BATON ROUGE (AP) — The state Civil Service Commission on Wednesday approved six new unclassified Department of Education jobs in a move the state’s school chief said is designed to help Louisiana education become ‘‘world class.’’

Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said the jobs are part of an agency initiative to provide more direct support for academically poor public schools.

The plan involves the hiring of three national experts at salaries up to $140,000 annually to lead efforts to turn around failing schools, identify a ‘‘pipeline’’ of qualified teachers and principals to help local school districts and improve graduation rates.

The plan also includes the hiring of three consultants with salaries of up to $80,000 annually to help identify educational barriers and develop ways to eradicate them.

Pastorek has run into criticism in the past for expanding the number of unclassified employees who serve at his pleasure. Pastorek created 14 unclassified positions, five of them with salaries exceeding $100,000, within 18 months of taking office, according to a report issued late last year.

Education Department officials told Civil Service that all six jobs needed to be unclassified.

‘‘The expertise and capacity needed for this level is not available in the classified jobs or in the classified work force but on a national educational platform,’’ the memos outlining job duties said.

Unclassified jobs are considered ‘‘at-will’’ positions, meaning they can be hired and fired at Pastorek’s pleasure. Rank-and-file classified Civil Service jobs protect workers from being fired when different politicians take control of the government.

In an appearance before the commission Wednesday, Pastorek said the administration has ‘‘a vision for world class education in Louisiana,’’ including the elimination of ‘‘gaps between race and class.’’

———

Information from: The Advocate, http://www.2theadvocate.com