Jefferson Chamber Education Foundation

Wishing to ensure the success of the country’s first charter school to be run by a Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Community Foundation recently awarded a grant of $25,000 to the Jefferson Foundation Charter Academy.  The charter school, geared toward at-risk students who are either over-age for their grade or behind in credits, will offer a technology-based curriculum that better prepares its students to enter an increasingly competitive workforce.  Research reveals that most high school drops-outs are over-age and significantly behind in the accumulation of academic credits.  As no less than fifty percent of all high school students in Jefferson Parish are over-age, the at-risk student population in that community is quite large and clearly in need of the sort of intervention envisioned by the JFCA.  With the combined assistance of full-time teachers and tutors, the student-teacher ratio in each classroom will be a remarkable ten-to-one.

Joining the Jefferson Community Foundation in this initiative are Metairie Bank and businessman Henry Shane, whose contributions will further leverage the LCF’s impact.

PICTURED IN THE PHOTO: (left to right) are Ricky Burke, chairman of the Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy; Ronnie Sloan, chairman of the Jefferson Chamber; Ric Smith, president of the Jefferson Community Foundation; and Jim Garvey, board member of the Jefferson Community Foundation.