OPSB Passes Resolution Opposing Executive Order 26-047

Board Takes Action to Defend MFP Funding and Protect Educational Services for 44,000 Orleans Parish Students

(New Orleans – June 17, 2026) — During a special board meeting, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) voted to pass a resolution opposing Executive Order 26-047, issued by Gov. Jeff Landry, which would reallocate Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) funding and significantly reduce the resources available to public schools across Louisiana. The resolution also urges the preservation of MFP funding for public schools and calls on state legislators to oppose the executive order.

The resolution passed by the Board makes clear that OPSB strongly supports competitive compensation for teachers and school employees, and recognizes that attracting, retaining, and rewarding high-quality educators is essential to student success. However, the Board firmly believes that educator compensation should be funded through dedicated and sustainable state appropriations — not through reductions to the funding streams that support the daily operations of public schools. Executive Order 26-047 places local school systems in the untenable position of choosing between maintaining critical educational services and preserving compensation levels for educators.

Executive Order 26-047 directs a $168 million reduction to the MFP by reallocating non-instructional funds toward a one-time stipend for teachers and support staff. MFP dollars support the full operation of school systems, including salaries, insurance, retirement, transportation, special education, facility maintenance, and technology. Cuts to this funding would adversely impact instructional, special education services, technology investments, mental health services, extracurricular programs, and other resources that directly contribute to student achievement. NOLA Public Schools, like many other districts, is also navigating rising costs in key areas such as employee health insurance, property insurance, student support services, transportation, and other operational needs.

School systems have not received the constitutionally authorized 2.75% annual MFP increase for more than a decade — with the exception of fiscal year 2014-2015 (2.75%) and 2020-2021 (1.375%). In 2014-2015, the base MFP funding amount was $3,961 per student. By 2025-2026, that amount had grown to only $4,015 per student — an increase of just $54 per student over an 11-year period. School districts across Louisiana developed their budgets based on the MFP formula adopted through the constitutional process and have relied on those appropriations in planning for the 2026-2027 school year.

A unilateral reduction of MFP funding after local budget development creates significant uncertainty and instability for school systems, educators, families, and students.

Local school system leaders and governing boards are best positioned to determine how educational resources should be allocated to meet the unique needs of their students and communities, and reductions in formula funding undermine local decision-making and fiscal planning. Reductions in MFP funding disproportionately impact students with the greatest needs, including students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, English learners, and students requiring academic and behavioral interventions. Orleans Parish schools have worked diligently to improve student outcomes, expand educational opportunities, and address longstanding inequities — all of which require stable, predictable, and adequate public education funding.

OPSB believes the State of Louisiana has a constitutional obligation to adequately fund public education and should not shift the burden of funding educator compensation to local school systems through reductions in formula funding. The Board asserts that any statewide educator compensation initiative should be accompanied by new and recurring state funding sufficient to support both employee compensation and essential educational services.

The Orleans Parish School Board urges Louisiana state legislators to oppose Executive Order 26-047 and instead pursue full funding for educator compensation and student services through sustainable and recurring state appropriations.

For more information, please visit nolapublicschools.com.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 66 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Fateama S. Fulmore.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.