[Kreweoftruth] LAPCS Celebrates National Charter Week, May 1-7

[kreweoftruth at kreweoftruth.net]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
  
 
  
  
  
Contact:
  
  
  
Sarah Baird
  
504-274-3651
  
sbaird at lacharterschools.org
  
 


 
Louisiana Public Charter School Association CelebratesNational Charter School Week, May 1-7
 
As the nation recognizes National Charter Schools Week, theLouisiana Association of Public Charter Schools celebrates the success and growingdiversity of the state’s charter school movement, which continues to garnerfederal accolades.


“When U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan visitedLouisiana last month, he called our public school progress remarkable, largelydue to the rise of charter schools,” said Caroline Roemer Shirley, ExecutiveDirector of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools. “Such aringing endorsement confirms for the state and nation what we already know:high-quality charter schools are a key part of Louisiana’s public educationsolution.”


National Charter School Week pays tribute to theachievement of the public charter school movement. In Louisiana, that progressis primarily marked in Orleans Parish, where seven out of 10 children attend apublic charter school. The infusion of charter schools into the educationlandscape has already produced phenomenal results[i]:


Orleans Parish’s drop-out rate has plummeted 50 percentsince 2005;
Orleans Parish black students have almost closed theperformance gap between Orleans Parish and the rest of the state in just threeyears;
Public school enrollment is growing more diverse in OrleansParish since the advent of charter schools;
The percentage of academically failing schools in OrleansParish dropped from 66 percent in 2005 to only 26 percent in 2010;
Nine out of 10 senior high school students graduated fromOrleans Parish schools in 2010.


“We expect more parishes to display this type of progressas the charter movement continues to gain momentum throughout Louisiana,” saidMs. Roemer Shirley.
 
There are currently 13 Louisiana parishes with activecharter schools. Next school year, the advent of virtual charter schools willempower every student to have access to a high-quality charter education. Thistechnology-enabled form of K-12 schooling allows students statewide to receive acertified Louisiana public education entirely online. Virtual charter schoolsare enrolling students this spring. 
 
Charter school advocates will educate legislators abouttheir growing movement on Thursday, May 5 with educational displays andmaterials at the Capitol. Individual charter schools will also be active nextweek, taking the initiative to engage more parents in becoming vocal proponentsfor choice in public education.
 
“Charter schools are independent public schools that are free tobe more innovative and held accountable for improved student achievement,” saidMs. Roemer Shirley. “They operate around a core set of principles based on thethemes of empowerment, accountability and choice. First, students and parentsare able to choose their preferred school of enrollment. Likewise, principaland teacher have a distinct choice of the school in which they work. Next, charterschools allow for school-based empowerment to develop curricula, structure theschool day and hire teachers who meet the needs of students. Finally, charterschools rely on school-based accountability systems of the highest caliber totrack student and staff academic performance.”
 
Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that areopen to all students. Over 1.6 million children across the country attend morethan 4,900 public charter schools in 40 states and the District of Columbia. InLouisiana, more than 90 charter schools welcome 40,000 students. Educators,community leaders, business people and parents who start charters select thecurriculum, philosophies and emphases of the schools, such as a back-to-basicsfoundation, technology focus or school-to-work approach. 
 
For more information visit www.lacharterschools.org or call 504.274.3651.
 



[i] Statisticsvia EducateNow!



 
 
 
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