mhasten@lafayette.gannett.com

BATON ROUGE - Louisiana's school accountability program, the major plank in the state's education reform program, is unlikely to be affected by the change in governors.

The hallmark of Gov. Mike Foster's administration - far-reaching reforms that require students and their schools to perform at higher levels or face sanctions - has been lauded at national levels as among the most successful of its kind in the country. It also was one of several state programs used to help form the federal No Child Left Behind Act, which now guarantees that no new state administration could weaken Louisiana reform laws.

Not that Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco has any intention of doing that anyway. In fact, she campaigned on not only keeping the Foster program but "raising the bar" on classroom performance.

"We feel good about what's going on," said Caddo schools Superintendent of Schools Ollie Tyler, formerly a top administrator in Orleans Parish schools, home to several of the state's poorest-performing schools.

"I think Gov.-elect Blanco will continue these reforms. She's a former educator; and I believe she will expand them because she knows the importance of Early Childhood Education."

Louisiana schools have gotten off the bottom of national assessments, and student performance has been climbing since the state started requiring better performance by schools and students.

In the latest National Assessment of Education Progress report, Louisiana shows some of the strongest gains in the country in some areas, although there continues to be major room for improvement - a fact not lost on education-reform watchers.

Jim Watts, vice president of the Southern Region Education Board, said Louisiana has made "steady gains" in recent years but still has "a long way to go."

The state started off with a strong accountability program and has made "the necessary adjustments so they are indeed raising standards," Watts said. "Our perception is Louisiana is moving in the right direction."

State Education Superintendent Cecil Picard labels accountability "a worthless piece of machinery without the fuel" - testing and remediation for students who don't succeed, Early Childhood Education, K-3 reading and math programs, classroom technology, quality teaching and increased teacher salaries.

And that's where Blanco will come in. Her control over the state budget will make a significant difference in what will or will not get funding when it comes to education. Foster's administration drastically increased funding for education, raising teacher salaries and starting an Early Childhood Education program.

"We got a governor who was committed to improving public education," Picard said. "(Foster) was serious about putting new money into education and supporting it."

He said that from his conversations with Blanco, he's certain she will continue to fuel the machine.

The next major question for Blanco is who she will look to for key education positions such as superintendent. Although the state's education chief is appointed by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the governor does have sway, especially with the power to appoint three of the 11 board members. The other eight members are elected from districts throughout the state.

Picard, a former teacher, principal and state senator, was appointed superintendent in 1996 after Foster was elected. He's the third appointed superintendent after William Cody, 1988-92, and Raymond Arveson, 1992-96. Both were supported by the governors at that time. Cody went on to run the Education Department in Kentucky, a state generally considered as the first to embrace accountability (significant student testing and a program of rewards and sanctions) as a key mechanism to improve schools.

Asked about his chances of retaining his position, Picard said, "I feel comfortable with the eight elected members and three appointed members." His term runs out Dec. 31, 12 days before Blanco takes office. But the board could choose to wait to make an appointment.

Picard's contract calls for him to continue serving month-to-month until an appointment is made. It takes eight votes to appoint or remove a superintendent.

"If she (Blanco) asks me, I'd be happy to discuss it," Picard said.

He also said he, Blanco and Commissioner of Higher Education Joe Savoie of Lafayette - "the boudin connection" - would make a good team for education.

Picard and Blanco have been friends and associates for more than 20 years.

When she was elected to the House of Representatives to represent Lafayette in 1978, Picard was a state senator representing adjacent Vermilion and Acadia parishes. Picard became chairman of the Senate Education Committee, and Blanco became vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee.

Board members Leslie Jacobs of New Orleans, James Stafford of Monroe and Walter Lee of Mansfield said they would support Picard's reappointment and don't know any board member who wouldn't.

"Why change when you're going in the right direction?" Stafford said. "To try to find somebody with his experience in education and his ability to work with the Legislature would be hard."

Picard is "doing a good job. There's no need to change," Lee said, adding that he's unaware of any board members who disagree.

Picard said that if asked, he would recommend that Blanco re-appoint Foster's appointees to the board - Jacobs, Gerald Dill of Crowley and Paul Pastorek of Baton Rouge.

Dill has said he is retiring; but Picard said Dill would reconsider if Blanco asks him to serve. Jacobs, recognized as the architect of the accountability program, said she has been given no indication whether Blanco will reappoint her.