It’s hard to believe Mardi Gras has come and gone, and February is almost over! It was great to see so many public charter schools marching with pride in this year’s parade celebrations.
Now it’s time to pack away those beads and costumes, roll up our sleeves, and get to work, as there’s a lot going on!
As part of our efforts to highlight the critical issue of facilities for our members, last week we hosted a discussion with Majority Whip Steve Scalise at Kenner Discovery Health Sciences. This followed on the heels of our participation in the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ call to action to tell President Trump that public schools should be included in any infrastructure plan.
Equally crucial to gaining traction for needed changes, we are excited to partner on a major facility survey to help us better understand the current challenges our schools face in identifying viable sites and securing capital for school facilities. To make the most meaningful impact, we need a 90 percent completion rate among schools. Similar successful efforts in other states have led to millions of dollars secured in new charter schools facilities funding, as well as needed policy changes.
The survey kicks off a busy March that also includes a fundraiser where LAPCS is the charity partner for The Great Inflatable Race; the beginning of the regular Legislative Session; and a potential court decision on the Type 2-funding court case.
In this issue, we hope you’ll explore important LAPCS programs like the Vendor Partner program as well as our Top Shelf program, designed to assist LAPCS members in building effective boards.
As always, we are thankful for your work to ensure high-quality educational options for all Louisiana’s students and families. Be sure to read our February Newsletter.
Regards, Caroline