Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
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                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
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    Date: 1/29/97
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  1

PICARD PUSHES SALES TAX RENEWAL, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,
ACCOUNTABILITY
     HAMMOND -- State Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard asked educators gathered at
Southeastern Louisiana University Wednesday to urge their legislators to approve another year's
extension of a one-cent sales tax that Governor Murphy J. "Mike" Foster wants to use for education. 
     Extending the one-cent tax is one of five issues that the legislature will consider in a special
session beginning Feb. 23. The tax on food and utilities, which generates $110 million, is set to expire
July 1. Foster's plans call for dedicating $65 million to teacher and principal raises, $15 million for
college library books and scientific and research equipment and $30 million for early childhood
education, kindergarten-first grade reading programs and alternative programs for disruptive students.
     "When you talk to your delegation about renewing the penny, tell them, 'If you think
education is expensive, try ignorance and poverty,'" Picard said.
     Picard came to Southeastern to address approximately 250 educators from throughout the
state attending a one-day informational seminar on early literacy initiatives and "Reading Recovery,"
an early intervention program for low-progress first grade readers. 
     Southeastern is a national Reading Recovery site and is affiliated with the Reading Recovery
Council of North America. Through partnerships with parish school districts, Southeastern's teacher
education department offers graduate credit for the Reading  Recovery teacher training course.
          Southeastern President Sally Clausen, a former classroom teacher, told the seminar participants
that while it's "easy to scapegoat" teachers for the problems of students in public education, "You are
their saviors." she said. Picard "is trying to get more resources, more public support, more professional
training so that you can do the most important job that exists today -- training and teaching children,
particularly young children."
     Picard said that "The opportunity exists now for the Governor, the legislature, the Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education and the Superintendent to come together to transform public
education in the state. We're all on the same page; we're almost all on the same paragraph and by the
time the legislature enters its special session on Feb. 23, I think we'll all be on the same sentence. We
need your help."
     Picard pointed out
      13,500 three to four-year-olds in Louisiana have been identified as "at risk."
      21,592 kindergarten through third graders need early literacy assistance.
      Louisiana ranks last in fourth grade reading proficiency.
     He said Louisiana's early childhood education initiative aims "to make sure that every child
can read independently and well by the end of the third grade." "I know I'm speaking to the choir," said
Picard, who has 20 years experience as both a legislator and a teacher and principal. "If children can't
read, they can't learn and that's why I've been pounding and pounding on some of my former
colleagues in the legislature to show them how important this is."
     Picard also stressed that assurances of accountability for educational programs and initiatives
will be a key to legislative support. "That's their kick, that's their word, that's their buzz --
accountability," he said. "When you talk to your legislators about voting for that one penny, tell them
we're not afraid of accountability. We're going to document the effectiveness of programs and we're
going to be accountable for the money that's spent."
     Picard also applauded the Governor's commitment to use a $75 million budget windfall for
new computers and hookups in state classrooms. "We think that is so very important because we have
so much catching up to do," Picard said.
     Also in attendace at Wednesday's seminar were BESE members Dr. Richard Mesemeche of
Baton Rouge and Donna Contois of Metairie.
                                 - SLU -
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