Ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality school facility
The harsh reality is that Louisiana ranks fourth lowest among all states in terms of total spending on public school facilities and is one of only nine states that does not provide state funding for school buildings. The Cowen Institute believes that all children should have the opportunity to go to school in a high quality facility. In New Orleans, the School Facilities Master Plan (SFMP) is in the process of being implemented by the Orleans Parish School Board and the Recovery School District. $700 million of the $1.8 billion plan has been secured through FEMA funding—there are six phases of the SFMP and there is funding for the first two phases. The Cowen Institute was instrumental in writing the policy that created the Master Plan Oversight Committee (MPOC) and will provide expert advice throughout implementation. Additionally, we work to monitor all changes made to the SFMP, which include substantial budget increases to projects and movement of schools from one phase to another. On a statewide level, the Cowen Institute is working with state legislators to create a Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority within the Department of Education to provide funding, coordination, assistance, and oversight for the repair, renovation, and construction of public school facilities. In addition, we are working to create a revolving loan fund for school maintenance as part of the statewide school facilities authority. Finally, we are working on school siting issues with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and will host a state-wide summit in July to discuss how best practices related to school facilities can be implemented in Louisiana.
Review general information about public schools facilities across Louisiana. [more info]
History of School Facilities Legislation
As part of its policy agenda, the Cowen Institute is working with state legislators to create a Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority within the Department of Education to provide funding, coordination, assistance, and oversight for the repair, renovation, and construction of public school facilities. In addition, we are working to create a revolving loan fund for school maintenance as part of the statewide school facilities authority.
June 2010
The House passes SB 584, the Senate approves the final version, and the bill is sent to Governor Jindal for his signature.
May 2010
SB 584 passes on the Senate floor and is assigned to the House Education Committee.
April 2010
Representative Walt Leger and Senator Karen Carter Peterson introduce legislation to create a Statewide School Facilities Authority, HB 210 and SB 584. On April 29, SB 584 was heard before the Senate Education Committee and was passed unanimously.
March 2010
Senator Karen Carter Peterson spoke at the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting on the importance of providing state funding to local districts for school facilities.
November 2009
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Petersontook a second annual statewide school facilities trip highlighting the needs of school facilities around the state. They went to schools in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Click here for the press release.
September 2009 Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson speak at BESE on the importance of state funding for school facilities.
June 2009
-The House Appropriations Committee fails to pass SB 90 out of Committee.
-The legislature passes the School Facilities Fund.
-Governor Jindal signed the School Facilities Fund into law. It is now Act 226. [more info]
April 2009
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson introduce Senate Bill 90 (SB 90) and House Bill 689 (HB 689), which creates a statewide School Facilities Authority and a School Facilities Authority Fund.
HB 689 legislation[more info]
One page overview of legislation from the Cowen Institute [more info]
SB 90 legislation[more info] One page overview of legislation from the Cowen Institute [more info]
December 2008
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans held a hearing in the Local and Municipal Affairs Committee on school facilities in Louisiana. Superintendents from across the state, the Arkansas Director of School Facilities and a national expert spoke about facilities needs. [more info]
October 2008 Representative Karen Carter Peterson and Senator Cheryl Gray Evans took a statewide school facilities trip highlighting the needs of school facilities around the state. Press release [more info]
July 2008
Governor Jindal vetoes SB 632 on the basis that he believes school facilities are a local responsibility and there are currently many unmet obligations including roads and deferred maintenance on state buildings.
Jindal veto statement for SB 632 [more info] Jindal veto statement for HB 962 [more info]
June 2008
Legislature unanimously passes SB 632 and HB 962.
March 2008
Senator Cheryl Gray and Representative Karen Carter Peterson introduce Senate Bill 632 (SB 632) and House Bill 962 (HB 962), which creates a statewide School Facilities Authority and a School Facilities Authority Fund. [more info on HB 962] [more info on SB 632]
February 2008
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) passes the report created by the HCR 230 task force with the recommendation to form a School Facilities Authority in Louisiana. [more info]
June 2007
House Concurrent Resolution 230 (HCR 230) passes and creates a task force to study best practices relative to the assessment of the public school facilities. [more info]
Facilities
Ensuring that every child has access to a high-quality school facility
The harsh reality is that Louisiana ranks fourth lowest among all states in terms of total spending on public school facilities and is one of only nine states that does not provide state funding for school buildings. The Cowen Institute believes that all children should have the opportunity to go to school in a high quality facility. In New Orleans, the School Facilities Master Plan (SFMP) is in the process of being implemented by the Orleans Parish School Board and the Recovery School District. $700 million of the $1.8 billion plan has been secured through FEMA funding—there are six phases of the SFMP and there is funding for the first two phases. The Cowen Institute was instrumental in writing the policy that created the Master Plan Oversight Committee (MPOC) and will provide expert advice throughout implementation. Additionally, we work to monitor all changes made to the SFMP, which include substantial budget increases to projects and movement of schools from one phase to another. On a statewide level, the Cowen Institute is working with state legislators to create a Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority within the Department of Education to provide funding, coordination, assistance, and oversight for the repair, renovation, and construction of public school facilities. In addition, we are working to create a revolving loan fund for school maintenance as part of the statewide school facilities authority. Finally, we are working on school siting issues with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and will host a state-wide summit in July to discuss how best practices related to school facilities can be implemented in Louisiana.
Review general information about public schools facilities across Louisiana. [more info]
History of School Facilities Legislation
As part of its policy agenda, the Cowen Institute is working with state legislators to create a Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority within the Department of Education to provide funding, coordination, assistance, and oversight for the repair, renovation, and construction of public school facilities. In addition, we are working to create a revolving loan fund for school maintenance as part of the statewide school facilities authority.
June 2010
The House passes SB 584, the Senate approves the final version, and the bill is sent to Governor Jindal for his signature.
May 2010
SB 584 passes on the Senate floor and is assigned to the House Education Committee.
April 2010
Representative Walt Leger and Senator Karen Carter Peterson introduce legislation to create a Statewide School Facilities Authority, HB 210 and SB 584. On April 29, SB 584 was heard before the Senate Education Committee and was passed unanimously.
March 2010
Senator Karen Carter Peterson spoke at the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education meeting on the importance of providing state funding to local districts for school facilities.
November 2009
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson took a second annual statewide school facilities trip highlighting the needs of school facilities around the state. They went to schools in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Click here for the press release.
September 2009
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson speak at BESE on the importance of state funding for school facilities.
June 2009
-The House Appropriations Committee fails to pass SB 90 out of Committee.
-The legislature passes the School Facilities Fund.
-Governor Jindal signed the School Facilities Fund into law. It is now Act 226. [more info]
April 2009
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans and Representative Karen Carter Peterson introduce Senate Bill 90 (SB 90) and House Bill 689 (HB 689), which creates a statewide School Facilities Authority and a School Facilities Authority Fund.
HB 689 legislation [more info]
One page overview of legislation from the Cowen Institute [more info]
SB 90 legislation [more info]
One page overview of legislation from the Cowen Institute [more info]
December 2008
Senator Cheryl Gray Evans held a hearing in the Local and Municipal Affairs Committee on school facilities in Louisiana. Superintendents from across the state, the Arkansas Director of School Facilities and a national expert spoke about facilities needs. [more info]
October 2008
Representative Karen Carter Peterson and Senator Cheryl Gray Evans took a statewide school facilities trip highlighting the needs of school facilities around the state. Press release [more info]
WAFB-TV clip [more info]
Alexandria Town Talk story [more info]
July 2008
Governor Jindal vetoes SB 632 on the basis that he believes school facilities are a local responsibility and there are currently many unmet obligations including roads and deferred maintenance on state buildings.
Jindal veto statement for SB 632 [more info]
Jindal veto statement for HB 962 [more info]
June 2008
Legislature unanimously passes SB 632 and HB 962.
March 2008
Senator Cheryl Gray and Representative Karen Carter Peterson introduce Senate Bill 632 (SB 632) and House Bill 962 (HB 962), which creates a statewide School Facilities Authority and a School Facilities Authority Fund. [more info on HB 962]
[more info on SB 632]
February 2008
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) passes the report created by the HCR 230 task force with the recommendation to form a School Facilities Authority in Louisiana. [more info]
June 2007
House Concurrent Resolution 230 (HCR 230) passes and creates a task force to study best practices relative to the assessment of the public school facilities. [more info]