The Rapides Parish School Board proudly announces the exceptional accomplishments of the Rapides Parish Early Childhood Education Program. With record-breaking performance scores and strong community partnerships, Rapides Parish continues to set a high standard for early childhood education in Louisiana.

“All children in Rapides Parish deserve access to high-quality early education to position them for success in school and in life,” said Superintendent Powell. “This has a major impact on the future of our community.” From birth to age five, children experience rapid brain development unmatched at any other time in life. In these early years, their capacity for learning, emotional growth, and cognitive development is unparalleled, with 80% of brain development occurring by age three and 90% by age four. These formative years establish the foundation for a child’s future success, not just academically but socially, emotionally, and economically.

In November, the Louisiana Department of Education released the 2023-2024 Early Childhood Performance Profiles. The Rapides Ready Start Network, known as RECN, achieved its highest scores to date. Additionally, the parish's overall Early Childhood Performance Profile score increased by 0.11 points to 5.94, placing it just 0.06 points away from the "Excellent" category—a distinction earned by only three districts statewide.

Another advance is noted in the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS). Rapides Parish earned a score of 39, outperforming the state average of 29 by a significant margin.

Rapides Parish saw remarkable achievements this year, with 33 Early Childhood sites receiving "Excellent" ratings for their combined teacher evaluations, which ranged from six to seven points out of a possible seven. These included nine school sites, four Head Start sites, and twenty early learning centers. Of the 67 Early Childhood providers in Rapides Parish, none received an "Unsatisfactory" rating, and only one was rated "Approaching Proficient." The remaining providers demonstrated high levels of performance, with most achieving scores in the "High Proficient" range. Director Cindy Rushing noted that Rapides Parish is ranked fifth in the state, a significant accomplishment given that the top four districts together manage just 30 sites, while Rapides oversees 67. “This success is a reflection of the commitment and teamwork within our community as we strive for excellence every day,” Rushing said. “These efforts pay huge dividends for children and their families.”

While progress is evident, challenges remain. Rapides Parish is determined to close the gap and ensure every child enters kindergarten ready for success. Currently, over 90% of at-risk four-year-olds are enrolled in quality early learning programs, but fewer than 20–25% of at-risk children from birth to age three have access to these opportunities due to funding limitations.

To address the gap, Rapides Parish has partnered with The Rapides Foundation, the Rotary Club of Alexandria, the Central Louisiana Community Foundation, and community stakeholders in response to the Louisiana Early Childhood Education Fund’s announcement that it would provide a dollar-for-dollar match on investments made to expand access to quality early care and education for children who need it most. 

The community efforts raised  $4.7 million to ensure that up to 300 children ages 3 and under can attend a high-quality education program in the 2024-25 school year while their parents work or attend school. 

The Rapides Foundation recognizes that rural districts have limited capacity to plan and raise local funds in such a short period of time. The Rapides Foundation Board of Trustees has awarded Rapides Parish with an additional funding opportunity providing funds for three years to be used as the local match. This will allow agencies to show the value of the program and develop a long-term plan for sustainability while increasing access for families that need it the most.

Joe Rosier, President and CEO of The Rapides Foundation, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We are pleased with local communities for recognizing the importance of providing children the opportunity to attend a high-quality early childhood education program.” Children who attend high-quality early care and education programs enter kindergarten better prepared, have fewer referrals to special education services, fewer affected by grade retention, and increased likelihood to graduate high school.

The Rotary Club of Alexandria has also endorsed the Early Childhood Education Investment Initiative as its Signature Project, with Patrick and Randalle Moore leading the effort. The club has pledged financial support and encouraged its members to contribute. Additionally, the Community Foundation of Central Louisiana has partnered with the Rapides Early Childhood program to establish the Early Childhood Education Initiative Fund. Contributions can be made through the foundation’s website or the Rapides Early Childhood Network website.