Making resources fill the need

In St. Tammany, only five of the 51 schools were damaged, largely in the Slidell area, but other campuses became shelters for families in need. Both situations needed to be addressed in preparing the system to reopen. To accommodate the students most impacted by damaged schools, a platooning system was implemented, relocating students to undamaged schools.

Growth in the non-public schools has been dramatic. Christ Episcopal in Covington took approximately 80 new students into the fold when school resumed in September. Archdiocesan schools provided a seat to each of their displaced students from areas unable to reopen. New faces have entered classes across the northshore at every level. In Tangipahoa Parish, St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Hammond started the 2005-2006 school year with 305 students; there has been an increase of 160 students. With such demand on facilities, Aquinas increased its faculty, added classroom space and split the lunch period.

Temporary changes
in regulations

Acknowledging the effects of Hurricane Katrina on academic issues, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education, implemented several important changes. These emergency measures will be in place for a period of one year:

All accountability testing will be maintained, including the LEAP, iLEAP and the Graduation Exit Exam, for the 2005-2006 school year. However, the board waived the high-stakes policy for students taking the LEAP tests in grades 4 and 8.

High school students must still pass the GEE in order to graduate.

The Louisiana Department of Education was given the ability to continue asking the U.S. Department of Education for a partial waiver of Annual Yearly Progress. Louisiana has asked that only students enrolled in schools or districts for two years be included in School Performance Scores and Subgroup Score calculations. In addition, the state has asked that no schools or districts be moved into a higher level of school improvement based on the 2005-2006 calculations.

Displaced Louisiana high school students may receive a Louisiana diploma if they have the required 23 Carnegie Units and pass the Graduation Exit Exam, no matter where they are seeking temporary shelter. This waiver also gives local school districts the ability to sign student transcripts if school principals are unavailable.

State Superintendent of Education Cecil J. Picard may approve revised school calendars for districts that were closed for a significant period of time due to either hurricane, pending legislative approval.
Maximum class size requirements are waived. For grades K-3, classes can include 28 students, up from 26. For grades 4-12, classes can include 35 students, up from 33. For LA 4 and other PreK programs, classes can include up to 22 students, up from 20.

The State Department of Education stressed that, while these measures were designed to help school districts deal with the influx of displaced students, they should not be interpreted as a relaxing of accountability. In a written statement, State Superintendent of Education Cecil J. Picard said: “Accountability is the engine driving education reform in our state, and I expect it to continue once this extraordinary time has passed. We must do what’s best for the children of our state, and that’s why we will continue testing this year, but with consideration for the difficult things children are experiencing due to the hurricanes.”

Record enrollment
at Southeastern

With an influx of more than 1,000 guest students from the New Orleans and Gulf Coast areas, Southeastern Louisiana University’s enrollment has reached more than 16,311 students, a record number. Southeastern processed 1,360 applications from visiting students. Applicants included more than 520 from the University of New Orleans, 450 from Delgado Community College and the remainder from other universities and colleges.

President Randy Moffett welcomed the visiting students to the Southeastern family during orientation. He said that university officials have tried to accommodate the students’ course needs as much as possible. In addition, Southeastern is offering a compressed, eight-week semester, which began on October 20.

“This is a very difficult process for these students, many of whom were just starting their college careers, others who are close to graduating,” says Moffett. “We’re glad to be able to provide them with a home—even if only on a temporary basis—and enable them to continue toward their educational goals.”

As in the secondary schools, the unanticipated extra enrollments have presented their own challenges for staff and facilities, such as housing. To meet the need, Southeastern opened a previously closed dormitory, dubbed “Old Taylor” to distinguish it from the new Taylor Hall. It will house more than 400 students, making a total of more than 2,300 students currently living on-campus. Cardinal Newman dormitory, which had been closed for renovation, is serving as home for faculty and staff and their families who are temporarily displaced due to the hurricane. 

An opportunity

In the true spirit of “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade,” many people feel there is now an opportunity to rebuild and improve education statewide, not just in the areas most affected by the hurricane. Parents and non-parents alike can be a part of the spirit of change. Take a more active role in your children’s education. Talk to their teachers. Volunteer at schools. Make an effort to find out what you can do to help Louisiana education recover and move forward.