Treasurer Kennedy Supports Legislation Requiring Elected Officials to Assist in the Classroom

HB 924 Would Facilitate First-Hand Knowledge of School Environments and Programs

BATON ROUGE, LA – State Treasurer John Kennedy is supporting legislation that would require all statewide elected officials and members of the Legislature to assist public school teachers in the classroom twice a year.

“My colleagues and I in state government talk a lot about our public school system, and many of us make decisions that impact elementary and secondary education,” said Treasurer Kennedy. “But how many state officials have real time, first-hand knowledge about what goes on inside Louisiana’s public school classrooms?”

HB 924 by Rep. Don Trahan, a former Louisiana high school teacher, would require elected officials and legislators to visit two elementary or secondary schools in Louisiana each year. At least one of the schools visited must be the recipient of Title I funds. The public official would be required to spend half of the school day at each school assisting the teacher in presenting classroom material. He or she would then file a report on the experience with the Secretary of State’s Office or the clerical officer of the Senate or House.

Treasurer Kennedy, who has served as a substitute teacher for 11th, 6th and 7th grades in East Baton Rouge Parish public schools, said “we’re not talking about speaking 20 minutes to a civics class or showing up for a photo opportunity. The legislation would require us to actually participate in teaching in a public school for eight hours a year and would make that responsibility a condition of our jobs.”
The purpose of HB 924 is to foster a partnership between elected officials and schools to facilitate first-hand knowledge of school environments and programs. For more information about the proposed legislation, visit www.legis.state.la.us.

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