About the coalition

We are a coalition of students, families, teachers, educators, and advocates.

Our journey began in 2020 when two teachers suddenly saw a huge increase in the graduation rate of the their English learners. What changed? The LEAP test wasn’t counted due to COVID.

As they began to research this barrier, they discovered that Louisiana is the ONLY state in the nation to not offer an appeals pathway to graduation. 4 years later, the coalition has grown statewide and now consists of students, families, educators, district school systems, state board members, and more from across the state.

Coalition Leaders

  • Dr. Holly Boffy

    BESE President, District 7

  • Dr. Belinda Davis

    BESE Member-At-Large

  • Cheruba Chavez

    NOLA Public Schools, Assistant Director of English Learner Supports

  • Emma Merrill

    Las Sierras Academy Director

With members from around the state!

Timeline

It has taken a lot of work, passion, sweat, and tears for the coalition to get to where it is! Here is a brief history of the coalition and the Appeals Process.

  • Emma Merrill notices a worrying trend: in 2019, 24% of her English learners graduated because they were unable to pass the US History LEAP. In spring of 2020, the LEAP requirement for graduation was waived and 100% of her English learners graduated. She partners with other teachers having the same experience and they begin to conduct extensive research. They realize this same phenomenon is happening across the state; an unfair barrier to graduation was being placed upon students and they had to fight for a change. The EXCELL coalition was created.

  • The original EXCELL coalition members meet with Louisiana Superintendent Cade Brumley and present their research.

  • The EXCELL coalition continues to research strategies other states were using. They work to expand their coalition, presenting their research to parish school systems across the state.

  • The EXCELL coalitions presents to the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). They present an initial proposal regarding an appeals process for English learners.

    BESE directs the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) to draft policy language in line with this proposal.

    LDOE presents to the Superintendents Action Committee (SAC) regarding the EXCELL proposal and BESE’s direction.

  • To bring Louisiana In line with other states, BESE directs LDOE to write an appeals process applicable to ALL students who are denied diplomas due to the test requirement.

  • BESE presents the final proposed policy langauge to SAC. Superintendents across the state votes unanimously to endorse the appeals process as written.

    The following week, BESE votes to approve, as notice of intent, the appeals process as written.

  • BESE holds a public hearing on the policy to allow for public comment.

    At the hearing 108 comments are submitted in support of the appeals process, only 11 are in opposition.

  • Following the public comment period, BESE votes once more to approve, as notice of intent, the appeals process as originally written and passed in June 2023 without edits.

    Later that month the Louisiana House Education Committee holds a hearing and votes to overturn the proposal passed by BESE.

  • The Louisiana Governor rules unfavorably on the House Ed Committee’s decision. This reverses their decision and allows BESE’s notice of intent to become final rule.

    The LDOE presents to the SAC about the final proposal and BESE action.

  • The Louisiana Register publishes the Appeals Process as Final Rule.

    The EXCELL Appeals Process is now in effect!