(The Center Square) – Louisiana is fifth in the nation in educational freedom, a report from the Heritage Foundation says.
The annual scorecard – in existence just four years – ranks the states in five categories consistent with the nonprofit’s mission. Louisiana is fourth in return on investment, fifth in teacher freedom, and sixth in civic education.
Other category rankings are 15th in transparency and 16th in education choice.
The state is down one spot overall and in transparency, and eight in education choice. It’s up two each in teacher freedom and return on investment.
The report says spending is 30th per pupil ($15,430) annually, and employment of teachers is 3.37 for every nonteacher in public schools. The unfunded teacher pension liability represents 6.3% of the state gross domestic product.
“A full 56% of its teachers are alternatively certified, making their way into the classroom through routes other than a traditional, university-based college of education,” the analysis says. “However, the Pelican State does not have full reciprocity of teacher licenses with other states.”
Heritage bills itself as a nonprofit formulating and promoting “public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong national defense.”
