School & District Management

Study: Students in La. Private School Pilot Score Low

By The Associated Press — July 13, 2010 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

A pilot plan backed by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal that uses state tax dollars so certain students can attend private schools is producing low test scores, a new study shows.

The pilot program stems from a 2008 state law that provided $10 million for up to 1,500 students in troubled New Orleans public schools to attend private or parochial schools. Backers call the tuition payments “scholarships” and a way out of dead-end public schools. Opponents call them “vouchers,” and public school leaders say they rob their schools of vital state aid.

The review was conducted by Leslie Jacobs of New Orleans, who served on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from 1996-2008, The Advocate reports. She was one of the most influential voices in public education circles, and a key leader of Louisiana’s latest push to improve public schools.

During the 2009-10 school year, 1,113 children from kindergarten through fourth grade took advantage of the tuition payments to attend one of 32 non-public schools taking part.

According to Jacobs’ study, 240 third- and fourth-graders were tested this year. Third-graders took iLEAP, which is a skills test, while fourth-graders took LEAP, which is designed to make sure students master basic skills before they move to the next grade.

No state tests are given to students in kindergarten, first- and second-grades.

Results show that fourth-graders getting state-paid tuition scored significantly below their counterparts attending public Recovery School District schools in English, math, science and social studies.

In English, 29 percent of students scored “basic” or above compared to 48 percent of RSD students. In math, 27 percent scored “basic” or above compared to 53 percent of RSD students.

Third-graders in the program also scored well below their RSD counterparts in English, math, science and social studies. In English, 35 percent scored “basic” or above compared to 49 percent of RSD students. In math, 28 percent of third-graders earned a rating of “basic” or above compared to 44 percent of RSD test takers.

“Parents should be given data on how those schools are doing,” Jacobs said.

The 2008 state law, she said, made no such requirement and parents assume the private schools are better.

Jacobs, a former New Orleans mayoral candidate, said schools also should be required to demonstrate improved academic performance to stay in the state program.

State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said it is too early to draw conclusions and that it is up to parents to decide whether the state’s scholarship/voucher program is right for their children.

Related Tags:

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Events

Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.
Federal Webinar The Trump Budget and Schools: Subscriber Exclusive Quick Hit
EdWeek subscribers, join this 30-minute webinar to find out what the latest federal policy changes mean for K-12 education.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
End Student Boredom: K-12 Publisher's Guide to 70% Engagement Boost
Calling all K-12 Publishers! Student engagement flatlining? Learn how to boost it by up to 70%.
Content provided by KITABOO

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management How Principals Can Boost Teacher Morale
Principals share advice for how they support teachers during uncertain times.
4 min read
Vector illustration of a large handing holding an open book with silhouetted women and men standing on the pages of the open book.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion Denver Superintendent: Why We Sued the Federal Government
Education leaders shouldn't remain apolitical in the face of immigration enforcement changes and other threats from the Trump administration.
Alex Marrero
6 min read
Human hands created secure environment for children via home roof gesture. Adults taking care of vulnerable students.
Mary Long/iStock + Education Week
School & District Management Food and Massage Coupons: How Principals Signal Their Appreciation for Teachers
Small gestures can go a long way this Teacher Appreciation Week.
5 min read
Image of a notebook page with "THANK YOU TEACHER" written with some doodles and smiley faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Be a Focused Leader When There’s a Lot of Noise
Burnout, attrition, absenteeism, and disengagement are key issues for schools. Here's a path forward for educators.
3 min read
Screen Shot 2025 04 29 at 6.54.09 AM
Canva