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Pair of LA Driven Measures Expected in House Ed
For a second straight week, LABI will be monitoring the actions in the House Education Committee hearing. Last week, you may remember we had a bundle of workforce bills before the Committee. Today, however, we have a shorter, albeit still important, lineup. Both measures have been designated LA Driven-Approved.
HB 272 by Rep. Kim Carver (R-Mandeville) broadens eligibility for the state’s Reading Enrichment and Academic Development (R.E.A.D.) Program. The program was created in the 2022 legislative session to provide reading materials for students who are:
- in Pre-K and do not score satisfactorily on the literacy section of the early childhood assessment,
- in grades K-2 and read below grade level,
- in grades 4 & 5 and scored below mastery in ELA, and
- recommended by their ELA teacher.
Rep. Carver’s legislation would allow students attending “D” or “F” schools to participate in the R.E.A.D. Program. The state Department of Education would be responsible for determining necessary content and providing books and related materials.
HB 445 by Rep. Barbara Freiberg (R-Baton Rouge) moves the Louisiana STEM Advisory Council under the authority of LA Works, streamlining efforts to align workforce needs. Currently, the Council is overseen by the Board of Regents.
Housing this function within the state’s workforce agency—rather than the Department of Education—ensures stronger coordination between STEM education and real-world economic demand, with a clear focus on building a talent pipeline that matches actual jobs. Workforce agencies are in constant contact with employers and industry, giving them real-time insight into evolving skill needs and allowing programs to adapt more quickly, while also tying efforts directly to economic development priorities and high-growth sectors.