Greetings!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our supporters!
Welcome to the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools Email Newsletter. We will keep you updated on current charter school issues, news, and events. Please let us know if there is anything else you would like to see in our communications to you or if you have a charter success story you would like to share. As always, thank you for your support and voice in Louisiana's charter school movement. |
Draft Electronic Communications Policy
Pursuant to Act 214 passed during the 2009 Legislative Session, all schools must have in place a new electronic communications policy. Click here for text of the bill. For sample policies, click here for a general outline of draft language and click here for the policy currently under consideration by the OPSB.
Each school should review the draft policies and revise as necessary to create a policy that best fits the school. This needs to be done immediately. The law requires such policy to have been put in place by November 15th. So, please address this issue at your board's next meeting.
Once your board has adopted policy, no further action needs to be taken. No notification to the state charter office or any other state entity is needed. If you have any questions, please contact Renita Thukral, the Association's Policy Director, at rthukral@lacharterschools.org.
U.S. Department Releases Race to the Top Application
To access the final R2T regulations released by the U.S. Department of Education, please click HERE.
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Shreveport Charters Making Strides Amidst Challenging Environment
Since mid
August historic changes have taken place in North Louisiana education. Caddo
Parish parents now have a real choice on how and by whom their middle school
children can be educated. The 2009-2010 school year brought the takeover of
two failing schools by the State in Caddo Parish, opening the doors for two new
Type 5 Charter Schools; Linwood Public Charter School www.lpcs-sabis.net
, a Member of the SABIS® School Network and Linear Leadership Academy www.linear-middle.com,
partnering with EdisonLearning.
Although
there were significant challenges faced in overcoming initial public perception
about these two new Charters, the summer's strong grassroots efforts showed
that parents truly want a free public school choice outside Parish control.
Linwood opened at 100% capacity and Linear opened near capacity.
Unfortunately, transportation confusion with Caddo Parish School Board impacted
enrollment for both schools but the schools went on to have strong enrollment,
excited students and parents arrive ready for the first days of school.
Other
challenges with support services such as food service, special education and
maintenance from Caddo Parish School Board are being worked out in an amenable
way carving a path for both schools to focus on achieving a high quality
education for their students.
The most
pressing objective for Charters and fledgling Charters in North Louisiana is to
continue the engagement of the community with facts and information on how
Charter Schools increase competition, raise academic standards, improve
services and provide true parental choice. To that end both schools and
parental choice supporters work in a collaborative way to build a coalition for
the betterment of all citizens.
Information
on Linwood Public Charter School:
LPCS help all
students perform to their highest abilities and achieve academic excellence.
Linwood Charter helps develop and strengthen ethical and moral values by
equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and social judgment to help them
face the challenges of the future. Our teachers and staff do a great job of
interweaving and instilling a culture of change, respect, integrity, and
hard-work along with the college-preparatory and thought provoking SABIS®
curriculum.
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Charter School Student Profile
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 Joshua Jones & Tyronique IngramSchool: Lafayette Academy (New Orleans)Grade: 7thAge: 12What do you like most about Lafayette Academy?
Joshua: The teachers
Tyronique: Everything. I really learn.
What is your favorite school subject and why?
Joshua: English. My teacher really explains the proper use of
grammar and punctuation and explains English by talking with us.
Tyronique: History. Because of my teacher, Ms. Nicolosi.
Who is your favorite teacher?
Joshua: Ms. Stewart, my science teacher. She is a really fun
teacher that joke's around with us and makes things fun while we
learn.
Tyronique: Ms. Nicolosi, my history teacher because she is SO
funny!
Where do you want to go to college?
Joshua: UNO
Tyronique: LSU
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Joshua: A professional basketball player and a lawyer.
Tyronique: A Pharmacist.
What is your favorite movie?
Joshua: The Grinch.
Tyronique: The Mask
Sports or Art?
Joshua: Sports! I am a great basketball player, and Chris Paul is
my favorite player.
Tyronique: Art. I love to draw.
If I had a magic wand, I would........
Joshua: Allow children to play in the NBA!
Tyronique: Give myself the winning lottery ticket!
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Congratulations Avoyelles Public Charter School
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Avoyelles Public Charter School celebrates it's 10 year Anniversary
APCS, a K-12 school opened in 2000 as a Type 2 charter school in Mansura, Louisiana with 240 students, and has grown today to 685 students. Congratulations! |
| Job Listings Now On LAPCS Website |
Please note that the LAPCS website now has a statewide job vacancy posting page on our website. Please let your HR or recruiting staffer know that this resource is available. To access the page, click HERE.
The Eastbank Collaborative of Charter Schools also has a New Orleans job vacancy page available. To access this site, click HERE. |
The LAPCS is pleased to bring you a comprehensive list of grant opportunities that may be of interest to Louisiana's charter schools. The list is updated daily with new and interesting grant opportunities, so check back often! To visit the list click HERE.
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CENTER FOR DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING
PLAIN TALK ABOUT READING
APRIL 26-28, 2010
What is Plain Talk About Reading?
Sponsored
by The Center for Development and Learning (CDL), Plain Talk About
Reading is the nation's premier reading institute. The Institute has
gained its reputation because of its unwavering focus on providing the
latest scientifically based reading research (SBRR) and strategies for
those who teach reading at all ages and grade levels.
From the nation's leading researchers, you will learn the current
findings on reading instruction, reading difficulties and reading
intervention. Plus, from seasoned practitioners, learn classroom
strategies that put this knowledge to work.
Who Should Attend?
Reading teachers and coaches
Reading specialists
State, district and school level reading program administrators
Speech/Language Pathologists
Educational diagnosticians and consultants
Who are the Presenters?
This
Institute features a who's who of experts from researchers to
practitioners, including Anita Archer, Robert Sternberg, Suzanne
Carreker, Robert Brooks, Jill Slack, Judi Dodson, Lucy Hart Paulson,
Michael Fullan, Reid Lyon, Susan Ebbers, Linda Farrell, Michael Kamil,
Jack Fletcher, Michael Hunter, Vicki Gibson, Jan Hasbrouck and many
more (see complete list).
What are the Topics?
The
Institute will address how we can remediate and prevent reading
difficulties as well as how children learn to read and why some
children have difficulties learning to read. All sessions are designed
to deliver not only the latest research on reading but also effective
strategies that can be implemented in your classroom tomorrow.
Additional Questions?
Please call the Center for Development and Learning (CDL) at
504-840-9786 for additional information. |
New Orleans Members Advisory Council
The LAPCS Members Advisory Council is a key organizational component in identifying problem issues, setting priorities, gathering data, communicating important issues, resolving problems, and more.
Next Baton Rouge MAC Meeting:
When: January 2010 TBD
Where: Baton Rouge Location TBD
Next New Orleans MAC Meeting:
When: January 2010 TBD
Where: New Orleans TBD
MAC Committee Meetings
During the December MAC meeting, we created 5 committees
(Policy/Legislative, Operations/Finance, Quality Standards, Facilities, and Governance/Board) with the purpose of collectively finding solutions to challenges that many charter schools face. All board members, school leaders, and school staff are welcome to sign up.
If you would like to join one of these working committees, click here. |
| Welcome New LAPCS Members! |
New School Members:
Linwood Charter School
*We currently represent 63 schools throughout Louisiana.
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New Charter Developers:
ReNew Schools
Morris Jeff Community School
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New Vendor Members:
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"Commentary: Charter School Management Organizations: More Pluses than Minuses"
Education Week
October 28, 2009
If you keep up on current developments in education reform, you've
probably heard about charter-management organizations, or CMOs-networks
of charter schools sharing the same mission and educational philosophy
that are managed by nonprofit organizations. CMOs like the Knowledge Is
Power Program, Aspire, and Green Dot Public Schools are making the news
on an almost daily basis as they grow their networks beyond the
locations where they first began educating children.
Read More...
"Paul Pastorek: Race to the Top offers millions to sustain education improvements"
The Shreveport Times
November 3, 2009
Over the last decade, Louisiana
has made considerable progress in K-12 public education, particularly
in our efforts to narrow the achievement gap between races and classes.
Undoubtedly, our gains are due to the
commitment of students, educators
and policy makers across the state.
Read More...
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MISSION
The mission of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) is to provide a clear and distinctive voice for Louisiana's charter schools, educating the public about their progress and ensuring that they thrive for the benefit of students statewide. The Association provides leadership, member services and public information to serve and support the charter schools in their pursuit of academic excellence.
WHO WE ARE
Caroline Roemer Shirley, Executive Director
Andrea Chen, Membership & Programs Director
Elizabeth Garrett, Communications Director
Contact Elizabeth at egarrett@lacharterschools.orgRenita Thukral, Policy DirectorContact Renita at rthukral@lacharterschools.org Sherman Whites, Business & Operations DirectorContact Sherman at swhites@lacharterschools.org
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Interested in saving 15-85% off the list-price on office and classroom supplies?
Learn more about our STAPLES Statewide Charter Schools Buying Program open to all LAPCS members! Click HERE!
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| GOOD NEWS! |
Algiers Technology Academy gets visit by Drew Brees for "Making the Grade"
ATA was one of seven area schools who the initiative, which highlights successful education
programs in schools in Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany and St. John the
Baptist parishes.
The Max Charter School gets recognized for it's Dyslexia focused curriculum.
The Thibodaux Charter School was profiled for their innovative dyslexia program. Read More.
UNO's Thurgood Marshall High School is lauded for school's college bound expectations for its students.
"When you walk
across the threshold, it's under the assumption you will be going to a
four year college or university," said Michael Booker, principal at the
Thurgood Marshall Early College High School. Read More.
Avoyelles Public Charter School collects money to build school overseas.
The students, inspired by the book Three Cups of Tea, are collecting pennies as part of the "Pennies for Peace" Project. Read More.
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| SAVE THE DATE! |
3rd Annual Louisiana Charter Schools Conference
October 15-16, 2010
Hilton Riverside Hotel
New Orleans.
Stay tuned for more information.
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| Become a Fan on Facebook | Click HERE to become a fan of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter School on Facebook.
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