The Orchard Foundation administers school readiness training institutes for PreK, Head Start and Childcare centers from the Foundation's nine-parish service area. 

The training institutes provided by The Orchard Foundation are funded by The Rapides Foundation’s Education Initiative, which includes a School Readiness component to enhance and support training opportunities for Community Network pilot participants. The training is presented by Teachstone, and provides additional opportunities for Community Network pilot participants to receive the state-approved training. 

The School Readiness training includes: Teaching Strategies Gold, the state’s Birth to Kindergarten assessment tool; and CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) Observer Reliability training, which prepares an observer to conduct CLASS observations. 

To learn more about the School Readiness Institutes, please contact The Orchard Foundation.