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09.10.2024
TOPS Participation & Demographics
- Education & Workforce
The number of students receiving free college tuition through Louisiana’s TOPS program has dropped for the third consecutive year, most likely an effect of declining college enrollment. Part 3 of a three-part series looking at public K-12 education and higher education in Louisiana.
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08.29.2024
Federal Student Aid
- Education & Workforce
The rate of Louisiana high school seniors applying for college financial aid fell over the last year, fueling worries about the state’s shrinking higher education-bound population. Part 2 of a three-part series looking at public K-12 education and higher education in Louisiana.
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08.19.2024
Public School Enrollment & Demographics
- Education & Workforce
With the start of the new school year, students are returning to emptier classrooms as the total enrollment in Louisiana’s public schools declines to its lowest level in 16 years. Part 1 of a three-part series looking at public K-12 education and higher education in Louisiana.
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07.22.2024
Louisiana’s Food Stamp Usage
- Budget & Taxes
Nearly one in five people in Louisiana, about 867,000 low-income residents on average each month, received financial food aid across the last year through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, according to the latest data available from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.
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06.04.2024
2024 Session: Chipping Away at Sunshine
- Budget & Taxes
- Legislature
- Open Meetings & Public Records
A year after lawmakers passed the state budget in a frenzied final few minutes before theirdeadline, the Louisiana Legislature adopted a $49 billion compromise package of spending plansthis year with time to spare and no last-minute chaos in their three-month regular session.
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05.13.2024
Governor’s Records Should Remain Open
- Legislature
- Open Meetings & Public Records
Just as it appeared one awful public records exemption bill may be defeated for the current legislative session, another damaging exemption idea could take its place.
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05.10.2024
Another Budget Windfall
- Budget & Taxes
A boost to Louisiana’s state income projections will give lawmakers more money to spend over the next 14 months, even as the post-pandemic financial surge continues to taper off and a fiscal downturn edges ever closer.
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04.29.2024
Budget Debate Focuses on Education
- Budget & Taxes
- Education & Workforce
The state budget crafted by the Louisiana House steers new money to public school programs at the expense of early childhood education, while maintaining the governor’s push to grow spending on state prisons and police.
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04.22.2024
PAR Urges Lawmakers to Safeguard Public Access to Government Records
- Open Meetings & Public Records
Louisiana’s lawmakers have a significant opportunity to protect their constituents’ access to theinformation needed to hold public officials accountable and understand the decisions about howtheir tax dollars are used.
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04.02.2024
PAR Statement on a Proposed Constitutional Convention
- Legislature
- Louisiana Constitution
The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana believes the state needs constitutional reform after years of cluttering Louisiana’s primary governing document with hundreds of amendments and provisions best left to statute.
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03.26.2024
Expanding School Choice
- Budget & Taxes
- Education & Workforce
Education savings accounts are the newest, most expansive evolution of school choice programs in the United States, already adopted by several states and under consideration in many others, including Louisiana. The programs promise to revolutionize how K-12 education is structured, steering public tax dollars to private educational options for students.
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03.14.2024
Complete Listing of Proposed and Adopted Amendments to Louisiana’s 1974
- Louisiana Constitution
Article Election Ballot # Amendment Pass or Fail Article I: Declaration of Rights I 11/08/22 7 Limits on Involuntary Servitude Fail I 12/10/22 1 Prohibit Voting for People Who Aren’t U.S. Citizens Pass I 11/03/20 1 No Right to Abortion Pass I 11/06/18 1 Felon in Public Office Pass I 11/06/18 2 Unanimous Jury […]
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03.12.2024
Voting on Louisiana Proposed Constitutional Amendments 1978-2023
- Louisiana Constitution
Voting on Louisiana Proposed Constitutional Amendments 1978-2023 November 18, 2023 1.) Deadlines to Veto Bills and Rules for Veto Sessions. A vote for would allow lawmakers to try to override a governor’s bill rejections without calling a separate veto session if they are already in a legislative session and add further details about the deadlines […]