Louisiana Sen. Robert Kostelka has won unanimous state Senate approval for a plan to allow high school students to follow a nonacademic curriculum, although the state schools chief says the plan has deep flaws.
Supporters said the proposal made by the Republican would help educators in the quest to lower Louisiana’s public high school dropout rate. Roughly one in every three students fails to graduate.
Superintendent of Schools Paul Pastorek said the bill would reward teenagers who lack basic math, reading, and writing skills and doesn’t mesh with the state’s system of testing.
The bill now moves to the House, where Mr. Pastorek said he would voice objections.