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Senate approves requested spending by state Department of Education | Louisiana

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www.thecentersquare.com – By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-03-19 15:31:00

(The Center Square) — The Louisiana Department of Education received approval this week for recipients of the Education Excellence Fund to spend a total of $23.4 million for the fiscal year 2024-2025.

According to the Department of Education, a total of $72.7 million was available in the Education Excellence Fund at the beginning of the 2024-2025 fiscal year. $11.6 million were new funds, $26 million were carried over from prior year funds, $41,000 were reallocated from closed schools receiving funds, $27.7 million were investment funds, and $7.4 million were cash on hand funds able to be spent.

The $23.4 million requested for approval is being used by school districts that have money left over in their fiscal year Education Excellence Fund balances. The money requested includes $15.7 million for instruction programs, $3.6 million for early childhood programs, and $4.3 million for approved educational programs.

The Department of Education approved the plans and now seeks approval from the Senate Committee on Education.

A report presented to the Senate thoroughly examined the money available to each parish/ organization and what they have left to spend from their Education Excellence Fund for 2024-2025. Bossier Parish and Caddo Parish balances were zeroed out.

For the 2024-2025 year, Caddo Parish reportedly had $1.49 million in their available funds with $77,344 cash on hand from previous years. The parish spent $1.36 million on early childhood programs.

After spending the money, Caddo had $209,884 in unbudgeted funds that carry over to the next fiscal year’s fund. Bossier Parish had $413,129 with $33,051 cash on hand from previous years. The parish spent $137,625 on instruction programs and $308,555 on approved educational programs. The parish did not have any unbudgeted funds.

Parishes seeking to use funds included Allen, East Carroll, Madison, Sabine parishes, and others.

The Senate approved the department’s request. A representative noted the department will now move forward and release the approved funds.

Another business discussed was Louisiana’s standing on the Nation’s Report Card, which is given every two years. The data measures 4th-grade and 8th-grade reading and math levels. Overall, in the past 10 years, Louisiana has moved up in these areas, with 4th-grade reading taking a big jump from 2022 to 2024.

Louisiana 4th graders are first in the country for reading growth for a second consecutive cycle. Louisiana is also in the top five for 4th graders’ growth in math.

Emilee Ruth Calametti serves as staff reporter for The Center Square covering the Northwestern Louisiana region. She holds her M.A. in English from Georgia State University and soon, an additional M.A. in Journalism from New York University. Emilee has bylines in DIG Magazine, Houstonia Magazine, Bookstr, inRegister, The Click News, and the Virginia Woolf Miscellany. She is a Louisiana native with over seven years of journalism experience.

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News from the South - Louisiana News Feed

Kerrville native living in New Orleans reflects on heartbreak in his hometown

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www.youtube.com – WDSU News – 2025-07-10 10:26:51

SUMMARY: Parker Kennedy, a Kerrville native now living in New Orleans, reflects on the devastating flooding affecting his small hometown. Once a community of 20,000, Kerrville has been thrust into heartbreaking headlines due to the tragedy, including loss of life impacting people Parker personally knows. Though his family is safe, the pain is deep as he mourns friends lost, including a close friend’s daughter. Motivated to help, Parker is donating 10% of all sales from his Uptown New Orleans store in July to Kerrville relief foundations, supporting survivors and animals. He honors the memories of those lost and wants others to know Kerrville’s unique spirit beyond this tragedy.

Kerrville native living in New Orleans reflects on heartbreak in his hometown

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New Orleans OIG finds NORDC, Foundation non-compliant with audit law

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wgno.com – Raeven Poole – 2025-07-09 14:34:00

SUMMARY: The New Orleans Office of Inspector General reported that the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission (NORDC) and the New Orleans Recreation Development Foundation failed to comply with legal audit requirements. NORDC did not provide independent audits for the last three years, despite the City Charter mandating annual independent audits. The Foundation, which receives substantial public funding, also stopped audits in recent years, citing cost savings and lack of federal funds. The OIG recommends both entities comply with financial reporting laws by the end of 2026. NORDC acknowledged the findings and is reviewing its processes to improve transparency and accountability.

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Morning Forecast – Wednesday, July 9th

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www.youtube.com – KTVE – 2025-07-09 08:57:53

SUMMARY: Morning Forecast for Wednesday, July 9th from Shawl Pryor on FOX 14: Showers and thunderstorms from Tuesday dissipated before midnight as a frontal boundary stalled just to the north. Showers and storms will redevelop around lunchtime and persist into the afternoon, weakening after sunset. The stalled front may bring continued rain chances through Thursday. Temperatures will remain in the lower 90s, climbing toward the weekend with heat indices reaching triple digits. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are likely near and north of the I-20 Corridor late tonight due to an upper trough and high moisture levels. Storm coverage will decrease by Friday with drier air moving in, leading to hotter and less stormy conditions.

Most of the showers and t-storms from yesterday completely dissipated prior to midnight. A frontal boundary will sit just to our north. More showers and t-storms will develop around lunchtime and continue into the afternoon. Most of these storms will weaken after sunset, but the stalled front may help to keep more rain chances in the forecast for tomorrow. Temperatures will stay in the lower 90’s but begin their climb for this weekend. Heat indices will climb into the triple digits.

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