This time of year brings a heightened level of energy and tension to many of our schools. LEAP, iLEAP and GEE tests are just weeks away and teachers are busily ensuring that their students are ready. Each year, we hear about schools holding pep rallies and special events to make students aware of the importance of the tests and read interviews with teachers and parents who are stressed about whether the students will pass. I would encourage schools to tone down the events that work to create more stress around this time and instead concentrate all year on the proven practices that ensure students are prepared and know the material that will be presented.

In that vein, the Department of Education has created a Tutoring Hotline for 4^th and 8^th graders who will take the LEAP exam. This week, every student in the state will receive a practice test that they can take home and familiarize themselves with the types of questions that will be on the exams. And we will have tutors available to help students who need assistance on those questions from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday from February 1st to March 7th.  The phone number is 1-877-453-2721.

We have also created a LEAP/GEE help center on our website at  http://www.louisianaschools.net/. Students will find online programs such as PASS which also provides students with practice questions and online tutorials for each exam and Newton’s Classroom which is a fun site that can be used to help students sharpen their math skills. These online sites are available year round but we have combined them all into one easily accessible site.

This is an important time in our schools but I hope our teachers, principals and Superintendents use the Department’s tools to instill the confidence in students that they do know the information and will succeed on these tests.