The LA BOLD Project: Creating a Network of Coherence and Shared Goals

NIET is partnering with 11 local education agencies across Louisiana to make significant and sustained improvements in high-need schools. They are the parishes of DeSoto, East Feliciana, Madison, Orleans, Rapides and St. John the Baptist as well as New Orleans charters Eisenhower Academy, Landry-Walker High, McDonogh #32 Charter, Fischer Academy and Martin Behrman Academy.

The LA BOLD Project provides a diverse group of public school districts and charter schools in Louisiana with support to improve student academic achievement by strengthening classroom instruction. In addition, the grant has helped improve school- and district-level practices.

The number and diversity of the districts led to an approach based on tiers of support for specific needs. Partners include large districts with more resources at the district level, along with smaller districts and charter schools.

Recent work has focused on:

- Creating coherence across improvement initiatives.

- Insourcing professional learning.

- Establishing multiple and interconnected leadership roles, including roles for teacher leaders.

- Building networked communities to share lessons learned.