The recipient entity's physical address:
           351 Jordan Street
Shreveport, LA 71101

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           351 Jordan Street
Shreveport, LA 71101

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          n/a

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  2891

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $75,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Kristen Gary Powers
Executive Director
325 Rosedown Lane
Stonewall, LA 71078

Kevin Pesnell
Board President
222 Florida Street
Shreveport, LA 71105

RaShad Bristo
Vice President
200 Ariel Lane
Mansfield, LA 71052

Michael D. Gould
Treasurer
4514 Clingman Drive
Shreveport, LA 71105

Charlene Kelley
Secretary
935 Linden Street
Shreveport, LA 71104

Stephen Fortson
Past-President
16 Hazelwood Drive
Shreveport, LA 71106

Jackie Bennett
6324 LaFleur Drive
Shreveport, LA 71119

Kathryn Diane Fletcher
2418 Arlington Place
Bossier City, LA 71111

Lisa Hooper
10085 Norris Ferry Rd
Shreveport, LA 71101

Rev. Lee A. Jeter, Sr.
400 Columbia Circle
Bossier City, LA 71112

Flo Kelly
2842 Shorewood Drive
Shreveport, LA 71119

Katharine Knicely
P.O. Box 6357
Shreveport, LA 71136

Rev. John Korlaske
5007 General Polk Drive
Bossier City, LA 71112

Loreta T. Leavitt
9838 Ballantrae Circle
Shreveport, LA 71106

Matthew Lee
401 Edwards Street, Ste 1000
Shreveport, LA 71101

Carla Moore
108 Autumn Creek Drive
Bossier City, LA 71111

Connor Page
1621 Benton Road
Bossier City, LA 71111

Faith Payne
407 St. Charles Blvd
Shreveport, LA 71106

Gisele Proby-Bryant (Hon.)
5636 S. Lakeshore
Shreveport, LA 71119

Rob Reagan
1545 East 70th Street
Shreveport, LA 71105

Heather Terrell
260 Hanging Moss Trail
Shreveport, LA 71106

Hilary Wooley
3302 Centenary Boulevard
Shreveport, LA 71104

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           With two campuses in the Highland neighborhood of Shreveport, LA, The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s Goldman Schools are Type III, four-star child development centers licensed to serve a total of 192 infants, toddlers and preschool students.

Children with and without disabilities are given the opportunity to grow and learn together in a year-round program. Goldman offers support to young children and their families while valuing each child's unique strengths.

The staff and administration at Goldman have a commitment to excellence and service. Our teachers must possess, or be working towards, their Child Development Associate (CDA) credential at minimum. Some teachers hold AA or BA degrees, and our 34 direct care staff members have 200 combined years of experience working with children with developmental disabilities.
Early Childhood Ed is Workforce Development:

The services provided at The Arc Caddo-Bossier’s Goldman Schools impact the ability for our region of Louisiana to develop a skilled workforce. With our extended open hours of 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., our goal is that 100% of the parents and guardians of the children in our care can go to work or remain enrolled in an educational program.

The Shreveport-Bossier MSA ranks second to last (10th) of peer communities in the share of households with children under age 18 that are single-parent households (42.8%). Based on these statistics, we calculate that approximately 220 people in 2-parent households and 82 single parents (302 total) are indirectly served by Goldman School and Child Development Centers because they are able to work due to the availability of the childcare provided.

Kindergarten Readiness:
Goldman School offers care and education to children from eight weeks through the age of five, who have been identified either as having a disability, or at risk environmentally of having developmental delays, along with typically developing children and children of low-income families. Goldman School serves on average, 50% typically developing children, 25% have a disability and 25% are low-income or have been identified as having a developmental delay.

Our students are Kindergarten ready. When a child exists, we work as a team with their parents and the school where they will attend Kindergarten to ensure a smooth transition.

The Need:
Parents of children with disabilities have a greater burden of finding good, quality childcare and developmental services. Most centers in our region are not equipped to serve a child with a disability who may have mild to severe behaviors, or a child who is not walking, talking or potty-trained by age three. There is also a greater need for these parents to stay employed or in school so they may provide for the added costs and/or insurance necessary to raise a child with disabilities.

Use of Funds:
With a $75,000 appropriation Goldman School will be able to invest in TRAIN initiative. “TRAIN” stands for Technological accommodations, educational Resources, Accessibility to outdoor learning, Inclusive educational equipment, and a Nurturing environment. This project provides the means necessary to deliver the least restrictive, most inclusive learning environment to accommodate all children's learning styles. In addition, these funds will impact each child's cognitive development, social emotional concepts, visual acuity/auditory skills and facilitate speech language communication. Strengthening these areas of development will positively impact their literacy performance and increase Kindergarten readiness.

Lashanda Davis, M.Ed., Director of Children’s Services, will lead the project and expansion under the direction of Kristen Powers, MBA, Executive Director of The Arc Caddo-Bossier. Ms. Davis holds a master’s degree in early childhood education with 35 years of experience, and Mrs. Powers holds an MBA with a concentration in healthcare management.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $60,000
          Professional Services. . . $5,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $5,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $5,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The Arc Caddo-Bossier's mission is to build unlimited opportunities for people with disabilities. We accomplish this mission for the children of our community through The Arc Caddo-Bossier's Goldman School and Child Development Centers.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Objective 1: Of the 163 children enrolled in The Arc Caddo-Bossier's Goldman School and Goldman School at The Highland Center, at least 87% will improve their assessment scores by the end of the school year.

Objective 2: Of the 65 children enrolled in both locations with disabilities or identified as environmentally at-risk of having a developmental delay, at least 85% will show improvement in their physical, intellectual and social/emotional skills.

Objective 3: Of the 65 children enrolled in both locations with disabilities or identified as environmentally at-risk of having a developmental delay, at least 85% will have one or both parents maintain employment and/or enroll in an educational program.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           12 months - July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/A

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Kristen Powers 
                                       address:  The Arc Caddo-Bossier
351 Jordan Street
                                       phone:  3187804779
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  kpowers@thearccaddobossier.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director