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Six-Pack of Workforce Bills Debut in House Education, LABI also watching Senate Ed Hearing
With a laser focus on equipping students with the skills needed to meet the demands of Louisiana’s evolving labor market, LABI is set to show major support for half a dozen measures in this morning’s House Education Committee meeting. While we laid out why today will truly be ‘Workforce Wednesday’ at the Capitol in Monday’s Week Ahead email, we want to again explain the importance behind these bills—all of which are LA Driven approved.
Going in numerical order, we’ll start with HB 268 by Rep. Kim Carver (R-Mandeville), which expands career exposure for students in grades 6-8. Additionally, it requires K-5 schools to provide students with at least one career-related activity by the end of 5th grade.
LABI’s Education and Workforce Development Director, Mary Beth Derrickson, highlighted this bill during a Monday morning appearance on “Mornings with Brian Haldane.”
”We know that studies show it’s important, the earlier we can get kids exposed to what jobs actually exist in Louisiana, the better off they’re going to be later on,” she said. “Louisiana’s such a unique state when it comes to jobs and opportunity, and so we really just want to get kids exposed as early as possible.”
In addition to Rep. Carver, Rep. John Wyble (R-Bogalusa) is another champion when it comes to improving education outcomes and boosting career readiness opportunities. He has two bills slated to be heard, including HB 271, which would create the Louisiana Commission on Foundational Education. If passed, the Commission would replace the Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission with responsibilities to:
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Advise BESE and LDOE on literacy, numeracy and family engagement for grades K–8,
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Research and analyze policies, funding and accountability systems affecting foundational education initiatives and instructional practices,
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Review state, regional and national data to assess the effectiveness of foundational education programs and student outcomes,
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Develop evidence-based policy, program and instructional recommendations, including science-of-reading literacy and research-backed math instruction,
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Recommend strategies to strengthen family engagement and align early childhood through middle grades for consistent skill development, and
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Create subcommittees or working groups to study key areas and report recommendations, including outside experts as needed.
A LABI representative would be one of nearly two dozen members of the Commission.
Rep. Wyble’s HB 316—a key building block upon recent education reforms—broadens the instructor literacy training program he helped create to include grades 4-8. The program currently applies to literacy instruction for grades K-3 and has proved to be wildly successful—helping Louisiana lead the nation in literacy growth and improvement in 2024.
Moving through the committee agenda, HB 285 by Tony Bacala (R-Prairieville), allows school boards to partner with credit unions to open branches inside high schools. LABI has previously supported measures to boost financial literacy for students, preparing them to make smarter money management decisions and promoting financial independence.
Finally, we’ll highlight two important workforce measures being brought by Rep. Ken Brass (D-Vacherie). Ascension Parish—part of which Rep. Brass represents—is seeing unprecedented economic investment and he knows firsthand the demand for skilled workers that will be needed for these projects and future ventures.
HB 649 requires the establishment and administration of a statewide application process for students to access dual enrollment programs. Additionally, all public postsecondary institutions must participate.
HB 807 establishes the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within the Louisiana Community and Technical College System to bolster and expand training for high-wage, high-demand jobs.
As Gov. Jeff Landry said in his State of the State last week, there are numerous pathways into the labor force, and we must expand resources for education opportunities that prepare all students. A one-size-fits-all approach will not work and puts students who may choose a non-traditional path to the workforce at a disadvantage.
We’ll take you now to the other side of the Capitol where the Senate Education Committee will meet at 1:30 P.M. We’re tracking three bills there, and will highlight two below.
SB 27 by Sen. Patrick McMath (R-Covington) beefs up Louisiana’s High Dosage Tutoring program, created through 2024 legislation by Sen. McMath, by broadening eligibility from K-5 all the way through 8th grade. This innovative, in-school program provides high-quality one-on-one or small-group instruction for students lagging behind in reading or math and has proved pivotal in improving student success in recent year.
Last but not least, LABI proudly supports SB 305, by Senate Education Chairman Sen. Rick Edmonds (R-Baton Rouge). This legislation directs the Board of Regents, LA Works and relevant state agencies to create a publicly accessible career alignment data dashboard, detailing educational programs and the career outcomes they lead to. This transparency is critical—students need to know which opportunities exist across the state and what training is required. By equipping Louisiana’s young people with this knowledge, we connect them to high-wage, high-demand jobs and encourage them to build their careers right here at home.
This legislation is the result of extensive collaboration by the Task Force on Career Alignment, of which LABI is a member, alongside LA Works, higher education partners, the Board of Regents and other key stakeholders. The task force’s goal is clear: align higher education programs with Louisiana’s workforce needs.
Both SB 305 and the aforementioned HB 285 reinforce major goals of LABI’s recently-announced partnership with College Board, bringing career preparation courses to Louisiana high schools. The AP Business with Personal Finance course will give students a real-world foundation in how businesses operate and how financial decisions are made—covering everything from how companies create value and compete in the marketplace to the forces that drive customer behavior. Paired with SB 305, which provides clear insight into the education-to-career pipeline, and HB 285, which embeds hands-on financial literacy into the high school experience, this approach ensures students aren’t just learning these concepts in theory. Rather, they are gaining the context and practical skills needed to make informed decisions and succeed in high-demand careers.