A 2015 PUBLICATION OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS (504) 274-3651 | www.lacharterschools.org Celebrating 20 Years Education of Charter Schools Reform page 3 Celebrating Timeline page 10 Opening One of LA's First Legislator Charters Voting Records page 4 page 13 Directory of Mythbusters Charter Schools 20 years page 14 page 6 2 Don’t Give Up on Education Reform A Message from Caroline Roemer Shirley M. J. “Mike” Foster, Jr. Governor of Louisiana Caroline Roemer Shirley 1996-2004 LAPCS Executive Director
[email protected] It is difficult to believe we As I travel across Louisiana, I’m proud that this state’s passion for great public are already celebrating education is building! Some of that passion comes from business and civic the 20th Anniversary of groups like our Chambers of Commerce, the Louisiana Association of Business charter cchools in Loui- and Industry, and the Council for A Better Louisiana. They have stood with us siana. The bill that es- on important legislative reforms. tablished charter schools Sometimes the arguments were heated. Inside this issue, you will see the was authored by my good friend, the late Cecil Picard. results of this hard work and how what was once controversial is now the norm. cHe and I were on the same page when it came to the We have embraced change. importance of improving education in Louisiana. It was a mission of sacrifice and hard work. To reinforce Leaders like Representative Stephen Carter, for example, for years took on the issue of school board my commitment, I refused to take a governor’s salary reform, because parents and school leaders were complaining that elected boards were micromanaging until teachers were paid a salary equal to the southern school districts, even to the point of interfering with hiring and firing decisions.