State of Louisiana Archives: on Education
Antoine Pierce:
Support universal pre-K
Top Policy Priorities: - Relieve student debt
- Support Universal Childcare/Pre-K
Source: 2020 Louisiana Senate campaign website AntoinePierce.com
Feb 4, 2020
Antoine Pierce:
College graduates should not have to drown in debt
He said that education is very important to him, and if elected he would make sure federal education funds would go where they are supposed to, making it easier for college graduates like himself graduate college without being drowned in debt. "We
definitely need to get rid of Betsy DeVos, who has been terrible for education and she's the least qualified Secretary of Education that we have ever had," said Pierce.
Source: The Loyola Maroon on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Feb 12, 2020
Bill Cassidy:
College Transparency Act: address why so much student debt
Q: Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?A: What needs to addressed is why there is so much student loan debt in the first place. That is why
I introduced the College Transparency Act to ensure students and their families have a better understanding of the cost and quality of institutions when deciding where to go to college.
Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 Louisiana Senate race
Nov 3, 2020
Bobby Jindal:
$141M more to train students for the jobs of the future
We have tens of thousands of jobs in the pipeline that must be filled, and our next challenge is to ensure we have the skilled workforce to fill these jobs of the future. Economists have recently said they have never seen an industrial expansion like the
one under way in Louisiana, but have also warned that we must do a better job training skilled workers that will be needed to fill the demand for jobs at the major industrial and high tech projects coming to Louisiana.That's why our top priority
this legislative session must be making sure we have the resources to prepare our students and train them for the jobs of the future.
In order to help meet this goal, our budget for next year will increase total higher education funding by over $141
million. This funding includes a new higher education workforce incentive initiative of $40 million that will better prepare Louisiana students to compete in the new global economy.
Source: 2014 State of the State address to the Louisiana legislature
Mar 10, 2014
Clay Higgins:
Dismantle Common Core; dismantle Education Department
Common Core is an uncommonly poor idea even by government standards. We've grown accustomed to ridiculous government programs but Common Core seems to have been derived by hippies on acid in DC. It makes no sense... none. Common Core is an indicator of
just how far we have fallen as a nation. If I have anything to say about it, Common Core will be history.Regarding the Federal governments role in education,
I would greatly diminish or completely dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. (Also referred to as ED or the Education Department.) It's another segment of the 4th Branch of our federal government that we don't need.
The state of Louisiana has the LADOE. That's enough. School choice and the education of our children is best decided on a local level by loving parents and dedicated teachers.
Source: 2016 Louisiana House campaign website CaptainHiggins.com
Dec 10, 2016
Clay Higgins:
College education has become more of burden than benefit
In my family if a child wants to go to college they can get a job and pay for it or join the military and let them pay for it. A college education has become more of a burden on the graduate than a benefit. There was a time, not long ago, when college
tuition was essentially affordable and upon graduation a college grad could pretty much count on a good job. Now, because of out of control salaries to administrators and liberal professors, who commonly seem driven to indoctrinate our youth with
leftist principles, a college grad finally leaves the campus with a hundred grand of debt or more... and frequently no job to be found. Some of the finest colleges in America are those who accept zero federal dollars and are thus free to instruct their
students according to historically traditional American precepts of higher education. As a Congressman, I would support endeavors to reduce the role of the Federal Government in American colleges.
Source: 2016 Louisiana House campaign website CaptainHiggins.com
Dec 10, 2016
David Vitter:
No federal incentives to get states to adopt Common Core
Vitter won congressional budget passage of measures to bar the federal government from coercing or incentivizing states to adopt
Common Core, or provide subsidies for House and Senate members' health insurance, though the budget's provisions don't have the effect of law.
Source: Times-Picayune coverage of 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
May 29, 2015
David Vitter:
Get Louisiana out of Common Core
David believes that dramatically improving K-12 education is our single biggest challenge long-term. He'll get Louisiana out of Common Core and instead establish Louisiana standards, testing, and accountability that are as or more rigorous.
And he'll work to boost reading skills in the early grades, empower parents and school-based leaders, and emphasize skills training opportunities in high school.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor campaign website, DavidVitter.com
Aug 11, 2015
Eddie Rispone:
Let local boards give raises to individual teachers
Rispone said teachers "definitely need to make more money," but pay increases should be handled by local school boards and not state government. He said such raises should e based on individual teachers' performances and not on an "across-the-board"
basis. He cast doubt on whether school systems would improve if given more money. He said some school systems that spend less money per pupil in Louisiana see better outcomes. "It's not necessarily the amount of money, it's how we do it," he said.
Source: Times-Picayune on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Mar 19, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Work with schools & businesses to align education with jobs
Louisiana must continue to invest in vocational and technical education opportunities to provide young professionals a fast track from their education right into quality jobs. Cooperation between the business community, education institutions
and the state are essential to align our education and training programs with our workforce needs for the next generation.
Source: 225 Magazine on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Sep 30, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Expand school choice options to empower parents
I believe every child in Louisiana must have the right and opportunity to a quality education in order to live up to their God-given potential. We should continue to expand choice options to tailor education needs that fit the child and empower parents.
We should support and reward good teachers for providing a quality education. And lastly, we should invest in vocational opportunities to provide students multiple pathways to success.
Source: 225 Magazine on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Sep 30, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
OpEd: Rispone supports vouchers to get his own tax break
There are compelling reasons to believe that Rispone's emotional investment in the school choice program is more about a rich man being publicly emotional about his private investments than about an earnest belief in a voucher program so bad that even
Betsy DeVos has distanced herself from it. In simple terms, the program potentially allows Rispone to not only zero out his state income tax liability but also to reduce his federal tax exposure by hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
Source: Bayou Brief on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Jun 20, 2019
Eddie Rispone:
Allow use of tax dollars for Christian schools
Rispone, who has long been active in the "school choice" movement in Louisiana, said he thought tax dollars should be used to let parents send their children to Christian schools, charter schools or for home schooling if they want.
Rispone is worried that families who are middle class and poor are unable to afford to send their children to private schools like his parents did with him.
Source: Times-Picayune on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Mar 29, 2019
Foster Campbell:
Fight for public schools with $1 billion Excellence Fund
Campbell, 69, was a state senator from 1976 to 2002 and has served on the Public Service Commission regulating utilities, phone and trucking companies since 2003.
He said his record for helping people is unassailable, as he has demonstrated by fighting against predatory payday loan companies and fighting for women and public school education.
He sponsored a bill that waives utility connection fees if a domestic violence victim relocates away from her abuser.
He helped establish a $1 billion Educational Excellence Fund to help fund public schools from part of the proceeds from the huge, multi-year settlement of litigation against big tobacco companies.
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on 2016 Louisiana Senate race
Sep 18, 2016
Garret Graves:
Oppose nationwide standards like Common Core
Q: People should be able to vote without photo identification?
GRAVES: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Louisiana House race
Sep 30, 2014
Jay Dardenne:
Common Core's high standards move LA in the right direction
We need to build on the compromise reached by the Legislature this session to keep the current Common Core standards in place while the BESE works with parents, teachers, and administrators to develop even stronger Louisiana-based standards.
The current high standards have started to move Louisiana schools in the right direction, and it is important that we keep that momentum going.Implementing higher standards won't change our schools overnight.
We need to give teachers and administrators the necessary time to implement these standards.
In the long-term, our education system will dictate the strength of our economy. High standards that allow our children to compete with students
across the country and the world will ensure we have the competitive workforce necessary for continuing to grow our economy. It also ensures that our kids are prepared to tackle the challenges of the 21st century.
Source: 2015 Louisiana Governor's campaign website JayDardenne.com
Sep 9, 2015
Jay Dardenne:
TOPS cannot be sustained without capping costs
Education will be my first priority, meaning I'll fund it first. I'm a huge supporter of TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) and think it is the most popular thing that the Legislature of Louisiana has ever done.
However, it cannot be sustained under its current cost, as it was underfunded by $19-million this fiscal year. I would have signed the bill to cap TOPS, a measure that Governor Jindal vetoed.
Source: WRKF 89.3-FM on 2015 Louisiana Gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2015
John Bel Edwards:
Replace Common Core with more K-12 school funding
On the controversial topic of Common Core Standards, Edwards said, "I oppose Common Core standards in their current form for many reasons, but chiefly because they promote an over-reliance on testing to inform all aspects of teaching and learning, which
misinforms parents about the quality of public schools in our state."Edwards highlighted that he has "never flip-flopped on this issue," citing his vote against Common Core in the last legislative session.
On school letter grades, Edwards
concluded, "A bad school letter grade is much more likely to indicate the level of poverty than the quality of teaching. A recent study of sixteen states that use school letter grades stated what we have always known: they are invalid and misinform
parents."
Edwards pointed to his leadership on increases to K-12 spending at the state level, saying, "I am responsible for the only increases in K-12 funding in the last seven years. $140 million worth. Bobby Jindal didn't ask for it. I did it anyway.
Source: 2016 Senate campaign website, JohnBelForLouisiana.com
Aug 11, 2015
John Bel Edwards:
$47 million increase for higher education
Education: Increase state funding for higher education and financial aid for students?Abraham: Supports investment in distance learning. Campaign website lists NSF grants received by LA schools. But these aren't determined by Congress.
Bel Edwards:
Yes. Proposed 2019-2020 school state budget includes a $47 million increase for higher education. Called for increases in Louisiana's TOPS scholarship program.
Eddie Rispone: No position found.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Guide to 2019 Louisiana Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
John Bel Edwards:
Increase in teacher pay isn't enough, hope to do more
Economic diversification and access to opportunity starts with education.The budget that I have presented includes another pay increase for K-12 teachers and support staff. It's not enough. I know that. But it is one step closer to bringing teacher pay
back to the Southern Regional Average. And, I hope that in a few weeks, our revenue estimate will look even better and we will be able to increase that investment.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
John Bel Edwards:
Invest in higher education for student success in workplace
This budget includes a historic $11 million increase in funding for Go Grants. By increasing funding for Go Grants, we can help even more students achieve their goals. Let's give him a round of applause! I want every student who walks on any
campus in this state to have the opportunity to thrive. I also want them to go on to succeed in the workplace. And simply put, we can't accomplish this if we aren't investing in higher education.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature
Apr 12, 2021
John Bel Edwards:
Get teacher pay up to at least the Southern Regional Average
I am recommending that the first $50 million of any increase in the revenue forecast that the REC may recognize before the budget is passed go to increasing teacher raises to $2,000.
It is the least we can do for the people who never gave up on our students despite unprecedented circumstances, and it continues our goal of getting teacher pay up to at least the Southern Regional Average.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
Mar 14, 2022
Ralph Abraham:
Oppose nationwide standards like Common Core
Q: People should be able to vote without photo identification?
ABRAHAM: Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 Louisiana House race
Sep 30, 2014
Ralph Abraham:
Invest in distance learning
Education: Increase state funding for higher education and financial aid for students?Abraham: Supports investment in distance learning. Campaign website lists NSF grants received by LA schools. But these aren't determined by Congress.
Bel Edwards:
Yes. Proposed 2019-2020 school state budget includes a $47 million increase for higher education. Called for increases in Louisiana's TOPS scholarship program.
Eddie Rispone: No position found.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Guide to 2019 Louisiana Governor race
Nov 1, 2018
Thomas Clements:
Supports homeschooling and vouchers
Q: Do you agree or disagree with the statement, "Vouchers for school choice"?
A: Home schooling competition would make our schools better. Vouchers OK for church childcare and church schools.
Source: Email interview on 2016 Louisiana Senate race by OnTheIssues
Jul 31, 2016
Gary Chambers:
Supports a fully-funded public education system
Gary's mother is a retired public school teacher and his father a retired public school employee. He believes in the power of a fully-funded public education system.
Specifically, Gary will advocate for the COMPLETE autonomous return and funding of Orleans Parish Public School System, using a Community Schools Model. Gary isn't against the charter system but believes we must follow the data and the research.
Source: 2022 Senate campaign website ChambersForLouisiana.com
Oct 12, 2022
Gary Chambers:
Recruit Black male teachers for K-5th grade
Gary will advocate for federal funding for the recruitment and subsidizing of Black male teachers in Kindergarten through 5th grade. Gary believes that if we can send--and subsidize--young white teachers to Black neighborhoods to teach our children
with tax-funded programs, then we can also fund Black male teachers to do the same. Research indicates that children perform better when the teacher shares that child's race, ethnicity, culture, and language.
Source: 2022 Senate campaign website ChambersForLouisiana.com
Oct 12, 2022
Luke Mixon:
Make quality, affordable Pre-K available to every child
Education is the key to future success. Unfortunately, we are failing our children and sabotaging our future. Less than half of Louisiana public school students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade are reading at the appropriate grade level.
Less than half! That's unacceptable. We have to close the literacy gap, which is why I support making quality, affordable Pre-K available to every Louisiana child.
Source: 2022 Louisiana Senate campaign website LukeMixon.com
Oct 12, 2022
John Bel Edwards:
One free book per month for every child age 0-5 in the state
As for early childhood education, I am proposing that we make the largest new investment of state general fund in early childhood education in state history. But there's even more we can do to reach children where they are.
Through both our budget and legislation, we are seeking to create a partnership framework for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which would make children aged 0-5 in every zip code of the state eligible to receive one free book per month.
Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
Apr 10, 2023
Jeff Landry:
Throwing more money at a broken system is not the answer
Throwing more money at a broken system that lacks accountability is not the answer, and Jeff knows that parents are the most critical voices in a child's education. When faced with elementary school mask mandates and forced COVID vaccinations on
school children, Jeff Landry stood strong, defending children and protecting parents' rights from the "woke" mob.
Source: 2023 Louisiana Gubernatorial campaign website JeffLandry.com
Mar 21, 2023
John Schroder:
Reform public education to ensure control is at local level
Louisiana's public education consistently ranks among the worst in the nation. Louisiana also has one of the country's highest rates of high school dropouts.
My wife, Ellie, is a former teacher and administrator; I have witnessed the struggles of our educators both in and out of the classroom. We need to reform our public education to ensure control is at the local level.
Source: 2023 Louisiana Governor campaign website JohnSchroder.com
Oct 4, 2023
John Schroder:
Opposed educational tax credit to offset tax increases
SB93: Prohibits the $25 credit for educational expenses for each child attending nonpublic elementary and secondary school if the tax deduction for payment of tuition is taken and establishes the Student Assessment for a Valuable Education (SAVE)
Credit Program.Analysis by The Baton Rouge Advocate: Passage of the SAVE fund was crucial because Jindal was virtually certain to veto the budget if the Legislature hadn't approved the measure. The SAVE plan will impose a fee of almost
$1,600 per student that the students won't actually pay because the plan will create tax credits--phantom tax credits in the eyes of critics--that offset the fee. The tax credits allow Jindal to offset all of the tax measures approved by legislators.
Legislative Outcome: Passed House 59-44-2, Vote #1102 on Jun/11/15; State Rep. John Schroder voted NO; Passed Senate 30-9-0, Vote #1107 on Jun/11/15; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/19/15
Source: Baton Rouge Advocate on Louisiana voting records SB93
Jun 11, 2015
Sharon Hewitt:
Curriculum should focus on education not indoctrination
As Governor, I will continue my work to put a computer science curriculum in every K-12 grade level, computer coding in our high school curriculum, and a much more STEM-rich educational experience for all of our students. Our school curriculum will be
focused on education, not indoctrination. We need to acknowledge that parents want to choose the best educational setting for their child, utilizing their state education dollars, to give their child the best opportunity to succeed.
Source: 2023 Louisiana Governor campaign website SharonHewitt.com
Oct 3, 2023
Shawn Wilson:
Expand access to high-quality early care and education
- Prioritize funding to expand access to high-quality early care and education for children from birth to age three as recommended by the Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Commission, while pursuing sustainable
revenue streams to support our families and our businesses
- Pursue federal funds and resources on behalf of our youngest children
- Commit to long-term system improvements in education
Source: 2023 Louisiana Governor campaign website WilsonForLA.com
Oct 5, 2023
Jeff Landry:
Put parents back in control, let the money follow the child
When we are done with this session--let us send a message loud and clear--that THE PARENT is the most important voice in a child's education. The steps we need to take are simple:
- ONE: Make all education lead to a vocation.
- TWO: Put parents back in control, and let the money follow the child...
- And THREE: Treat our teachers with respect and reward them when their students are successful.
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
Mar 11, 2024
Jeff Landry:
Enhanced opportunities with education savings accounts
We inherited an educational crisis that has gripped this State for far too long. So, we enhanced educational opportunities by establishing education savings accounts, empowering families to select the learning environment that best suits their needs
and values. Over 35,000 parents have responded, seeking to participate in our Gator Scholarship Program. Included in this number are parents with children with disabilities and low-income families desperate for our help!
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
Apr 14, 2025
Jeff Landry:
We got the cell phones out and the Ten Commandments in
While many have opposed curriculum reform, we have proven them wrong with results, and we shall continue to emphasize teaching our children the fundamentals needed to have productive lives. This has taken indoctrination out, so education can come in.
And our higher education community is also following your instructions, purging the wasteful and divisive DEI programs from our universities, once and for all! We got the cell phones out, and the Ten Commandments in.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Louisiana legislature
Apr 14, 2025
Bill Cassidy:
I support school choice to give parents the power
Improving access to quality education is essential for the future of our children and country. I support school choice to give parents the power to secure the best educational opportunity for their child. Too many students are stuck in school systems
that are failing them. A zip code or income level should not limit a child's future. All children should have access to the best tools and resources they need to succeed.
Source: 2026 Louisiana Senate campaign website BillCassidy.com
Mar 20, 2025
Bill Cassidy:
College Transparency Act will give families info they need
Students should know if they choose to go to a particular school, in a specific curriculum, what's the likelihood of graduating, getting a job and how much they will have to burrow [sic]. With student loan debt at an all-time high,
I introduced the College Transparency Act to give families the information they need to choose the school that will ensure the best future for them. It's simply truth in advertising.
Source: 2026 Louisiana Senate campaign website BillCassidy.com
Mar 20, 2025
John Fleming:
Would eliminate the Department of Education
When asked there are any federal departments or entities that he would like to see fully abolished,
Fleming replied that if there are any federal entities he thinks should be eliminated, he said, "First on my list would be the Department of Education."
Source: FOX News on 2026 Louisiana Senate race
Jan 24, 2025
Page last updated: Feb 07, 2026