Louisiana Action Alert: Prohibit Implementation of Common Core

Louisiana HB556 would prohibit implementation of Common Core State Standards and provides for implementation of prior standards.

Status: This bill was introduced in the House on March 10, 2014 and was referred to the House Education Committee on the same date. YOUR ACTION IS NEEDED NOW to make sure this legislation is passed by the committee.

1. Call the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee.  Be strong, but respectful. Urge them to support HB556 and move the bill forward in their committee. If they do not commit to a YES vote, ask them why.

A phone call holds as much as 10x the impact of an email.

Committee Chair: Stephen F. Carter, (225) 362-5305
Committee Vice-Chair: Patrick O. Jefferson, (318) 927-2519

2. Call the bill sponsors, who also are members of this committee.  Thank them for introducing the bill and voice your support for it.  Let them know you are calling all the committee members to urge them to support HB556.

Cameron Henry, (504) 838-5433
Jerome Richard, (985) 447-0999

3. Call all the other members of the Committee.  Again, be strong but respectful. Ask them each for a YES vote on HB556. If they say they’re opposed, ask them why. If they’re undecided or will not commit to a YES vote, let them know you will be following up in a few days after they have a chance to consider it. Again, make sure to contact them with a phone call rather than an email.

Note: Ex officio committee members (indicated below) usually do not have a vote, but their opinions and input are important to the voting members of the committee.  Consider calling them as well and ask them to support HB556.

Wesley T. Bishop, (504) 242-4198
Chris Broadwater, (985) 543-4900
Henry L. Burns, (318) 949-2463
Thomas Carmody, (318) 862-9956
Simone B. Champagne, (337) 937-8827
John Bel Edwards, (985) 748-2245
Paul Hollis, (985) 871-4680
Barry Ivey, (225) 261-5739
Nancy Landry, (337) 262-2252
Edward J. Price, (225) 644-6738
Eugene Reynolds, (318) 371-3092
Robert E. Shadoin, (318) 251-5039
Patricia Haynes Smith, (225) 342-7106
Jeff R. Thompson, (318) 741-2850
Alfred C. Williams, (225) 382-3243
Chuck  Kleckley, (337) 475-3016 (Ex Officio member and Speaker of the House)
Walt Leger, III, (504) 556-9970 (Ex Officio member and Speaker Pro Tempore)

4.  Call Back – any NO or UNDECIDED – in 3-4 days.  Ask if they’ve had a chance to review the legislation and what their opposition might be. Comment below or contact us with any information you get.

5.  Write a letter to the editor Look up your local newspaper and submit a letter to the editor voicing your support for HB556.  This bill will return authority to the State of Louisiana to set the best education standards for Louisiana students.

6. Report Back. Tell us how your actions went. Click the button below