FreedomWorks Celebrates Historic Education Reform Victory in Louisiana
Washington, DC- FreedomWorks activists and limited-government allies across the state of Louisiana are celebrating today’s state Senate vote to pass voucher expansion bill, HB.976, and teacher tenure reform bill, HB.974, which passed by margins of 24-15 and 23-16, respectively.
These bills are part of Governor Bobby Jindal’s larger education reform package, which includes vouchers for students to escape under-performing public schools, performance-based tenure to reward effective teachers, and tax credits for individuals and businesses to sponsor tuition for the schools that best meets a child’s educational needs.
“Today, the tireless weeks of ground work put in by our dedicated activists in Louisiana finally paid off,” commented David Spielman, Campaigns Coordinator for FreedomWorks. “Governor Jindal made this reform package his number one priority this year, and we provided the constituent ground-support necessary to turn these bills into law. This is a great day for parents and families, who can finally begin to take back control over their children’s educational futures.”
FreedomWorks and its network of 15,000 volunteer activists in the state of Louisiana launched a grassroots campaign back in early March to support Governor Bobby Jindal’s education reform package. To advance these reforms, a broad coalition of local activists, tea party groups, and educational reform groups visited district offices, organized phone banking and door-to-door outreach, as well as hosted education seminars throughout the state.
FreedomWorks maximized the efforts of the activists on the ground by providing voter education materials, targeted door hangers, yard signs, t-shirts, and bumper magnets.
Spielman added, “Governor Jindal’s bold commitment to educational reform is an example for the rest of our nation’s Governors to follow. We expect the success of these key reforms in Louisiana to start a wave of school choice reforms across the country in the next year, and we plan to stay heavily involved every step of the way.”
FreedomWorks plans to keep the momentum going with continued grassroots efforts to advance school choice legislation in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania. For more information on FreedomWorks’ school choice efforts, contact Press Secretary Jackie Bodnar at 202-603-2108 or Jbodnar@FreedomWorks.org.
