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Season's Greetings from LAPCS!  Whether you're home for the holidays or going over the hill and through the woods to grandmother's house, we wish you and yours all the best!

We recognize this is a hectic time of year, but we encourage you to skim this email.  There are lots of fantastic opportunities for both your students and educators to be recognized for their talent and work, as well as some interesting news about the growing national charter movement, and some reminders for folks about upcoming meetings and deadlines.

Please have an enjoyable holiday, and we look forward to working with you in 2014!

Thank you,
The LAPCS Team
Reminders: Meetings & Deadlines

New LAPCS CollaborativesCollaboratives

North Louisiana: On February 12, 2014 from 9:30am to 3:30pm, LAPCS will bring together board members, school leaders, and HR/Operations staff from charters across the North Louisiana area to discuss the issues facing their schools.  The meeting will be held in Monroe, La at the Clarion Conference Center.  

 

Baton Rouge: On February 5, 2014 from 1:30pm to 4:00pm, LAPCS will bring together board members, school leaders, and HR/Operations staff from charters across the Greater Baton Rouge area to discuss their challenges and successes.  The meeting will be held in Baton Rouge, La at the Louisiana Resource Center for Educators.

 

For more information, please contact VBrooks@lacharterschools.org

 

Feeder School PolicyFeederPolicy

The Kindergarten through College Continuum Pilot Program is a pilot program for a limited number of BESE-authorized charter schools wishing to establish an enrollment preference for students matriculating or transferring into 9th grade or above. The application for the 2014-2015 school year is now available here. Applications are due on December 13, 2013. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your application, please contact Gabriela.Fighetti@rsdla.net or Patrick.Walsh@la.gov.  

 

School Safety GuidanceSchoolSafety

Act 50 of the 2013 Legislative Session requires each public school principal to prepare and annually update a School Crisis Management and Response Plan jointly with local law enforcement and other local emergency preparedness officials. The law also requires that the plan be rehearsed within the first 30 days of the school year.

 

LAPCS, in conjunction with the LDE, has worked with the Louisiana State Police and the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to develop guidance for district and school leaders regarding school safety and the required plans. While not necessary, this checklist may be used, as best practice, to identify risks and items to be addressed.

 

Charter School Facility Code Compliance and Maintenance Summit (New Orleans only)

This summit will focus on the actions needed to keep your campus safe, healthy, and code-compliant, as well as to confirm schools' maintenance responsibilities.  Local, state, and federal regulations will be covered, as well as charter school maintenance schedules from both OPSB and RSD.

Additional topics covered include:
- compliance overview
- office documentation
- emergency preparation

- asbestos, pest control, and termite control

- much, much more! 

Registration is required.

 

 

Common Core & PARCCCommonCore

Leading the Common Core in Mathematics: An Institute for School Leaders

The School Leadership Center of Greater New Orleans is hosting an interactive, job-embedded institute for school leaders implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in Math.

 

Dr. Andrea Tottosy of The Leadership and Learning Center will be leading the workshop on January 14th and 15th, 2014 at the Lindy Boggs International Conference Center. Register online by December 20, 2013 to reserve your seat at www.slc-gno.org.

 

Transitional 9th Grade Policy

The LDE has laid out a transition plan for the state around Common Core and PARCC assessments.  Part of this transition includes new ways to address assessment failure at the 4th grade and 8th grade levels.  If you are a charter school leader with an 8th or 9th grade, and you did not receive an invitation to participate in a discussion regarding upcoming policy changes, please contact VBrooks@lacharterschools.org  

 

Awards & Grants & Scholarships, Oh My!

TeacherOppsThe Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice

This is a $25,000 prize awarded annually to public school teachers who demonstrate exceptionally effective teaching with students from high-poverty communities. Offered by The New Teacher Project (TNTP), a nonprofit organization working to ensure that all students get excellent teachers, the prize is given to up to five teachers each year.

 

In addition to receiving $25,000, the winners engage in a six-week, one-of-a-kind summer residency during which they meet with education leaders nationwide, then write and publish a collection of essays about their most essential teaching strategies. Finalists receive a $1,000 award and national recognition.

 

Applicants who submit by the early deadline (December 3, 2013) will learn whether they have been selected for the next round in advance of other applicants. The final deadline is January 21, 2014.

 

Read the 2013 winners' papers and learn more about how to apply or nominate your favorite teachers at: www.tntp.org/fishmanprize.  

 

The 2015 Louisiana Teacher & Principal of the Year Awards

The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that great teachers and school leaders are critical to student success. Annually, the LDE, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, honors the state's most exceptional educators through the Teacher and Principal of the Year program.  The program honors teachers and leaders who ensure that students meet rigorous, Common Core State Standards-aligned goals and use the Compass process to continuously improve instructional and leadership practice. 
 
Charter schools may nominate up to three candidates, one per division, for both Teacher and Principal of the Year.  Application materials are now available here and should be submitted to excellenteducators@la.gov by 5 p.m. on January 17, 2014.

All Type 1 charter schools should follow their district's selection and submission process. All Type 2-5 charters should follow their LEA or CMO's selection and submission process. Each single site charter school and CMO will submit their nominees to the LDE by January 17th.

The LDE is asking each single site charter school and CMO to submit to us the name of the person responsible for coordinating your 2015 Teacher and Principal of the Year selection process to excellenteducators@la.gov immediately.  
 
Please send any questions to excellenteducators@la.gov.

Applications Open for Presidential Innovation Award and Environmental Educators

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, is currently accepting applications for the third annual Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators. The award recognizes outstanding K-12 teachers and their local education agencies nationwide for excellence in integrating environmental education into their lessons and demonstrating the connection between health and the environment for their students.

Successful applicants demonstrate creativity, innovation, community engagement and leadership as students learn more about civic responsibility and environmental stewardship. Past winners have increased student participation in local watershed cleanup efforts, created school-wide recycling programs, and implemented green land stewardship practices. Winners went on to use their awards to bring high-tech science equipment into the classroom and expand the number of students on field trips and in labs.

Applicants have until February 28, 2014 to apply for the award under updated criteria released in November. Up to twenty teachers nationwide will receive award plaques and a financial award of $2,000 to support their professional development in environmental education. Each teacher's school will also receive a $2,000 award to help fund environmental education activities and programs that support the teacher. Winners will also be considered for the National Environmental Education Foundation's Richard C. Bartlett award, which recognizes outstanding teachers who engage students in interdisciplinary solutions to environmental challenges.

More information about the program and how to apply: 
http://www.epa.gov/education/teacheraward 

 

 

StudentOppsHoliday Essay Contest

State Senator, J.P. Morrell, is hosting an essay contest open to all elementary, middle, and high school students of Orleans, Jefferson, and St. Bernard Parish schools.  Students should submit essays answering the following question: What makes the holiday season so important to you?  In your essay, explain why your holiday traditions, experiences, and/or favorite memories make your holiday season special.

Two contest winners from each parish will be selected, one from Grades 1-6 and one from Grades 7-12.  The six winning students will receive a Kindle Fire for their hard work and accomplishments.

 

All entries must be submitted no later than Friday, December 20th. Email entries as a document attachment to MorrellHolidayContest@gmail.com. With your email submission, please provide the following information in the body of your email:

  1.      Name
  2.      Date of birth
  3.      Telephone number
  4.      E-mail address
  5.      School name
  6.      Grade level

 

Louisiana Middle School Association Scholarship

LMSA is awarding a $1,000 scholarship to high school seniors who plan to enter the field of education.  Interested students must complete this form  and mail it along with their high school transcript and ACT scores by March 7, 2014 to the LMSA Scholarship Committee.

 

 

CharterMarket
1 in 5 Students Across 32 Districts Attend Charter Schools 

Did you know that:
over the past eight years the number of school districts with at least 20 percent of students attending public charter school has increased 350 percent?
- the top three areas for charter school market share are: New Orleans where an astounding 79 percent of public school students attend charter schools; Detroit where 51 percent attend charters; and Washington, D.C., where 43 percent of all public school students attend charters?

Check out this new report from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools to find out more!
Contact Us
Caroline Roemer Shirley
Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools
504-274-3651 | lacharterschools.org
In This Issue

We are grateful for our member schools and vendors! If you're not an LAPCS member and would like to take advantage of our programs and services, contact Membership Director, Simone Green today!

 

     Member Schools  

 

Akili Academy of New Orleans
Albert Einstein Charter School
Algiers Technology Academy
Alice M. Harte Elementary Charter School
Andrew H. Wilson Charter School
Arise Academy
Arthur Ashe Charter School
Baton Rouge Charter Academy at Mid City
Bayou Community Academy
Belle Chasse Academy
Bricolage Academy
Cohen College Prep
Community School for Apprenticeship Learning
Crescent Leadership Academy
Crocker College Prep
D'Arbonne Woods Charter School
Delhi Charter School
Delta Charter School
Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School
Edna Karr High School
Einstein Extension
Encore Academy
Esperanza Charter School Association
G.W. Carver Collegiate Academy
G.W. Carver Preparatory Academy
Gentilly Terrace Elementary School
Harriet Tubman Charter School
Inspire Charter Academy
International High School of New Orleans
International School of Louisiana - Bunche
International School of Louisiana - Camp St
International School of Louisiana - Olivier St
J. K. Haynes Elementary Charter School
John Dibert Community School
John McDonogh
Joseph Clark High School
Kenilworth Science and Technology Charter School
Kenner Discovery Health Science Academy
KIPP Believe College Prep
KIPP Believe Primary
KIPP Central City Academy
KIPP Central City Primary
KIPP McDonogh 15 Primary School for the Creative Arts
KIPP McDonogh 15 School for the Creative Arts
KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy
KIPP New Orleans Leadership Primary
KIPP Renaissance High School
L.B. Landry-O. Perry Walker Senior High School
Lafayette Academy
Lake Area New Tech Early College High School
Lake Charles Academy
Langston Hughes Academy Charter School
Linwood Public Charter School
Louisiana Connections Academy
Louisiana Virtual Academy
Lusher Charter School
Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle Orleans
Madison Preparatory Academy
Magnolia School of Excellence
Martin Behrman Elementary School
McDonogh #28 City Park Academy
McDonogh #32 Elementary School
McDonogh 42 Elementary Charter School
Medard H. Nelson Elementary School
Mentorship Academy of Digital Arts
Mentorship Academy of Science and Technology
Mildred Osborne Charter School
Milestone SABIS Academy
Miller McCoy Academy for Mathematics and Business
Morris Jeff Community School
New Orleans Military/Maritime Academy
Paul Habans
Pierre A. Capdau Learning Academy
ReNEW Accelerated High School
ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy at Live Oak Elementary
ReNEW Dolores T. Aaron Elementary 
ReNEW Schaumburg Elementary School
ReNEW SciTech Academy at Laurel Elementary
S.J. Green Learning Academy
Sci Academy
Slaughter Community Charter School
Southwest Louisiana Charter Academy
Success Preparatory Academy
Sylvanie Williams College Prep
The MAX Charter School
The Net Charter School
THRIVE
V.B. Glencoe Charter School
Virtual Academy of Lafourche
William J. Fischer Elementary School
Young Audiences Charter School
 

 

Member Vendors

 

Bancorp South Insurance Services, Inc.
Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana
ING Financial Partners
Internet Story Club of America
Lumpkin Agency
Sean M. Bruno CPAs