Education starts at birth and is the best long-term investment the state can make in its future. When Louisiana students have great schools with highly effective teachers, they have the tools they need to grow and thrive and drive the future economy of our state.

But for far too long, education has taken a back seat to other funding priorities, resulting in historically underfunded K-12 and higher education systems that often fail to meet the needs of students, employers and the state. We also know that poverty and school performance are inextricably linked. We need to ensure that Louisiana’s history of endemic poverty doesn’t cripple the state’s future.

Louisiana can do better to help ensure all Louisiana students have access to the education, training and resources they need to succeed.