Our Work: Public Policy

Improving School Facilities

Public schools around our country and most specifically in Louisiana are in dire need of repairs, maintenance, renovation or new construction. Studies have shown that student achievement increases when students have access high quality school buildings. Many of our students in Louisiana go to school in buildings that have mold, extreme temperatures, asbestos, few restrooms and overcrowded classrooms. We must take the first step in providing the appropriate facilities to our children, so they have the tools to succeed. Forty-one other states provide some form state funding for their school facilities. Louisiana is not one of them. Louisiana ranks the forth lowest among all states in terms of funding for public school facilities. We must do better.

The following bills will provide funding for school buildings statewide:

Establish a Statewide Educational Facilities Fund

This legislation establishes a fund in the state treasury known as the "Statewide Educational Facilities Fund" that would be used to provide state level funding for school construction and repairs throughout Louisiana.  The fund would be used solely by the Louisiana Statewide Educational Facilities Authority (SEFA), which would need to be created.

In the 2007 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, HCR 230, submitted by Representative Karen Carter Peterson, laid out plans for a task force to be convened to study Louisiana's school facilities and make conclusions and recommendations based on best practices around the nation.  The HCR 230 Task Force report included information on school facilities management from around the nation that revealed that 41 other states provide funding for school construction and have an authority to oversee and allocate those funds. This report was approved by BESE and submitted to the state legislature.  Around the nation, authorities such as what is being considered in Louisiana are funded from a variety of means including sales taxes, corporate taxes, lottery revenues, gaming revenues and direct appropriations from the state Legislature.

Establish the Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority

This legislation would establish the Louisiana Statewide Education Facilities Authority (SEFA) for the purpose of administering state level funding for local school districts to use for construction and repairs of facilities.  The LA SEFA would be housed within the Department of Education and would be fully staffed with an executive director and individuals specializing in fields related to school construction and finance. The Authority itself would be composed of individuals with special expertise in the necessary fields, representatives from organizations that have knowledge of the school building process, elected officials and education administrators.  The Authority would develop a formula and process to provide state funding to help match local funding for construction and renovation projects submitted by local school boards. Funding for the Authority would come from the Louisiana Statewide Educational Facilities Fund, which would need to be developed.

In the 2007 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature, HCR 230, submitted by Senator Cheryl Gray, laid out plans for a task force to be convened to study Louisiana’s school facilities and make conclusions and recommendations based on best practices around the nation.  The HCR 230 Task Force report included information on school facilities management from around the nation that revealed that 41 other states provide funding for school construction and have an authority to oversee and allocate those funds. This report was approved by BESE and submitted to the state Legislature.

How would funds be allocated?

• Local districts would submit applications for specific construction or maintenance projects. The SEFA would allocate funds from the Louisiana Statewide Educational Facilities Fund to local districts based on a funding formula.
• Funding from the SEFA would not impact the MFP.

What role would local school districts have?

• Local school districts would have the choice as to whether to apply for funds from the SEFA.
• Local districts would continue to decide which local capital projects have priority for funding – either through the SEFA or with local funds.
• Local school districts will retain control of all facilities and funding. The SEFA would be involved in monitoring only the funds that are allocated by them.
• Local districts would be required to provide matching funds for projects that are funded by the SEFA.
• Administrations in districts that apply for funds would serve as liaisons to the SEFA.