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 transitional courses in 12th grade.
Benchmarking Implementation of College- and Career-Readiness Standards
Tracks and reports progress on implementation of college- and career-readiness standards and related reforms across 15 states. Based on this research, SREB staff support these states through reports, meetings and technical assistance.
PUBLICATIONS
In May 2017, SREB published Benchmarking State Implementation of College- and Career-Readiness Standards: Alignment of Instructional Materials.
In May 2016, SREB published Benchmarking State Implementation of College- and Career-Readiness Standards: Professional Learning.
These reports include a regional report that describes implementation across the states, highlights strong state efforts and recommends actions for improvement — plus 16 state profiles that describe each state’s efforts in detail, highlight notable actions and offer recommendations for moving forward.
The alignment of instructional materials report notes Louisiana’s strong efforts in the areas of establishing conventions for developing, reviewing and selecting aligned instructional materials; supporting local efforts to use high-quality, standards-aligned instructional materials; and using data to continuously improve state efforts.
The professional learning report notes Louisiana’s strong efforts in the areas of providing guidance and tools to help educators design and deliver professional learning and learn about the standards; providing technical assistance to support local professional learning efforts; and offering professional learning to educators.
INTERACTIVE DATA
In 2016, SREB launched its Insights tool to help policymakers compare and understand state policy and practice. Users can explore data from these and other SREB reports.
Career and Technical Education
State Leaders Forum
Louisiana attendees at SREB’s State Leaders Forum on policies for high-quality career and technical education in November 2016: 7
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, conducts needs assessments and focus groups to help states plan and evaluate implementation, spotlights inspiring stories of local practice and convenes stakeholders at regional meetings.
Technical Assistance
In June 2017, SREB staff provided technical assistance to Louisiana Department of Education staff, who are leading implementation of the state’s educator evaluation system.
SREB staff facilitated a retreat of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in August 2017.
SREB staff responded to an information request from a legislative researcher regarding clinical requirements for student teachers in December 2016.
In the last 12 months, SREB’s educator effectiveness team provided technical assistance, brokered expertise and provided policy and practice resources to Louisiana state legislators and their staff, state education agency staff, district administrators, principals and teachers.
convenings
The Louisiana Department of Education sent a representative to SREB’s Fifth Annual Educator Effectiveness Convening in March 2017. He participated in working sessions with peers from nine other SREB states.
State lawmakers attended SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council Winter Meeting in December 2016. SREB staff presented to attendees on teacher preparation and teacher recruitment strategies.
REPORTS AND DATA
SREB produced several resources for Louisiana leaders during the last 12 months, including:
Evaluator Training: A Guide for States, published in September 2017, spotlights seven components associated with effective training for observers of teachers.
Feedback on Teaching: A Fresh Look, published in July 2017, describes strategies for district and school leaders to establish and sustain better feedback practices.
Student Surveys: A Fresh Look, published in May 2017, covers the practical implications for state, district and school leaders seeking to use emerging student survey tools.
Information Request Series, first published in January 2017, features our responses to SREB stakeholders’ questions. Topics covered include educator evaluation, teacher certification, and principal recruitment and retention incentives.
The Educator Effectiveness Bill Tracker interactive tool, updated weekly, allows constituents to track legislative bills across eight areas, including teacher preparation, evaluation and professional learning.
The bi-weekly Educator Effectiveness e-newsletter
Teacher Preparation
SREB’s Teacher Preparation Commission meets during 2016, 2017 and 2018 to develop practical and effective statewide recommendations to improve teacher preparation programs.
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 October 2016 report, policymakers can draw on individual state affordability profiles to understand how costs impact families at different income levels and on a Promising State Policies and Practices report featuring cost reduction strategies.
High School Graduate Projections
Louisiana registrants participated in a February 2017 webinar SREB co-hosted with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education on WICHE’s Knocking at the College Door projections of high school graduates.
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 2017.
Throughout 2016-17, legislators and legislative and governors’ staff from Louisiana requested assistance on topics including financial aid.
Meetings
SREB state services convenes legislative and governors’ staff from across the SREB region each fall to discuss topics that will likely be on agendas during upcoming legislative sessions.
SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council meets twice annually, once in the winter and again at the annual Legislative Work Conference. The conference is for legislators designated by their state leadership to attend. Louisiana legislators were among those in attendance at the 2017 conference.
Curriculum and School Improvement
Advanced Career
A new approach to career and technical education that combines college-readiness academics with hands-on, project-based assignments focused on modern careers. Advanced Career helps prepare students for as many options as possible after high school: a high-value job, college, community college or technical school.
Louisiana participation in AC programs, 2016-17:
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management: 1 school
High Schools That Work
The nation’s largest school improvement program. HSTW strategies transform high schools into places where all students master complex academic and technical concepts. More than 1,150 schools in 30 states use the framework and its six design features and nine key practices to raise student achievement and graduation rates.
HSTW State Network
Member states select schools to receive services. The fee for state membership in the consortium covers several services and visits.
Louisiana is a member of the High Schools That Work state network. Nine schools were active in 2015-16.
HSTW Board Member: Larry Alexander, Executive Director Jumpstart Implementation, Louisiana Department of Education
Contracts for Direct Support
Schools, districts and states contract with SREB for targeted school improvement services such as onsite coaching, technical assistance and professional development.
Eight Louisiana schools contracted for direct services in 2015-16. SREB provided 108 days of onsite coaching and 16 days of onsite staff development at the schools.
Making Middle Grades Work
Engages state, district and school leaders in partnerships with teachers, students, parents and the community to raise student achievement in the middle grades. In addition to workshops and school visits, SREB links schools to the professional development resources they need. The network includes over 650 schools in 20 states.
Louisiana is a member of the Making Middle Grades Work network, with six active schools in five parishes in 2015-16. SREB delivered 60 days of onsite coaching and 16 days of onsite staff development to the schools.
All six schools were part of a joint initiative of SREB and the Louisiana Department of Education to improve instruction in northeast Louisiana. The schools received ongoing professional development and job-embedded coaching to improve instruction.
Technology Centers That Work
Helps shared-time centers produce high-demand, high-wage graduates. SREB provides staff development, technical assistance, publications and assessment services. The network includes almost 200 sites in 18 states.
Active centers in Louisiana in 2015-16: 2
Counseling for Careers
Awakens students to career goals and connects them to the high school and postsecondary programs of study to succeed in them. SREB offers workshops, materials and coaching for districts, schools and technology centers, which then involve teachers, counselors, administrators, parents and community partners.
SREB is partnering with Bossier City Community College to implement Counseling for Careers in parish schools and increase business and community partnerships.
Professional Development
For Teachers, Principals and Counselors
College- and Career-Readiness Networking Conference
Conference to share effective instructional strategies of the Literacy and Mathematics Design Collaborative frameworks.
Louisiana attendees at the July 2016 conference: 1
SREB.org/NetworkingConference >
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
High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference
Annual conference for thousands of school leaders, teachers and counselors from middle grades, high schools and technology centers across the country.
Louisiana attendees at the July 2016 conference: 18
Learning-Centered Leadership Program
Works with district, state and university partners to prepare aspiring principals and school leadership teams to lead school reform to ensure that students are ready for college and careers. This program offers training, guidance and technical assistance.
SREB’s Learning-Centered Leadership Program, in partnership with Advanced Innovative Education, delivered a two-day training on the SREB leadership module Coaching for School Improvement in Baton Rouge.
Louisiana attendees at the Coaching for School Improvement workshop: 6
Literacy and Math Professional Development
SREB is partnering with states on a large-scale effort to help districts and schools adopt, spread and sustain effective literacy and math teaching strategies to meet their state’s college- and career-readiness standards.
The Literacy Design Collaborative framework empowers language arts, science and social studies teachers to build meaningful assignments aligned to their state’s college- and career-readiness standards. Teachers take ownership of their professional growth, and students take ownership of their learning.
The Mathematics Design Collaborative teaching framework uses formative assessment lessons — part assessment, part instruction — to help teachers know whether their students understand material they have been taught. Teachers learn to adapt assignments and engage students so they understand the hows and whys of math.
During the 2016-17 school year, this SREB professional development reached Louisiana educators in 26 schools.
Louisiana teachers, principals and coaches who participated in training and coaching: 223
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 2016, approximately 2,100 degree programs were available, 151 institutions participated and nearly 3,300 new students were certified for study.
Number of Louisiana students who participated in ACM during 2016: 82
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: 37
Number of out-of-state students who enrolled in Louisiana programs in 2016-17: 48
Residents of other states may contract for entry into Louisiana State University in veterinary medicine and the Louisiana State University Health Science Center in dentistry. These Louisiana institutions receive more than $1 million annually from other SREB states.
State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement
A nationwide system to open more high-quality distance education offerings for students and ease regulatory burden on institutions. SREB member states may opt in to offer distance education activities in other SARA states.
Louisiana is an approved member of SARA.
Louisiana SARA representative: LeAnn Detillier, Assistant Commissioner for Program Administration, Louisiana Board of Regents
Fact Book and Data Exchange
Publishes one of the nation’s most comprehensive collections of comparative data through a cooperative effort of state postsecondary education agencies. Data are updated annually on topics including population demographics, college completion, tuition and fees, cost of attendance, state appropriations and faculty salaries.
Louisiana leaders receive the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education, as well as Louisiana: Featured Facts from the SREB Fact Book on Higher Education and the annual SREB-State Data Exchange tables.
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 2017, five Louisiana institutions are members (listed here with their representatives to the Council):
Grambling State University: Meg Brown, Interim Associate 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: Gail Poirrier, 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 2016-17: 64
2016 Institute attendees from Louisiana: 30
Scholars Louisiana has supported since joining in 1993: 158
Graduates since 1993: 59
Graduates currently employed: 534
Percent employed in education: 87
Louisiana-supported Ph.D. students have attended these institutions since 1993:
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 2017 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. Lance Neal of the Louisiana Board of Regents served on the ETC executive committee.
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 $461,840 on $4,669,542 in technology purchases in fiscal year 2017.