Cassidy Denounces Teachers' Union Lawsuit Against Charter Schools

Press Release

Today, Congressman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) denounced a lawsuit led by a Louisiana teachers' union to discourage allocating funds to specific types of charter schools in Louisiana.

The Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) filed a case in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge claiming specific charter schools are taking away aid from public schools. Nearly 59,000 students attend 117 charter schools across Louisiana and benefit from the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), which allocates $3.6 billion in grants to schools. Many Louisianans have embraced charter schools because they give parents the power to make the best education decisions for their children and allow teachers to adapt their curriculum to meet their students' needs.

Dr. Cassidy offered the following statement:

"Charter schools give parents the option to choose the school that is the best fit for their child. Education is not a one-size-fits-all model, and not every child learns the same way. Many charter schools, like Louisiana Key Academy and MAX Charter School, were created to provide students with an evidence based curriculum to help them reach their full potential. I oppose this lawsuit because it's apparent that the Louisiana Association of Educators does not have students' best interests at heart. We should be focused on encouraging our children's success, not discouraging it by catering to bureaucracy."

BACKGROUND: Dr. Cassidy Champions School Choice

A consistent advocate of school choice, Dr. Cassidy recently gave remarks during the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology hearing to examine the latest scientific research on dyslexia. He discussed his experiences helping to spread awareness about dyslexia and the educational challenges faced by those who are dyslexic. Dr. Cassidy also highlighted the resolution he introduced alongside Rep. Julia Brownlee (D-CA) to urge schools and local educational agencies to bring the scientific knowledge of dyslexia into their classrooms.

Dr. Cassidy successfully added an amendment to the House-passed Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act (H.R. 10). His amendment requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to track funding to examine if the money allocated from administrative costs is appropriate. Its goal is to bypass state and federal bureaucracy by giving Congress a clear perspective on whether funds reserved for administrative activities are being used efficiently.

He also hosted a school choice fair in March, in Baton Rouge. The event was an opportunity for parents to learn about charter schools, home study programs, the Louisiana Scholarship Program and other educational opportunities.

Dr. Cassidy is co-chair of the Congressional Dyslexia Caucus. Dr. Cassidy's wife, Dr. Laura Cassidy, co-founded the Louisiana Key Academy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Louisiana Key is a charter school for dyslexic children that seeks to provide an evidenced based curriculum, with trained teachers, so dyslexic students can reach their full educational potential.

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