated the state profiles and published a regional report on five ways SREB states prioritized readiness in their ESSA plans.
Louisiana’s profile notes the state’s efforts to raise expectations for college and career readiness through its school performance indicators.
Career and Technical Education
State Leaders Forum
Annual meeting for teams of legislators, policymakers, state board members, secondary and postsecondary education leaders, and workforce development agency representatives. Attendees explore policies and practices that help more young adults graduate prepare for postsecondary credentials and degrees and good jobs.
Louisiana attendees at SREB’s State Leaders Forum in November 2017: 4
Educator Effectiveness
Advises state and district leaders as they develop strategies to support the professional growth of teachers and principals. SREB serves as a technical advisor to state education agencies, spotlights inspiring stories of local practice and convenes stakeholders at regional meetings.
Technical Assistance
SREB staff met with state department staff in Baton Rouge in May 2018 to advise them on the development of their teacher evaluation system. SREB produced a report that shared site visit and focus group findings, as well as recommendations for improving the implementation of the state’s educator effectiveness strategy.
SREB staff responded to a legislative request related to teacher compensation in September 2018.
convenings
The state department sent representatives to SREB’s Sixth Annual Educator Effectiveness Convening in April 2018. They participated in collaborative working sessions with peers from 12 SREB states. State department staff met to discuss shared problems of practice in four areas: equitable access to effective teaching, leadership development, professional learning, and teacher voice.
REPORTS AND DATA
SREB produced the following resources for Louisiana leaders during the last 12 months:
School Is My Happy Place, May 2018, which showcases the innovative strategies used to develop a positive school culture at an elementary school in central Florida.
Mentoring New Teachers: A Fresh Look, January 2018, which proposes three action areas for states, districts and schools to support the development of novice educators and their mentors.
Teacher Preparation
SREB’s Teacher Preparation Commission met during 2016, 2017 and 2018 and will publish its final recommendations to improve teacher preparation programs in late 2018.
The Commission published its first report, More than the Numbers: Teacher Preparation Data Systems State Policy and Recommendations, in September 2017. The Louisiana Teacher Preparation Program Fact Book is featured in the report.
Postsecondary Education
Affordability
SREB’s Commission on College Affordability in the South recommended policies and practices to keep college costs within reach of all students. In addition to the Commission’s report, policymakers can draw on updated regional and individual state affordability profiles to understand how costs impact families at different income levels.
SREB convened state higher education agency academic officers in October 2017 to discuss factors that impact college affordability. Attendees learned from each other about new policies for tuition, fees, financial aid, transfer, textbook costs, online courses, collaboration with K-12, readiness and serving returning adults. A representative from the Louisiana Board of Regents participated.
In April 2018, SREB collaborated with the Association of Community College Trustees and its Governance Institute for Student Success, which convened trustees, community college presidents and senior staff, and state postsecondary agency staff from Louisiana and three other SREB states. Among the topics discussed were the boards’ role in state policy development, the changing world of work and learning, high-impact policies and practices, and engaging partnerships and collaborations.
A representative from the Louisiana Board of Regents participated in a December 2017 meeting on accreditation issues coordinated by SREB with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the State Higher Education Executive Officers.
SREB assisted Louisiana policy leaders with a request for information on educational attainment goals, placement and remediation approaches and financial aid.
State Services
Connects policymakers with custom information, presentations and assistance on education issues as they arise. Leaders in member states are encouraged to contact SREB for data, analysis and advice.
SREB staff visited Louisiana to meet with legislators and staff in 2018.
Throughout 2017-18, legislators, legislative staff and governor’s staff from Louisiana requested assistance on topics including financial aid.
Meetings
Staff from 8 SREB states attended the 2018 meeting of legislative and governors’ staff to discuss topics that will likely be on agendas during upcoming legislative sessions.
Louisiana legislators were among those in attendance at the 2017-18 meetings of SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council and Legislative Work Conference.
Curriculum and School Improvement
Making Schools Work
A school improvement process developed by SREB that engages K-12 educators and school leaders in identifying and studying problems of practice, implementing research-based solutions to those problems, and learning within a collaborative network of schools. Schools adopt Making Schools Work through designs for middle grades schools, high schools and technology centers.
Louisiana is a member of the Making Schools Work network.
Advisory Council Member: Patricia Felder, state director, Career and Technical Education, Louisiana & Technical College System
Schools, districts and states contract with SREB to implement Making Schools Work and receive targeted school improvement services such as professional development, instructional coaching and technical assistance.
One Louisiana district contracted with SREB for direct services in 2018-19.
SREB will deliver 26 days of on-site coaching and professional development in this district.
Ouachita Parish
Ouachita Parish has been working with SREB to support the use of SREB’s powerful literacy practices and powerful math practices in both middle grades schools and high schools. The parish has designated district-level literacy and math trainers and supported the development of literacy and math teacher-leaders.
Professional Development
For Teachers, Principals and Counselors
Making Schools Work Conference
Annual conference, formerly known as the High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference, for K-12 teachers, counselors, principals, technology center directors and state and district education agency personnel.
Louisiana attendees at the July 2018 conference: 10
College- and Career-Readiness Standards Networking Conference
Conference that focuses on literacy and mathematics tools and strategies. Teams of educators and school leaders explore disciplinary literacy strategies and formative assessment lessons that engage students in math.
Louisiana attendees at the July 2018 conference: 63
Literacy and Math Awards
Local Trainer Award
Tammy Whitlock and Donna Patten
Ouachita Parish Schools, Louisiana
Tammy Whitlock and Donna Patten of Ouachita Parish Schools, Louisiana, won the Outstanding Local Trainer Award in July 2018.
Go Alliance Academy
Strives to increase the postsecondary education and career success of all students by providing timely and relevant professional development in college and career readiness to school counselors, teachers, principals, career coaches and college access advisors.
Go Alliance Academy Representative: Tireka Cobb, Director, Field Outreach Services, Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
Learning-Centered Leadership Program
Leadership preparation program that develops current or aspiring principals’ capacity to serve as effective instructional leaders who understand how to use data to locate and close gaps.
Louisiana attendees at the 2018 Annual Leadership Forum: 1
National Technology Centers That Work Leaders’ Forum
Forum for state and local career and technical education leaders to discuss the role of full- and shared-time technology centers. Teams of center and school leaders, teachers and education and industry partners build action plans.
Louisiana attendees at the 2018 National TCTW Leaders’ Forum: 1
Postsecondary Education
Academic Common Market
A tuition-savings program for college students in SREB member states who want to pursue degrees not offered by in-state institutions. Students can enroll in out-of-state institutions that offer their degree program and pay the in-state tuition rates.
During calendar year 2017, 2,130 degree programs were available, 152 institutions participated and 3,355 new students were certified for study.
In 2017, 81 Louisiana students participated in Academic Common Market, saving, on average, $12,623 each and a collective total of $1,035,069 in tuition.
ACM State Representative: LeAnn Detillier, assistant commissioner for program administration, Louisiana Board of Regents
Regional Contract Program
Gives students the opportunity to earn a professional health degree from participating institutions in other states through in-state tuition rates at public institutions or reduced tuition at private institutions. More than 600 students participate each year.
Participating students from Louisiana in 2017-18: 35
Number of out-of-state students who enrolled in Louisiana programs in 2017-18: 49
Residents of other states may contract for entry into Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Louisiana State University Health Science Center College of Dentistry. These Louisiana institutions received more than $1.44 million from other SREB states.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
A nationwide system to offer more high-quality distance education programs for students and ease the regulatory burden on institutions. SREB member states may opt in to offer distance education activities in other SARA states. By participating, colleges and universities in the SREB region save almost $30 million annually.
Louisiana is an approved member of SARA.
Colleges and universities in Louisiana saved $3.1 million for initial authorization and save $893,000 annually on renewals, according to estimates in a return-on-investment study by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.
Louisiana SARA representative: LeAnn Detillier, Assistant Commissioner for Program Administration, Louisiana Board of Regents.
Fact Book and Data Exchange
Fact Book
The SREB Fact Book on Higher Education is a compilation of comparative data on topics including demographics; college enrollment, retention, progression and graduation; tuition and fees; student financial aid; state support for postsecondary education; and faculty salaries. The Fact Book is published bi-annually, but the data are updated annually and made available on the SREB website.
Louisiana leaders receive the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education and Louisiana: Featured Facts from the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education.
SREB-State Data Exchange
An annual collection of postsecondary education data that are submitted by representatives (i.e., Data Exchange coordinators) of postsecondary education system offices. The data collected include degrees conferred, student retention and progression, time to degree, student credit hours taken by high school students and by college students in courses using distance education technology, state funding for postsecondary education, and tuition and fees.
SREB-State Data Exchange tables are posted on the SREB website.
Louisiana participating agency and SREB-State Data Exchange Coordinator: Kimberly Kirkpatrick, Louisiana Board of Regents
Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing
Helps expand and strengthen schools of nursing to reduce the critical shortage of nurse educators needed to educate the nation’s registered nurses. The Council surveys institutions for nursing education trends and shares online graduate nursing courses.
As of October 2018, five Louisiana institutions are members, listed here with their representatives to the Council:
Grambling State University: Meg Brown, Interim Dean
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center: Demetrius Porche, Dean
Northwestern State University: Dana Clawson, Dean
University of Holy Cross: Patricia Prechter, Dean
University of Louisiana at Lafayette: Melinda Oberleitner, Dean
Doctoral Scholars Program
Supports minority students to help them earn Ph.D.s, begin careers at colleges and universities, and diversify campus faculties. The SREB-State Doctoral Scholars Program hosts the annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, the nation’s largest gathering of minority doctoral scholars, with more than 1,200 attendees.
Scholars funded by Louisiana in 2017-18: 73
2017 Institute attendees from Louisiana: 27
Scholars Louisiana has supported since joining in 1993: 170
Graduates since 1993: 63
Graduates currently employed: 58
Percent employed in education: 88
Louisiana-supported Ph.D. students have attended these institutions since 1993:
Georgia State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana Tech University
Rice University
Tulane University of Louisiana
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of New Orleans
Interstate Cooperatives
Go Alliance
An interstate cooperative to increase high school graduation rates, access to education beyond high school, and postsecondary degree completion — particularly for those who would be the first in their families to enroll. Go Alliance research, services and professional development focus on college access policy and communications strategies to motivate students to plan for and apply to college.
Louisiana is a Go Alliance member state.
Go Alliance Representative: Tireka Cobb, Director, Field Outreach Services, Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance
Educational Technology Cooperative
Membership group of state K-12 and higher education coordinating and governing boards that represent more than 800 colleges and universities and 3,100 school districts in SREB states. The ETC focuses member agencies and state policymakers on using technology wisely, helps states understand technology issues and forms an action agenda for effectively using technology in education.
Louisiana representatives attended the spring and summer webinars. Louisiana sent two attendees to the 2018 ETC annual meeting on teaching and technology.
Louisiana ETC representatives helped determine SREB’s 10 Critical Issues in Educational Technology and served on working groups for revisions.
Louisiana ETC Representatives and Member Agencies
Carol Mosley, State Education Technology and e-Rate Director, Louisiana Department of Education
Karthik Poobalasubramanian, Programmer/Analyst, Louisiana Board of Regents
Technology Purchasing Savings
Schools, universities and agencies in SREB states saved $3.3 million on over $33 million in technology purchases during fiscal year 2017 — double the FY2016 savings — through SREB’s participation in MHECtech discount agreements. Organizations in each of the 16 SREB states participated.
Louisiana saved $359,334 on $3,633,264 in technology purchases in fiscal year 2018.