On Tuesday, May 12^th the George The George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts and Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne announced the expansion of the Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) network to eight new schools across the state for the 2015/2016 school year. The announcement took place at a student performance at The Dufrocq School in Baton Rouge, one of nine current LAA+ schools.

“These schools have been chosen through a competitive application process by demonstrating their commitment to innovative learning and the importance of the arts in every classroom,” says Jacques Rodrigue, executive director of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts. “They join a nationwide network of 9 schools across the state of Louisiana and over 130 schools nationwide that are focused on whole school research-based transformation through the arts.”

LAA+ is the first whole school arts-integrated reform initiative of its kind to enter Louisiana. The LAA+ network provides teachers with the essentials to think more creatively about how students can apply learning to the real world, and how they can present curricula to students in ways they learn best.

“Arts education yields comprehensive benefits to students and we need to do all we can to ensure its inclusion in our schools,” Lt. Governor Jay Dardenne said. “We wish the selected schools the best in shaping our students’ creative minds.”2015/2016 New Louisiana A+ Schools:

Howell Park Elementary School, Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish School System)

Park Elementary School, Baton Rouge (East Baton Rouge Parish School System)

Rollins Place Elementary School, Zachary (Zachary Community School District)

J Wallace James Elementary School, Lafayette (Lafayette Parish School System)

Ridge Elementary School, Duson (Lafayette Parish School System)

St. Helena College and Career Academy, Greensburg (St. Helena Parish School District)

Messiah Montessori School, Houma

ReNEW McDonogh City Park Academy, New Orleans