How LAA+ Works
Below are the six stages to becoming a Louisiana A+ School. For more information, please contact us.
Step 1
Inform

Any Louisiana School (public, private, charter, elementary, middle, or high school) is invited to complete a Letter of Interest form to join the LAA+ network.
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Once the Letter of Interest form has been submitted, the school's faculty and administration will complete the first module, Arts Integration 101, in our online learning platform, A+U: Louisiana. This module will provide them with an in-depth look at A+, including the history, why we do what we do, and a brief introduction to arts integration.
step 2
Apply
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Once faculty and staff have all completed the Arts Integration 101 module, schools must then hold an in-house vote to ensure that a minimum of 85% or more of their full-time faculty is committed to adopting arts integration and implementing A+.
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With a completed vote of 85% agreeing to adopt arts integration, the school will complete and submit the application to become a member of the A+ network. 
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Step 4
Ongoing Professional Development

Member schools will receive 3 years of evolving professional development in the implementation and integration of the Arts. These coaching sessions are customized by the A+ Fellows to meet the current needs of the school.
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During the 5-day initial summer institute, either virtually or hybrid, A+ Fellows will instruct schools on how to effectively integrate the Arts into their curriculum by way of the eight A+ Essentials.
At least 85% of a school's staff must attend the training in order to achieve whole school transformation.
Read testimonials from teachers participating in our professional development workshops.
Step 5
Implementation

After the first summer institute, member schools are functioning A+ Schools with access to the entire network of resources.
Schools collaborate around curriculum, mapping the instruction so that interdisciplinary concepts emerge that encourage cross-curricular integration, and the use of multiple intelligences to structure learning opportunities for students.
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Schools are not considered fully implemented until having completed the three years of professional development training.
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Click here for more information on professional development offered to our schools.
Step 3
Select

School applications are reviewed by a selection committee comprised of LAA+ staff, board members and Fellows. Several factors are used to determine selection including need, the school's capacity to fully implement the program, and funding.
Once a school has been accepted into the network, LAA+ Staff will visit the school either in-person or virtually, to share more information about program participation and expectations, as well as gather important thoughts and insight from the school's staff/administration.
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New schools are notified in the Spring and begin their LAA+ journey with a 5-day Summer Institute for their entire school faculty.
Step 6
Sustainability

As long as a school is a member of the network with a commitment to the A+ Essentials, they continue to receive annual leadership and new hire training either virtually or in-person. ​
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Schools excelling in their commitment to the 8 Essentials may be nominated to become a Model School. LAA+ Model Schools are used to demonstrate effective implementation of the arts and are also provided additional opportunities for professional development.