The Advocate Calls for Cooperation on ESSA
September 16, 2016
An editorial in The Advocate highlighted past tensions between State Superintendent John White and Governor John Bel Edwards, remarking that past problems could hurt the implementation of ESSA in the state. The editorial board noted, “the Department of Education headed by White is seeking input and ideas about how to implement ESSA… But the public commentary is going to be supplemented by a new panel, appointed by the governor that includes many representatives of his backers from unions and traditional school systems. The latter are often hostile to public charter schools and other innovations pushed by White’s supporters on BESE.” The Advocate calls for cooperation on this issue, arguing “success will depend on cooperation rather than renewing the education reform battles of the past decade.”