Louisiana and New Orleans have made remarkable academic progress in recent years. A national study found that Louisiana leads the nation in reading growth and ranked among the top states in math growth, while New Orleans students have been recognized among the fastest-improving in the country. These gains reflect the work of educators, school leaders, families, and communities, as well as sustained investments in the systems and supports that help schools succeed.

This month, Governor Landry signed an executive order to reduce the amount of Louisiana’s Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), the state formula used to distribute public education funding to school systems. The goal of the executive order is to provide stipends for eligible classroom teachers and support staff during the 2026–2027 school year. The executive order proposes reducing the state’s MFP appropriation by $168 million for the 2026–2027 school year and redirecting those dollars to provide one-time stipends of $2,000 for classroom teachers and $1,000 for eligible support staff. This is unlike previous years, where legislators identified additional funding for teacher stipends that were provided in addition to the state’s MFP appropriation.

We share the belief that educators deserve compensation that reflects the essential role they play in student success. At the same time, it is important to understand how this proposed funding shift would work and what it could mean for schools that are working to sustain and build upon the progress students are making today. In practice, that means dollars that would normally be distributed to school systems as flexible state education funding would instead be directed toward a specific purpose. The funding is not disappearing from public education entirely, but it would no longer reach schools in the same way.

Why this Matters for Schools

The MFP is the foundation of school funding in Louisiana. For school systems, including public charter schools, these dollars help support the full cost of operating schools. Along with teacher and staff salaries, that also includes transportation, facilities, insurance, security, instructional materials, student supports, food service, special education services, and other core expenses.

The executive order directs the reduction to come from “non-instructional” dollars and encourages school systems to protect areas such as security, transportation, and food services. For most districts and schools, these costs are fixed or committed before the school year begins. 

What this Means for New Orleans

For New Orleans public schools, this funding shift is expected to result in an approximately $10 million reduction in MFP funding for the upcoming school year. In our district, each school or network manages its own budget, staffing, and operations. As a result, an unexpected funding reduction of this size will affect schools differently depending on their enrollment, financial position, and existing commitments.

New Orleans schools are also navigating several financial pressures at the same time. Federal ESSER relief dollars have expired, and enrollment has declined across the city, but the cost of operating schools has not declined at the same pace. In many cases, schools still need the same number of teachers, counselors, bus routes, facilities, and other supports, even when fewer students are enrolled.

What Happens Next

The executive order does not take effect automatically. It requires written approval from two-thirds of the elected members of both the Louisiana House and Senate by June 23. As legislators consider the proposal, school leaders across the state have raised concerns about its potential impact on local budgets and operations. 

Louisiana’s recent academic gains did not happen by accident. They reflect years of work by educators and school communities, supported by investments in staffing, student services, transportation, facilities, academic programs, and other essential functions that help schools operate effectively. As policymakers consider this proposal, the question is not whether teachers deserve greater compensation. We know they do. The question is how to strengthen teacher compensation while preserving the conditions that have helped drive student achievement and academic recovery.

Schools have already approved their budgets for the 2026–2027 school year. If the executive order is approved, many will have to make difficult decisions about how to absorb the reduction, potentially affecting staffing levels, extracurricular activities, student supports, and other investments that students and families rely on.

Protecting Progress While Investing in Teachers

New Orleans needs a sustainable, long-term approach to teacher compensation. Educators deserve compensation that helps them stay in the profession and build lasting careers and homes in the city. At the same time, schools need stable and predictable funding to plan responsibly, meet their obligations, and continue investing in the full range of supports that contribute to student success.

The challenge is not choosing between teachers and schools. Strong schools depend on great teachers, and great teachers depend on strong schools. As Louisiana continues to build on its academic momentum, policymakers should pursue solutions that strengthen both.

Our students are making real progress, and our educators deserve meaningful investment that reflects their role in that progress. The challenge before policymakers is to advance both goals at the same time—strengthening teacher compensation while preserving the conditions that have helped Louisiana and New Orleans become national leaders in academic growth and recovery.

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