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School officials await direction to implement career diploma program
Louisiana Technical College Region 8 officials have met with several area school superintendents who seem excited about proceeding with a career diploma plan the Legislature approved earlier this year.
LTC Region 8 director Norene Smith said Morehouse Parish School Superintendent Tom Thrower has put together a plan to implement the career diploma program in Morehouse Parish. That plan has been distributed to several other local school superintendents who seem to like it, Smith said.
"I'm not saying that will be the chosen one, but he is firm believe that we've got to start somewhere," she said. "These superintendents are anxious to get started … they think it's wonderful."
Thrower identified about 20 students who could start in the career diploma pathway, Smith said. Those students could follow a regular high school curriculum through ninth and 10th grade and then branch off and begin career education at the Louisiana Technical College during the 11th and 12th grades.
"We've put together what they could take at the high school, and then come to us for a half a day," Smith said. "The purpose of that career diploma is to have a student job-ready when they graduate high school."
"There seems to be some opposition to that, though, but I don't have a dog in that fight," she added.
That opposition is centered in Baton Rouge, particularly at the Department of Education, according to Sen. Bob Kostelka, R-Monroe.
Kostelka couldn't hide his frustration following Tuesday's meeting of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education where the career diploma plan was put on hold. BESE voted 6-5 Tuesday to have the High School Redesign Commission review rules for implementing the new career diploma plan. BESE expects to take up the matter again at its December meeting.
Kostelka and Rep. Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro, pushed two companion bills through the Legislature last spring to create the career diploma plan. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed that legislation into law in July.
Kostelka said BESE's decision on Tuesday was nothing more than a delay tactic.
"(Superintendent of Education Paul) Pastorek has never been for this law," Kostelka said. "BESE was divided equally over this … some will vote with whatever Pastorek wants. Some only do what Pastorek wants. He could tell them to jump off a cliff and they would."
"The Department of Education really is the one delaying it," Kostelka continued. "Pastorek has never liked the law and has spoken out against it and now they're throwing everything at it to delay it. Now they want to send it back for input? We don't need any more input. The law is clear and unambiguous. This is just an unnecessary delay."
Many school systems have opted not to start the career diploma program this year because they have been waiting on BESE to provide direction in implementing it, Kostelka said.
"BESE hasn't given them any details and the Department of Education is just dragging its feet and not giving BESE any direction," Kostelka said. "It's very frustrating. We gave BESE the right to do the details in implementing the law, but the law is clear. Next time we just need to take it away from BESE."
He said superintendents across the state also are frustrated with the lack of direction from BESE and the Department of Education.
"Almost all the superintendents want it and the school boards want it," Kostelka said. "Everyone wants it but Mr. Pastorek and the Department of Education."
Despite opposition, Smith doesn't see the career diploma plan as being any different than what the Louisiana Technical College System has always offered to high school students.
Many high school students throughout the region currently are duel-enrolled at various LTC campuses. Students who pursue a career diploma will be required to earn many of the same credits required in the state's college preparatory curriculum, including, four English and math credits and three science and social studies credits. The career diploma program also allows students to take applied courses related to their chosen career focus.
The program requires students to take seven BESE-approved career and technical education courses as well, including a career readiness course.
Students in the program must have a record of good attendance, good behavior and meet a minimum GPA requirement. They also must participate in a dropout prevention and mentoring program. |
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