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T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, a p r i l 23, 2025
FEST FACTS
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2025 LEGISLATURE EDUCATION
Bill would tie school funding to attendance Critics warn it could unfairly penalize financially strapped school systems
BY ELYSE CARMOSINO Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
With Festival International opening today, here is a guide for first-timers and locals alike BY JA’KORI MADISON
Here is all you need to know to make navigating Festival just a little easier — from parking and festival Downtown Lafayette is coming etiquette, to Festival International’s alive for the five-day cultural cel- mobile app and cashless wristband ebration known as Festival Interna- system. tional de Louisiane. The 39th annual Festival Inter- Wristband and payments system national will take place Wednesday Official Festival International venthrough Sunday in Lafayette, where dors, including food and drink stafestivalgoers can experience local tions, conduct transactions via RFID and global cuisines, listen to bands cashless wristbands. This means from near and far, and purchase that you cannot pay with cash, or art, clothing and festival souvenirs credit or debit cards, at these stafrom hundreds of vendors coming to tions. Nonofficial vendors do accept downtown Lafayette. other forms of payment, such as the Staff writer
craft booths, or the food trucks that park near festival stages. RFID wristbands can be used to purchase official Festival International merch. Patrons can pick up their RFID wristband before Festival, they can reuse their 2024 wristband, or snag one at the event at the RFID tents set up around the Festival International grounds. Once the wristband is secured, users can register their payment information with a debit or credit card online or on-site, secure
ä See FACTS, page 3A
As Louisiana continues to grapple with high rates of student absenteeism, a lawmaker wants to push districts to tackle the issue by tying funding to student attendance so that schools with low attendance rates would get less money. Currently, public school districts receive funding based on how many students they serve and those students’ needs. House Bill 185 by Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, would instead give schools money based on attendance data that districts collect daily. Proponents argue the proposal, which is loosely modeled on policies in other states, will encourage districts to do more to reduce the growing number of students who miss too much school. But critics warn it could unfairly penalize financially strapped school systems and make it more difficult to address the root causes of absenteeism, which experts say often stem from issues outside of school. Nearly one in four Louisiana students was chronically absent last year, according to state data. The absenteeism rate, defined as students who miss 10% or more of a school year, grew three percentage points from 2023 even as most states saw their rates decline. “The goal is to get districts more involved in making sure that students are there daily,” Freiberg said. The bill “is one piece that might be helpful in trying to stem the great numbers” of students who are chronically absent. Six states — California, Kentucky, Idaho, Mississippi and Texas — use average daily attendance
ä See BILL, page 3A
Pope’s funeral set for Saturday INSIDE The Argentine pontiff, who had Francis thankful he been recovering after being hosfor five weeks with pneu- ä Pope Francis converted to made Easter greeting, pitalized monia, died Monday at age 88. He environmental cause. Page 5A Vatican News reports made his last public appearance ä Unlike his predecessor, Francis
Sunday, delivering a blessing and looping around Vatican City’s famous square in his popemobile. Francis initially had doubts Associated Press about the ride, Vatican News reVATICAN CITY — Pope Francis was ported. “Do you think I can manthankful that he was able to greet age it?” the pope asked Massimilthrongs of people in St. Peter’s iano Strappetti, his personal health Square on Easter, a day before he care assistant, according to the died, though he initially had some news agency. doubts given his poor health, VatiThe pope was reassured, and he stopped to reach out to people, escan News reported Tuesday.
BY NICOLE WINFIELD and COLLEEN BARRY
WEATHER HIGH 84 LOW 71 PAGE 6B
believed papacy was for life. Page 5A pecially children, as he was driven through the crowd of 50,000 — the first time since his release from the hospital that he had mixed with the faithful at large. Afterward, Francis told Strappetti, “Thank you for bringing me back to the square,”
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By FRANCISCO SECO
ä See POPE, page 4A Pilgrims arrive in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Tuesday.
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