The Lafayette Parish superintendent told the Lafayette Parish School Board at a workshop that the district is developing its own accountability framework that centers on four priorities — safety, culture, growth and opportunity — and that the district will seek formal adoption by the board after advisory input and further refinement.

The superintendent framed the plan as a local response to a new statewide accountability system set to take effect in the 2025–26 school year. "We are right now looking at how we assess schools starting next year in reference to each of these four different things," the superintendent said, adding the district will present a final product to the board so the public and stakeholders know how local schools will be evaluated.

The proposal would be implemented through the district's PowerSchool-based accountability work and advisory groups that include teachers, parents, bus drivers and business partners. The superintendent said the district expects to bring a version of the plan to the board for possible adoption in the spring, with full rollout targeted for August 2026 when the state system changes take effect.

Why it matters: Louisiana's shift in accountability measures is likely to change letter grades for some schools, and the district wants its locally developed measures to reflect priorities voiced by parents and staff. The superintendent warned that some schools could see lower letter grades under the new state matrix and stressed the need for public communication about the district's priorities.

Key details and local actions

- Four priorities: The superintendent repeated that the district's accountability effort will weigh safety, culture, growth and opportunity. Advisories established last year will be re-engaged to define measurable indicators and scoring approaches (for example, whether schools receive a star rating or a letter grade under the local system).

- Timeline: The superintendent said the district will work through the 2024–25 school year with advisories, present a refined plan in the spring, and aim for full implementation in fall 2026 when the state's new accountability system takes effect.

- School safety upgrades: The superintendent said funds have been set aside to create secure vestibules at schools and that the district hopes every Lafayette Parish school will have a secure area by the end of the 2025–26 school year. "We are hoping by the end of the 25, 26 full year, every school in Lafayette Parish will have a secure area," the superintendent said, noting the district is modeling approaches used at specific campuses.

- Teacher pay and incentives: The superintendent said the district must raise beginning teacher salaries and proposed moving beginning pay toward $50,000. "We have to get beginning teacher salaries to $50,000," the superintendent said. The superintendent also described a two-part incentive proposal: higher pay to recruit teachers into high-need courses up front and additional payments on the back end tied to student performance measures (for example, higher VAM scores or mastery outcomes).

- High school scoring emphasis: The superintendent warned that under the new state mix, six courses (English I, English II, algebra, geometry, U.S. history and biology) will carry approximately 70% of a high school's accountability score. That concentration, the superintendent said, will put pressure on staffing and course assignments.

- Early grades and district goals: The superintendent identified third-grade literacy and numeracy as priority goals and said 30% of the superintendent's evaluation is tied to those two measures (15% literacy, 15% numeracy).

- District advisories and stakeholder engagement: The superintendent described teacher, principal, student and bus driver advisories and said every school has representation in those groups. The district has conducted workshops with teachers and plans similar engagement with middle and high school staff to define indicators and scoring rubrics.

- State funding outlook: The superintendent said, based on conversations with area superintendents and state-level appropriations staff, the district should not expect a substantive, ongoing increase in state funding. "Don't expect any more money," the superintendent said, reporting that state appropriations leaders signaled limited increases and a preference for one-time funds when available.

What was discussion vs. decision

- Discussion: Board members and staff discussed how to quantify and weight the new local indicators, how to balance choice (STEM and arts) with core academics, and how safety measures will be inspected and enforced across 46 district schools.

- Directions given: The superintendent directed staff to continue advisory engagement, refine measures and return to the board in the spring with a final accountability proposal for possible adoption.

- Decision: No formal vote or resolution was taken during the workshop on the accountability proposal, the teacher pay target, or the safety upgrades.

Quotes attributable to the superintendent

- "We have to get beginning teacher salaries to $50,000."
- "We are hoping by the end of the 25, 26 full year, every school in Lafayette Parish will have a secure area."
- "When we begin the school year in 25, 26 in August, the whole school system is now under a new accountability system."

Background and next steps

The district's locally developed accountability measures are intended to supplement — not replace — the state's rubric. The superintendent said the district will continue public communication to explain how local measures align with stakeholder priorities and to prepare parents for changes in letter grades when the state system is implemented. Staff will return to the board in the spring with a proposal the board could consider for adoption.

Ending

The workshop moved to other agenda items after the superintendent's presentation; the district paused for a break and said it will continue work with advisories and communications staff to publicize the proposed measures before any formal board action.