LaSIP - Professional Development

The Louisiana Systemic Initiatives Program (LaSIP) is designed primarily to enhance teacher quality and thus increase student performance through LaSIP professional development for in-service teachers. LaSIP, in existence since 1992, is uniquely funded by a combination of Board of Regents’ (BoR) funds, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) funds, and all Title II, Part A, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) funds. Until 2002, NSF also provided significant funds for the program. The state of Louisiana funded administrative costs.

The combination of funds are used to support mathematics, science, and English language Arts teaching through projects for K-12 teachers from low-performing schools. A Request for Proposals (http://www.lasip.state.la.us/proDev.asp) is sent to higher education institutions across the state for proposals designed in partnership with local schools and districts to enhance teaching and teacher content knowledge in mathematics, science, and English Language Arts at the elementary, middle, or high school levels in public and private schools. Proposals are also accepted for projects designed to provide more certified and highly qualified teachers in the state.

Out-of-state content reviewers review and rank the proposals for funding approval by the LaSIP Council. The budget costs are divided among the funding sources, according to their respective regulations for the use of professional development funds.

LaSIP is a separate K-16 state agency with Dr. Kerry Davidson serving as Project Director. Also serving are Dr. R. D. Anderson, Senior Advisor, Faimon Roberts, Assistant Director for Science, Stephanie Williamson, Assistant Director for LA GEAR UP project, and Lynne Tullos, Assistant Director for Mathematics and the SHEEO representative. LaSIP works closely with the Louisiana Department of Education Office of Quality Educators in a systemic professional development partnership called Learning-Intensive Networking Communities for Success (LINCS).