The budget passed by the House last week cuts $24 million from early childhood education and reduces teacher salary stipends from $2,000 to $1,700. Barry Irwin, president of the Louisiana Improvement Council, said this sends a bad message and is discouraging.
“And it undermines the message that we're trying to send to teachers and others that we really care about education and that putting money where we know it will benefit us is a priority. I think it’s a thing.’ No,” Irwin said.
Irwin said lawmakers recognize there is a continuing teacher shortage. Cutting their salaries is likely to make the situation worse, he says.
“Last year, teachers thought they would get a raise. They instead received a one-time paycheck with the promise of a permanent raise. It became a stipend again and now Even that gets cut,” Irwin said.
Irwin says children who receive a good education at an early age are less likely to become involved in crime. Irwin said cutting funding to such an important program sends mixed messages to Louisianans, especially after Gov. Jeff Landry convened a special legislative session focused on crime reform earlier this year.
“And I think cutting the limited funding that we already have for early childhood education, putting it on the chopping block and putting more children and families on waiting lists is really leading us in the wrong direction.” ,” Irwin said.
Irwin said he expects the Senate to restore cuts in these important areas.
