Report highlights shared priorities and expectations for public education and public education leaders in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE, LA. — The Baton Rouge Alliance for Students has released a parent agenda for EBR Schools: Great Teachers. Safe Schools. Students First, highlighting the perspectives of more than 100 Baton Rouge parents who participated in focus groups, an open house, and an online survey conducted in partnership with Franklin Associates between July and September 2026.

Despite differing experiences with local public schools, parents expressed a shared vision for their children’s education: excellent teachers, safe learning environments, strong academics, and school leaders who consistently put students first.

“Parents are asking school board members to center students in their decisions, ground policy in what is best for children and follow through on their commitments,” said Adonica Pelichet Duggan, CEO of Baton Rouge Alliance for Students. “They want leaders who listen, who are accountable to the families they serve, and who understand that meaningful progress requires consistency and sustained commitment. Parents aren’t asking for another plan. They’re asking for leadership that delivers results.”

Key findings from the report include:

• Great teachers are the top priority. Parents identified recruiting and retaining effective teachers as the most important spending priority,
• Strong academics define school quality. Approximately 7 in 10 parents identified strong academics as the leading indicator of a good school.
• School safety is essential. Parents ranked safety second among 10 priorities, raising concerns about bullying, violence, and the need for secure learning environments.
• Basic student needs cannot be overlooked. Concerns about reliable transportation and nutritious school meals underscored the existing barriers to learning.
• Students must come before politics. More than half of survey respondents identified student-centered decision-making as the most important quality in a school board member. 
• Progress requires follow-through. Parents want district leaders to complete initiatives, communicate results, and maintain momentum.

The report also examines parent perspectives on access to high-quality schools, student-centered funding, academic accountability, and the importance of sustained leadership in improving educational outcomes.

The findings underscore the importance of educational leadership that remains focused on student outcomes, responds to the priorities of families, and builds on existing efforts to strengthen public education across Baton Rouge.

Read the full report and explore its findings at bralliance.org/parent_insights.