Louisiana Teacher Stipend Lawsuit Dropped As Landry Order Moves Forward

Good news for teachers across Louisiana today. The legal fight over the Governor's executive order on teacher stipends is over. The plaintiffs in the case (Faulk v. Landry) have decided to dismiss their claims against the state. This ends the legal challenge over this hot topic.

During a hearing on Monday, a judge in Baton Rouge dismissed the temporary restraining order that had blocked Louisiana from moving forward.

This now clears the way for parishes to give teachers a stipend this year. The governor signed an executive order that moves $168 million dollars in MFP funding for public schools to the teacher stipend. But parishes like Caddo and Bossier who have already granted raises will not have to make the funding adjustment.

READ MORE: Caddo ok's pay raise for teachers

“This lawsuit should never have stood in the way of teacher pay raises,” said Attorney General Liz Murrill. “The TRO is gone, the claims are dismissed, and Louisiana can move forward. Our teachers earned this money, and my office will keep defending them.”

Get our free mobile app

Education Funding Under Scrutiny in Louisiana

Governor Landry is also moving forward with a complete revamp of the Minimum Foundation Funding formula to find out exactly how those dollars are spent. He has created a task for that will work on this for at least a year to make some recommendations to lawmakers on how we should move forward.

State Senator Alan Seabaugh has told KEEL News there is apparently only one person in state government who really knows how the MFP funding formula works and that needs to change.