A: ACADEMICS, ATHLETICS, & THE ARTS
The Louisiana Department of Education recently released the 2024 DIBELS results, and SCPPS has risen to the top! DIBELS is a literacy screener which was administered statewide to public school students in kindergarten through 3rd grade and measures students’ reading skills.
Of the state’s 69 traditional public school systems, St. Charles Parish Public Schools ranked #1 in Louisiana for reading outcomes with 71% of SCPPS students (Gr. K-3) reading “At or Above Benchmark” - representing a growth of 23% from August to April.
Because DIBELS measures how students are mastering key, foundational reading skills, it is regarded by experts as an important predictor of future student success in reading. In SCPPS, 81% of kindergartners and 75% of first graders scored “At or Above Benchmark,” making SCPPS #1 in Louisiana for these two grade levels as well.
This success can be attributed to the school system’s intense, strategic focus on improving students’ early literacy skills. Key efforts have included building teacher knowledge around effective reading instruction, using data to target support for individual students, and helping struggling readers by working with them in small groups.
B: THE BULLETIN BOARD
FINANCIAL REPORTING: SCPPS received the Association of School Business Officials International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) for the FY2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. The school board’s continued participation in the COE program demonstrates a commitment to transparency and meticulous financial reporting.
MEETING SCHEDULE: At its meeting on May 22, 2024, the St. Charles Parish School Board approved dates for its monthly meetings for the 2024-2025 school year. This schedule is available online at WeAreSCPPS.org on the School Board page under the “About Our District” tab. Beginning in August, all meetings of the St. Charles Parish School Board will be streamed live via the district’s YouTube channel in compliance with Louisiana Revised Statute 42:23.
EMAIL DOMAIN MIGRATION: An updated, fully responsive website is set to be unveiled during the 2024-2025 school year at a new URL - WeAreSCPPS.org. In preparation for the site, all SCPPS email addresses have changed to a new format and now end in @WeAreSCPPS.org. These updates are part of ongoing efforts to enhance the school system’s communication infrastructure. Stakeholders are encouraged to update their email contacts and bookmarks to reflect these changes.
C: CONFERENCE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT 
Throughout the school year, school system employees frequently apply for a variety of grants to enhance educational programs, provide professional development opportunities, acquire additional resources, make infrastructure improvements, fund special projects and extracurricular activities, and offer targeted support for students and employees in need. The funding provided through these grants assist in ensuring high-quality educational opportunities for all students to succeed.
SCPPS is fortunate to have received grant funding with recent totals exceeding $11,000,000 from federal grants; $2,000,000 from state grants; and $150,000 from corporate and local grants.
One notable grant provider is the St. Charles Public Schools Foundation - an independent, nonprofit corporation governed by a voluntary board of directors comprised of business, industry, and community leaders in addition to retired educators. The organization’s mission is to enhance public education by funding and supporting high-quality initiatives for teachers, which directly impact our children’s education and our community’s future.Through fundraising efforts and by serving as a liaison with other grant-providing organizations, the foundation provides funding directly to schools and teachers for use in the classroom. This organization exemplifies our community’s support for public education and the educators within it, making them a valuable partner and the epitome of “You and I…We are St. Charles Parish Public Schools.”
D: DEVELOPMENTS & DIRECTION
TRANSLATION SERVICE: The SCPPS Department of Federal Programs has partnered with Translate.One, a Trustpoint Company, to provide an on-demand translation service for the school system. This service will remotely provide real-time interpretation of any language, at any time, via video and/or phone. Identified as an action step in the Long Range Strategic Action Plan, this service will prove invaluable in strengthening communication with all stakeholders.
FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS: Summer break provides an opportunity for maintenance and enhancements to be made to facilities without interrupting teaching and learning. Summer projects which will be complete before classes resume include renovations of Hahnville’s Commons and Digital Media Center, an additional elevator at J.B. Martin, renovations to Luling’s Building D, construction of additional buildings at East Bank Head Start and R.K. Smith, replacement of HVAC and bleachers at Hurst, expansion of Destrehan’s cafeteria serving lines, construction of Satellite Center’s entry vestibule, renovations of high school gym locker rooms, and parking additions for Head Start.
