History of A+ Schools in Louisiana
Louisiana A+ Schools began in 2013 as an initiative of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). In 2017, after several years of success, the Rodrigue family transitioned LAA+ into its own public non-profit organization to ensure the growth and long-term sustainability of the mission. In 2023, LAA+ expanded its reach even further by joining LSU as a program of the School of Education, a crucial step toward becoming a truly sustainable school reform model. With endless opportunities and access to additional resources, LSU has allowed LAA+ to significantly extend the impact of transforming schools across the state, through arts integration. Currently, LAA+ is housed under the College of Human Sciences & Education, with its main offices located in Peabody Hall on LSU's main campus.
History of A+ Schools
A+ Schools began in North Carolina, where it has successfully used the arts as a catalyst for transforming schools since 1995. Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana adopted the A+ model in developing their own statewide A+ networks. A+ Schools has continued to evolve and is nationally recognized as an effective, research-based strategy for sustainable school reform. All state A+ networks regularly share their practices, research, and expertise with each other and with others inquiring about the initiative. True to the creative process and honoring the individuality of people, places, and cultures, the initiative looks different in each state, reflecting the attributes and characteristics that make each state unique. What binds the group together is their common commitment to schools that work for everyone, facilitated by a common set of foundational commitments, the A+ Essentials™.
Click here to check out A+ schools historical timeline
National A+ Consortium
The National A+ Schools Consortium encompasses 5 networks including North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Africa. Through the A+ model, these 5 networks continue to successfully use the arts as a catalyst for transforming schools. A+ Schools has continued to evolve and is nationally recognized as an effective, research-based strategy for sustainable school reform.
A+ Networks
A+ Schools of North Carolina:
In 1995, the A+ Schools concept was conceived in North Carolina where it began as a research model sponsored by the Kenan institute for the Arts. Starting with 25 schools in their first year, the NCA+ network has grown to include more than forty (40) institutions.
Oklahoma A+ Schools:
In 1998 the Kirkpatrick Foundation, a private foundation in Oklahoma, identified the North Carolina A+ Schools program as one with great potential for replication, and the Oklahoma A+ Schools initiative was born. In 2003, the University of Central Oklahoma agreed to provide a permanent home for Oklahoma A+ Schools. Currently, there are more than seventy (70) A+ Schools in Oklahoma.
Arkansas A+ Schools:
Arkansas A+ Schools was initiated in 2003 with support of A+ Schools of North Carolina and have since joined with the University of Arkansas. They are currently based in Little Rock, Arkansas and support more than fourteen (14) schools and co-ops throughout their state.
Africa A+ Schools:
Africa A+ Schools was conceived in 2014 in partnership with the Oklahoma A+ Schools (OKA+) in the USA and the Craft + Design Institute (CDI), with the support of Standard Bank and the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT).