The budget that was passed in the House last week cut $24 million from early childhood education and reduced teacher pay stipends from $2,000 to $1,700. Barry Erwin, the president of the Council for a Better Louisiana, said it sends a bad message and is discouraging.
“And I think it hurts the message that we’re trying to send out there to teachers and really to others that we really value education and it’s a priority that we’re going to put our money in these places where we know it will make a difference,” Erwin said.
Erwin said lawmakers are aware of the ongoing teacher shortage. He says cutting their pay will most likely make the situation worse.
“Last year teachers thought they were going to get a pay raise. They got a one-time stipend instead with a promise that it was going to be made into a permanent pay raise. It becomes a stipend again, and now even that gets cut,” Erwin said.
Erwin says a solid early childhood education reduces one’s likelihood of a life of crime. According to Erwin, reducing funding for such a vital program sends a mixed message to Louisianans, especially after Governor Jeff Landry convened a special legislative session dedicated to crime reforms earlier this year.
“And to cut the limited funding that we already have for early childhood education and put that on the chopping block and put more kids and families on the waiting list, I think moves us really in the wrong direction,” Erwin said.
Erwin said he’s hopeful the Senate will restore the cuts in these critical areas.
