July marks the start of the Louisiana Student Standards Review process, two years earlier than scheduled, in a move approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in April. A committee of 101 educators and experts will review current state expectations for students and revise them over the next eight months.

The law requires the state to review standards every seven years, and Louisiana is fulfilling its requirement well in advance. The goal is to ensure that students are prepared for college and the job market by casting a critical eye on current standards, the Louisiana Department of Education announced in a news release.

“Our state found common ground in the simple idea that we trust professional educators to do what is right for students,” State Superintendent John White said. “The product these 101 volunteer educators and experts produce will reflect the years of experience and commitment they have given to the children of our state.”

Both parents and educators can comment online starting July 8 through the Standards Review Portal on the Department of Education’s website. All comments will be shared with committee members. The public can also attend one of the scheduled meetings to voice concerns and respond to changes.

The committee members were nominated by school districts, professional associations and advocacy organizations from across the state. They will serve on the Standards Review Committee and its content subcommittees.

The subcommittees — which specialize in different subject areas and grade levels — will review the standards and present their revisions to the Standards Review Committee at scheduled public meetings held throughout the state.

After the Standards Review Committee has approved a final draft of the new standards, it will send the draft to BESE for approval. By March 4, the process will be completed and new standards adopted.

The first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 19 in Baton Rouge. Subsequent meetings will also be held in Bossier City, Alexandria, Crowley, St. Tammany and New Orleans.

(MGNonline)