Board’s committee learns more about state standards

Whether or not the state fully adopts the Louisiana State Standards is still up for discussion.
So, what are teachers to do that are already looking to begin planning for next year?
“The problem we’re looking at now with the new standards is that the governor has until July to say ‘yea’ or ‘nay’ on them,” said Superintendent John Bourque during the Acadia Parish School Board’s Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum Committee meeting Monday night.
Bourque and other superintendents across the state are pushing to state Superintendent John White and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to be slow and cautious on the implementation of these standards.
“About 80 percent of the new standards were taught this past year,” he said. “We’re asking that on the assessments next year, only test that 80 percent that transferred over.
“The remaining (new) 20 percent, field test and then transition test the next year.”
Bourque explained that that would allow teachers to not really have to change how they taught this past year into the next year. And, instead of burdening teachers and students alike with a quick change and turnaround, it could be a gradual addition.
He added that the state was in a similar situation last year with no assessments until November not giving teachers much time to prepare.
“Without the assessments, we (really) don’t know what the curriculum will be,” said Bourque.
“Eighty percent of the new standards was taught this past year. Let’s continue with that and add on the 20 percent as we go.”
Bourque and other superintendents are calling on the state to also only make schools accountable for that 80 percent layover for the time being as they fluctuate once more.
“Our teachers have been under too much stress for the past few years. It’s change, after change, after change; they don’t know which way to go (anymore). Let them take one year to catch up; I think that would be very beneficial.”
Bourque is hopeful that after over 40 superintendents unanimously agreed on this as a proposed implementation plan that it will be backed.
“White said whatever we proposed, he would support.”
Ultimately, however, the decision will lie with BESE and the state legislature.