$8 million for STEM Education in Cenla...

The Rapides Foundation has announced the award of an $8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to fund the Central Louisiana Academic Residency for Teachers Partnership (CART). The award from the Department's Teacher Quality Partnership initiative is one of only 28 nationally, and one of only three in the South. CART is composed of The Rapides Foundation, the Orchard Foundation, LSU, LSUA and the nine Cenla school districts.

According to material provided by the Foundation, the CART program will recruit 60 recent college grads (or older career-changers) for a teacher residency program that leads to a tuition-free LSU Master of Natural Science degree. Each successful resident will also receive teacher certification under LSU and a $35,000 stipend for the one year residency period. LSU is grant's recipient, and LSU-A will act as the in-region home base and support structure for the residents, who will be deployed throughout the region. The Foundation conceived of the Partnership, assembled the team, and contributed to the proposal preparation process.

All of the partners in CART deserve recognition and thanks for this visionary, timely initiative.

Cenla economic developer Rhonda Reap-Curier recently shared with us this quote from Louis Menard's new book (Marketplace of Ideas: Reform and Resistance in the American University), "Knowledge is our most important business. The success of almost all our other business depends on it." Certainly the future of Central Louisiana's economy relies on our ability to create, organize, share and apply knowledge.

Even states much further along the knowledge curve than Louisiana are redoubling their efforts. Florida's new five-year economic development plan, for example, calls for increased investments in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.

Because of the foresight of The Rapides Foundation and the active engagement of their partners in CART, Central Louisiana will benefit from an $8 million investment in the region's STEM capacity. Congratulations to all involved.