Program Authorization: 36:649D; R.S. 36:649F; R.S. 17:3042.1; R.S. 17:7.3; R.S. 17:31-33; R.S.7:(6)(A-E); R.S. 7:7.1, 7.2; R.S. 36:649E; R.S. 17:15; R.S. 17:21-22; R.S. 17:3403; R.S. 17:3896; R.S. 17:3761-3764; R.S. 17:7.4; Article 7, Section 10.1; Title V, Part D subpart 2 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended in 1986
The Office of Quality Educators Program is responsible for standards, assessment, evaluation and certification of all elementary and secondary educators in Louisiana as well as designing, developing and coordinating quality professional development which is structured and provided within the context of ongoing school improvement planning.
The mission of the Office of Quality Educators Program is to provide a comprehensive system of services, resources and assistance for personnel certification and standards- based professional development directed toward school improvement and increased student achievement.
The goal of the Office of Quality Educators Program is to have highly qualified and competent educators in all Louisiana classrooms and schools.
The Office of Quality Educators Program includes the following activities: Teacher Certification and Higher Education, School Leadership, Professional Accountability and New Teacher Mentor, Teaching Personnel Professional Development, and Distinguished Educators.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indicators are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded by General Fund, Interagency Transfers, Self-generated Revenue, Statutory Dedication and Federal Funds. The source of the Interagency Transfers is the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund (8(g)). Self-generated Revenues are collected from Teacher Certification fees and fees charged to participants of the Leadership Academics. The source of the Statutory Dedication is the School Leadership Development Fund as authorized by Act 472 of the 1997 Regular Legislative Session. (Per R.S.39:32B.(8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each Statutory Dedicated fund.) Federal Funds are provided by grants or allocations from Title 1 and 6 of the Improving America's Schools Act; Sections B, C, and H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; grants for the Christa McAuffie Fellowship Awards; and, Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act.
ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 101.9% of the existing operating budget. It represents 83.2% of the total request ($12,090,895) for this program. The increase is primarily attributable to a $1,031,000 General Fund enhancement for the Distinguished Educator component of the School and District Accountability program and a means of financing substitution replacing $746,060 in Statutory Dedication from the School Leadership Development fund with General Fund in addition to a $150,000 enhancement for the Leadership program. Federal means of financing was reduced to reflect a nonrecurring adjustment of $1.0 million which was added in Fiscal Year 1998-1999 in the event Title 1 funding was available for the Distinguished Educator program.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
OTHER CHARGES
ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS