Westbank Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, held a roundtable to discuss the state of K-12 education and the need for innovation to ensure student success. U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Katie Britt (R-AL), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) also participated in the discussion.

During the roundtable, Cassidy addressed the ongoing decline in student achievement nationwide, citing reports that indicate two-thirds of fourth and eighth graders are unable to read proficiently. The panelists discussed how parents are increasingly turning to innovative school models such as micro-schools, virtual schools, hybrid homeschooling, and charter schools that have demonstrated improvements in student achievement. Cassidy emphasized his Educational Choice for Children Act, which aims to promote these innovative school models and provide more students and parents with access to quality educational opportunities.

Panelists also explored programs designed to offer students increased access to high-quality learning opportunities tailored to their individual needs. These programs aim to help students succeed both academically and in their future careers.

“The primary and secondary education system is broken. Many schools have lost sight of their core mission of educating our children,” said Dr. Cassidy.

“The education establishment – driven by teachers’ unions and special interests – traps students in the status quo,” continued Dr. Cassidy. “Parents – the most important educators in their child’s life– need to be empowered and have a voice in their child’s education. Unfortunately, in the current K-12 system, parents are marginalized.”

“It should be without saying that schools should prepare a child for a successful future,” added Dr. Cassidy. “If there ever was a time to disrupt the status quo, that time is now.”

The panelists included Amar Kumar, Founder & CEO of KaiPod Learning; Heidi Vasiloff, Academic Executive Director at Great Hearts Nova; Kelby Woodard, President & CEO of Cristo Rey Network; Ruben Morris, Founder of Alabama Aerospace and Aviation High School; and Steve Grubbs, CEO & Co-Founder of VictoryXR.

Cassidy's prepared speech highlighted several key statistics:

- Two-thirds of US public school students cannot read proficiently by fourth grade.

- Almost two-thirds of fourth graders and three-quarters of eighth graders are below proficient in math.

- Less than half of public school parents believe their child is academically prepared for the 2024-2025 school year.

- Nearly two-thirds of business leaders feel recent graduates are unprepared for the workforce.

Cassidy argued that despite increases in funding and staffing levels over decades, student achievement has continued to decline—a trend exacerbated by pandemic-related school closures leading to historic levels of learning loss.

He called for personalized learning solutions tailored to meet students' needs within classrooms while advocating for greater parental involvement in children's education decisions.

"The failures of the traditional K-12 system are driving more families toward innovative school models," he noted while promoting his Educational Choice for Children Act aimed at providing scholarships covering K-12 educational expenses through incentives for individuals and businesses.

The roundtable concluded with discussions on leveraging new technologies for cost-effective learning environments and incorporating career-oriented learning into high school curricula as preparation for workforce entry.

For further updates from HELP Republicans visit their website or follow them on Twitter @GOPHELP.