Louisiana Children and LDOE

News reports about Louisiana Children and LDOE, regarding the role of the Louisiana Department of Education (“LDOE“) in children’s lives and well-being.

Date	News Report
06/19/2023	Corporal punishment banned at Louisiana schools without parental consent by Claire Sullivan, Louisiana Illuminator Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that bans physical discipline at public elementary and secondary schools unless parents provide written permission. State law currently allows public school teachers and administrators to use corporal punishment on students without parents’ permission. Such discipline includes “hitting, paddling, striking, spanking, slapping, or any other physical force that causes pain or physical discomfort,” according to the new law that goes into effect in August. It will also apply to nonpublic schools that receive state funds. At least 27 of Louisiana’s 69 school systems have banned corporal punishment and at least 19 allowed it as of 2022, The Advocate reported in 2022. The bill, written by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-New Orleans, would require parents in districts that still use corporal punishment to sign a permission slip if they allow their child to be physically disciplined. The bill gives parents the choice over how their child is punished, she said. Hilferty attempted a similar bill last year that narrowly failed to advance from the House. This year, it passed the House in a 74-21 vote and was approved in the Senate, 37-1. In the 1977 Ingraham v. Wright case, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of corporal punishment in public schools. More than a dozen states still allow corporal punishment in public schools, according to USA Today, and nearly all allow it in private schools.
06/12/2023	Editorial: Tough bill would tackle Louisiana’s reading problem. – Staff Editorial, The Advocate A longtime head of Louisiana’s prison system once said he could predict the population of the jails years ahead of time, by looking at how many children had failed the third grade that year. Real success can change that dynamic, but it will take a considerable commitment.

Date

News Report

06/19/2023

Corporal punishment banned at Louisiana schools without parental consent by Claire Sullivan, Louisiana Illuminator

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed a bill that bans physical discipline at public elementary and secondary schools unless parents provide written permission.
State law currently allows public school teachers and administrators to use corporal punishment on students without parents’ permission. Such discipline includes “hitting, paddling, striking, spanking, slapping, or any other physical force that causes pain or physical discomfort,” according to the new law that goes into effect in August. It will also apply to nonpublic schools that receive state funds.
At least 27 of Louisiana’s 69 school systems have banned corporal punishment and at least 19 allowed it as of 2022, The Advocate reported in 2022.
The bill, written by Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R-New Orleans, would require parents in districts that still use corporal punishment to sign a permission slip if they allow their child to be physically disciplined. The bill gives parents the choice over how their child is punished, she said.
Hilferty attempted a similar bill last year that narrowly failed to advance from the House. This year, it passed the House in a 74-21 vote and was approved in the Senate, 37-1.
In the 1977 Ingraham v. Wright case, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of corporal punishment in public schools. More than a dozen states still allow corporal punishment in public schools, according to USA Today, and nearly all allow it in private schools.

06/12/2023

Editorial: Tough bill would tackle Louisiana’s reading problem. – Staff Editorial, The Advocate

A longtime head of Louisiana’s prison system once said he could predict the population of the jails years ahead of time, by looking at how many children had failed the third grade that year. Real success can change that dynamic, but it will take a considerable commitment.