New education group spun off from Advance Baton Rouge

Advance Baton Rouge, which runs several charter schools in the Capital Region, has formed a new organization that will focus on developing new education strategies. Advance Innovation Education will serve as a partner, working on a compatible but separate mission. Officials with Advance Baton Rouge say the organization realized its two priorities—charter school management and educational reform initiatives—would be best pursued by creating two focused organizations. Kristy Hebert, the executive director of Advance Baton Rouge, will be the CEO of Advance Innovation. Her replacement will be announced Monday. Advance Innovation will manage more than $6.5 million in grants and take over the lead for developing two new charter schools: a digital arts school and one with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math. Advance Baton Rouge manages Prescott Middle, Glen Oaks Middle and Pointe Coupee Central High School. Next school year the group will add Dalton Elementary and Lanier Elementary.