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Local partnerships showcase scalable Rapides model and urge sustained state investment in early care
Summary
Business and nonprofit partners told the House Education Committee about Rapides Parish’s scholarship-and-match model that raised private and foundation funds to expand early-childhood seats (300 children this year) and secured an $8.8 million multi-year match from the Rapides Foundation; speakers urged preserving state matching funds to scale similar local efforts statewide.
Business and nonprofit leaders described a locally driven Rapides Early Childhood Network model to the House Education Committee on Dec. 12 that combines philanthropic grants, private-sector matching and school-system partnerships to expand early-childhood seats and provide scholarships to families.
Barry Irwin of the Council for a Better Louisiana introduced Patrick Moore of the Rapides network, who told the committee that the Rapides Foundation seeded a grant challenge and local partners (the parish school board, Rotary, local businesses and philanthropy) raised an initial $4.8 million and delivered scholarships for more than 300 children this year. Moore said the Rapides Foundation subsequently committed $8.8 million over three years to continue the effort, with a plan to provide about 300 new seats annually. Moore framed the initiative as a business-like investment with measurable outcomes for workforce participation, family stability and long-term cost savings.
Madeline Carspatson of the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children summarized research evidence for early investments, citing longitudinal studies showing improved academic outcomes, reduced need for special education and long-term earnings gains for children who participate in high-quality early childhood programs. Carspatson also cited public-opinion polling the institute conducted showing broad bipartisan voter support for substantial, sustained ECE funding.
Cindy Bishop of the Child Care Association of Louisiana described provider challenges — staffing, insurance costs, regulatory compliance and criminal-background-check costs — and repeated commonly cited return-on-investment estimates. Jennifer Stevenson, a center owner, gave first-person examples of how CCAP support helped parents move from homelessness or school completion to stable employment.
Speakers urged the legislature to preserve and expand state matching funds so local partnerships can scale. Committee members repeatedly praised the Rapides model and said it could inform statewide budget priorities.
Next steps: Members signaled support for maintaining a state match pot for local efforts; Rapides leaders offered to share a full strategic plan and materials with committee members.
