Breaking News! Chas Roemer Drops One On 4th Floor

COPY OF LETTER HAND DELIVERED (TODAY)

The Honorable Bobby Jindal

State of Louisiana

Dear Governor Jindal:

As the legislative session has progressed I have become more and more concerned about the advancement of SB 259 and HB 612. While I certainly agree that addressing the severe drop-out rate in our state is critical, the answer is not to put the state seal of approval on a system that reverts to social promotion that is virtually void of any true standards or accountability. As you are aware, these bills would allow students to enter the so-called career ready track after only scoring approaching basicon either the math or language section of our LEAP test. I must emphasize to you that such a low standard will result in promoting students who are not ready for high school much less prepare our kids for any meaningful career. Furthermore, you must review the past comments of your own cabinet members that have indicated that the skills needed for quality employment now and the future are the same skills that are required of incoming college freshman. A standard of approaching basic in either math or language does not even begin to reflect a student with the appropriate skill set to succeed in high school much less life.

We have a debate in our state going on and it is one that is healthy: What is the best way to prepare our kids for the future? In a time when virtually every other state in the country is raising standards, in a time when good jobs - jobs with benefits, mobility, and pay a living wage - require more skills not less, is our answer to lower the bar? Is that what our state believes in? Is that what the future of our state holds?

It is true that our state has failed in many ways to provide a quality education to all of our kids. I would suggest that failure is the failure of the adults not the kids. I would argue that now is the time we should raise standards and raise expectations. Yes, we should develop a curriculum that provides practical job skills, but that curriculum should be founded on providing a quality curriculum with high standards and outcomes that result in improved lives. There are many examples from public and private schools where at-risk kids have risen to the challenge and gone on to better lives. Our challenge is to see that happen more often.

The results of the past ten years are noteworthy: outcomes have improved especially among minority students. This would never have happened without increasing standards and accountability. Now there are some that argue those standards are too difficult and we should go back to the way we used to do it. Many who make this argument are the traditional apologists for a school system that has a long track record of failure. Rather than argue for going back to the way we used to do it, I would argue the opposite. We should consider more things we have never done: year around schools, true school choice, and customizable curriculum to name just a few. I invite you to visit some of the successes in your state. Some are traditional public schools. Some are public charters. Some are private. The one common theme you will find is leadership that is 100% committed to excellence.

Our kids deserve more from our leadership than crafting a system that puts the state seal of approval on a system that will promote kids despite our failure to teach them. I recognize the task is enormous, but don't our kids deserve better? We can succeed. These kids can succeed. I implore you to lead this debate. It is why I voted for you.

Sincerely,

Chas Roemer, BESE District 6