LAPCS hosts Nov. 12 Legal Training for Charters

The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) and Louisiana Appleseed will hold a training on their joint publication Louisiana Charter School Board Legal Handbook which offers free Continuing Legal Education credits. The training is open to attorneys and interested charter school advocates and board members.            

The training is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 12, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Baton Rouge law offices of Adams and Reese, Chase North Tower, 450 Laurel St., Suite 1900.

Registration is limited to 30 participants. Attendees must register by clicking here or by contacting Tara Richard at 504-561-7304 or trichard@appleseednetwork.org.                       

While the informational guide is targeted specifically to charter board members, attorneys who attend the CLE will receive two credit hours towards the annual 12.5 hour professional development requirement.            

“Charter school law is still a relatively new field and many local attorneys may find this free CLE very valuable given the number of public charter schools in the state, especially the greater New Orleans area,” said Sarah Vandergriff, LAPCS Legal Director.            

“Ideally, learning more about the legal construct and requirements of charter boards will pique the interest of the attendees and inspire some to look into volunteering as a charter governing board member.”            

Presenters will include Ms. Vandergriff and Louisiana Appleseed volunteers attorneys Lee Reid and Jennifer Barriere of Adams and Reese LLP.          Every participant who attends the CLEs will receive a copy of Louisiana Charter School Board Legal Handbook, covering all the basic legal requirements of charter governing boards, from the fundamentals of charter school law and the governing board’s role, to open meetings laws and code of ethics.            

Copies of the handbook have already been made available to every charter governing board and charter school in the State of Louisiana.            

“There is no other resource like this out there for charter board members,” said Christy Kane, Louisiana Appleseed. “The volunteers serving on governing boards devote an incredible amount of time and effort to their school but many times aren’t given legal guidance. Great intentions alone don’t make great boards. They need to be paired with a clear understanding of their role and legal requirements. That is what this handbook intends to provide.”            

The Louisiana Charter School Board Legal Handbook was prepared in collaboration with Louisiana Appleseed; LAPCS; Alvin Miester of Sher Garner Cahill Richter Klein and Hilbert, LLC; Adams and Reese LLP; New Schools for New Orleans; Jones Walker; Akin Gump; and Board on Track.            

The publication was made possible through funding by The Booth-Bricker Fund; The Frost Foundation, Ltd.; LAPCS; Pro Bono Publico Foundation; and the RosaMary Foundation.            

An additional training will be scheduled in North Louisiana before the end of the year. A training in New Orleans has already occurred.