While the Louisiana Course Choice online education program has some out-of-state providers set to offer numerous courses, the nonprofit Alliance Safety Council in Baton Rouge plans to start with one course.
Though funding has yet to be secured, the state Department of Education is moving forward with the program. The ASC has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with the state, and ASC Senior Vice President Bill Dufrene says government officials “would like to get the final contract executed by February.”
ASC received a proposed draft of the contract earlier this week, he says. The uncertainty surrounding the funding source for the Course Choice program has not fazed ASC, president and CEO Kathy Trahan says.
“It’s not a major revenue stream for us,” Trahan says, “It’s really about what we can do to help the workforce shortage.”
The American Academy, based in Utah, has 22 courses listed on the online catalog. In contrast, ASC will start by offering “Career Success Skills” to students at the four high schools in Ascension Parish. The course will combine online and on-site instruction.
ASC normally focuses on worker training with its industry partners, with a focus on safety.
“We train tens of thousands of people per year,” Trahan says. “School counselors are overworked; we have a workforce shortage and we need all hands on deck.”
BESE member Holly Boffy says making the unfunded Course Choice a reality remains a priority for her.
“We have the technology available to open up the world of opportunity for our kids,” Boffy says.
