The LAPCS is excited to offer its members many programs that will help in their endeavor to be successful.
Board Training
The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools offers a variety of governance training packages. The Association's governance training packages are designed to address key issues related to charter school governance and to support effective leadership and organizational planning. The Association is available to conduct a no-cost needs assessment to help member schools choose the training package that best meets their needs. The Association can also customize any of the packages below to best meet the needs of an individual charter school. Read more »
Louisiana Special Education Cooperative
Led by SPED consultants Beth Giovannetti and Nancy Opalack, the Cooperative will help schools build capacity to increase SPED students’ academic achievement and to help schools stay in compliance. Services will include support around complex cases, professional development, academic tracking of SPED students, shared services, a learning network, advocacy, etc. Read more »
Start Up Grant
In partnership with the Walton Family Foundation, the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Association provides high-quality start-up grants to help establish charter schools serving significant low-income student populations. The Walton Family Foundation Startup Grant program supports the creation of public charters by providing grants to school developers as they launch new schools. Read more »
Group Purchasing
Staples, the world’s largest office products company, has partnered with LAPCS as a one-source vendor with next-day free delivery and significant savings (up to85%) on office supplies, furniture and technology items, print and promotional products, and janitorial/break room supplies for all member charter schools. Read more »
Bridge Loan
Many charter schools experience rapid growth, sometimes over 100% within the first few years. The timing of school funding in Louisiana, however, can leave schools without adequate funding for a short period of time (6-12 months) during the school year. As local, state, and federal funding represents approximately 90% of a charter school’s revenues, new schools that have not built up reserve capital can be deprived of increased enrollment opportunities and reimbursement-only grants. The $2 million Louisiana Charter Schools Bridge Loan Program is a unique partnership between the nonprofit lender Building Hope (www.buildinghope.org), the New Orleans School Facility Project, and the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (www.lacharterschools.org) to help quality charter schools bridge the gap so that schools are able to continuously provide their students with all the tools they need to be successful despite the short term gap in funding. Read more »