Evaluation of the
Rapides Foundation
Systemic Initiative in Education
Over the past five years, The Rapides Foundation has been providing support for 111 schools in Central Louisiana. Beginning in 2004, the Foundation announced the Systemic Initiative in Education - a $10 million investment over the next five years in local school districts in Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn Parishes. The Systemic Initiative provides resources for districts to develop the ability to nurture new instructional approaches to produce high student achievement. The Foundation's goal is to promote school improvement by producing high intellectual and challenging work for students, teachers and administrators, as well as developing a district culture that supports that practice.
The Systemic Initiative places emphasis on two separate, but intertwined improvement efforts:
- School-based, school-designed professional development activities
- Instructional leadership development
The Evaluation Center in collaboration with the Gordon A. Cain Center at Louisiana State University (LSU) is conducting an evaluation of the Systemic Initiative in Education, funded by The Rapides Foundation. The evaluation began in September 2005 and will continue until September 2010 - one year after the Systemic Initiative has been completed.