This report describes the current situation in Louisiana’s school system, explains the rationale for tackling high school redesign, and offers recommendations for state action to support and leverage the efforts of front-line high school educators. The report recommends that the state reexamine current graduation requirements. It goes on to identify six impediments to advancing high school outcomes: a lack of expertise and support; the number of students behind in literacy or math; limited enrollment in courses which prepare for postsecondary success; irrelevant or unchallenging high school courses; a lack postsecondary academic or advanced workplace training; and a lack of broad support for high school redesign. The recommendations presented to address each of these impediments could be adopted not only by Louisiana’s state educators but also state educators across the country facing similar obstacles.
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Background and Context
Providing leadership across a state's vast education system is a daunting challenge. In an era of increased accountability, the state's role is even more central to the teaching that takes place in each classroom throughout the state. Whether through the establishment and improvement of state data systems, or shifting the internal organization of the agency, states are undertaking a variety of efforts to provide stronger leadership.
