Our Mission

The mission of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools is to increase student achievement by supporting, promoting, and advocating for the quality charter school movement.

Advocacy

The LAPCS is the only statewide entity dedicated to advocating for charter schools at both the state and local levels. The LAPCS provides information to legislators, district officials, and policymakers about the issues that are important to charter schools and organizes the charter school community to support legislation that will give charter schools a fair opportunity to successfully educate the children of Louisiana.

A few highlights of our accomplishments:

• In 2009, the LAPCS helped support legislation that removed the cap on the number of charter schools allowed to operate in Louisiana.
• In 2009 and 2010, the LAPCS successfully defended against legislation that would encroach upon charter school’s autonomy (areas of SPED, data reporting, teacher evaluation, TRSL (Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana), and board financial disclosures)
• In 2010, Worked with the governor directly to clarify the charter application and renewal process at the local level
• The LAPCS publishes an annual Legislative Report that includes total recap of legislative sessions, bills related to charter schools, as well as legislator voting records.
• For the 2010 Legislative Session, the LAPCS debuted its “Call to Action” e-mail system that allowed for its supporters to contact their legislators easily and efficiently on the issues that affect their schools.
• In 2010, the LAPCS conducted “Charter School Day” at the Capitol. Parents from charter schools all over the state came together at Louisiana’s Capitol to learn about the legislative process and how to ensure their voice is heard.

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Outreach

A major element of the mission of the Association is informing the greater public about what charter schools are and the successes they have. The LAPCS stays on top of all major media outlets and helps to generate accurate news about charter schools through timely press releases and responses to inaccurate information placed in the media.

Communications projects led by the LAPCS:

• In the spring of 2010, the LAPCS implemented a media campaign in the Baton Rouge area that sought to educate the Baton Rouge community as to what charter schools are and who they serve. This included print advertisements, radio spots of charter school parent testimonials, as well as a television public service announcement.
• The LAPCS organizes monthly charter school open houses, known as our “Charter 1^st Friday” program, that invites members of the school community, elected officials, policy makers, business community members, and others to step inside local charter schools on the 1^st Friday of every month to see firsthand some of the innovative ways charter schools educate Louisiana’s students.
• The LAPCS has created a list of over 1500 advocates statewide (and growing) that we stay in constant communication with regarding charter school news, calls to action, and other relevant information regarding Louisiana’s charter schools.

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Membership & Programs

As a member-driven organization, the LAPCS is constantly striving to find new and innovative ways to help support the charter schools of Louisiana. Our constant communication and monthly meetings with our member schools help us to stay on top of the evolving needs of our members and help find creative solutions to the unique challenges faced by charter schools.

Some membership benefits and initiatives:

• The LAPCS represents the vast majority of charter schools in Louisiana. Currently, approximately 90% of charter schools in Louisiana are paying members of the Association.
• The LAPCS organizes several group purchasing programs that help charter schools save thousands of dollars.
• The LAPCS has helped facilitate the granting of over $2,000,000 to help high quality charter through the start-up process.
• The LAPCS has helped to give charter schools short term gap loans at below-market interest rates. To date, the LAPCS has aided in the awarding of $600,000 in these loans.
• Organized two Annual Charter School Conferences, convening 500+ attendees to network and learn.

Read more about LAPCS membership and programs »

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