BATON ROUGE, LA – Louisiana A+ Schools (LAA+) at Louisiana State University, a program of the College of Human Sciences and Education, in partnership with Arkansas A+ Schools (ARA+) at University of Arkansas, a program of the College of Education and Health Professions, are proud to announce they have received a grant from the National Park Service (NPS). This grant is part of the Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative (LMDI), aimed at supporting cultural heritage and educational projects in the Delta region.

Louisiana A+ Schools and Arkansas A+ Schools are committed to enhancing education through arts integration. This grant will support a new initiative focused on integrating Music Heritage, particularly the soulful rhythms of the Mississippi Delta Blues, into classroom curricula across both states.

"We are thrilled to receive this grant, which will enable us to celebrate and preserve the rich musical heritage of the Mississippi Delta. By integrating Blues and Music Heritage into our curricula, we are not only enriching students' educational experiences but also fostering a deeper connection to the cultural history of our region. This collaboration with Arkansas A+ Schools exemplifies our commitment to innovative arts integration and underscores the transformative power of music in education," Bethany Hager, Director of LAA+ Schools at LSU, said.

Key project components include the development of a database of lessons plans that will celebrate regional Blues Heritage and be accessible to birth-12 teachers in both states and training for birth-12th grade teachers on how to integrate the arts in their classrooms to introduce the history of Blues/Music Heritage in our states.

Louisiana A+ Schools and Arkansas A+ Schools look forward to the positive impact this project will have on students and educators, preserving and promoting the rich musical heritage of the Mississippi Delta region.

For further information, please contact Louisiana A+ Schools at Louisiana State University College of Human Sciences and Education's Bethany Hager or Arkansas A+ Schools at University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions's Alyssa Wilson.

About Louisiana A+ Schools

Louisiana A+ Schools, a program of the LSU College of Human Sciences and Education, is a teaching training model available for schools across our state. Imagine a school bursting with creativity, where students learn about the water cycle through ballet, explore geometry by studying artist Frank Lloyd Wright, and learn fractions through music; a school where teachers feel invigorated to teach, students are excited to learn, and imagination oozes from every classroom. These types of schools exist throughout Louisiana because of (LAA+), a teacher training model that utilizes arts integration to transform schools. Once an entire faculty is committed to change and votes to adopt LAA+, schools begin their journey by participating in customized and intensive professional development. Schools are introduced to the A+ Essentials a framework of eight commitments an A+ school must make in order to experience change. Some of these include creating a culturally-rich school climate; increasing cross-curricular planning time for teachers; and having administrators establish a supportive infrastructure that encourages teachers to stray outside the walls of “teaching to the test” and venture into the boundless world of arts integration.
Visit the Louisiana A+ Schools website.

About CHSE 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and is committed to improving quality of life across the lifespan. 
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.

About the LSU Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education (SOE) 
A school of the College of Human Sciences & Education, the SOE offers undergraduate programs for students who want to pursue a career as a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade teacher or acquire dual certification in both traditional elementary and special education classrooms. In addition, SOE offers 3 graduate certificates, 17 master’s degree program areas, 9 EdS certificate programs, and 2 PhD degrees in 11 areas of focus. SOE’s focus is not only on preparing highly qualified teachers but also in preparing educational leaders, curriculum studies scholars, educational technology experts, applied researchers, higher education professionals, school counselors, and clinical mental health counselors. SOE specializes scholarly expertise regarding pressing educational and wellness issues across the entire lifespan.  
Visit the LSU Lutrill and Pearl Payne School of Education website.