State Librarian Meg Plackey highlights Homework Louisiana's impact on K-12 students

The Louisiana Legislature's Appropriations Committee meeting on March 26, 2025, highlighted key discussions surrounding educational resources and budget management. A significant focus was placed on the Homework Louisiana program, which has been in operation for over 15 years. This initiative provides free online tutoring for K-12 and college students, accessible through local libraries and mobile devices. The state librarian, Meg Plackey, emphasized the program's increased usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing its importance in supporting students' educational needs.

Committee members expressed enthusiasm for the program, with Representative Freiburg acknowledging its long-standing benefits. The discussion also touched on community engagement, with mentions of local partnerships for events, including a float decoration initiative aimed at fostering community spirit.

Budgetary concerns were another focal point of the meeting. Representatives discussed the importance of maintaining a balanced budget while addressing the need to remove frozen positions from the budget. One representative praised the efforts to ensure that tourism investments yield significant returns, noting an increase from a 40 to 1 return on investment to 45 to 1. This improvement was attributed to careful analysis and monitoring of promotional expenditures to maximize taxpayer dollars.

Overall, the meeting underscored the commitment of the Louisiana Legislature to enhance educational resources and manage state funds effectively, ensuring that investments lead to tangible benefits for the community.