Public Comment Notice
Grant Parish School Board is the lead agency for the Grant Early Childhood Network. The information below documents how the network gathered input on its 2027–2028 Early Childhood Education Funding Request to the Louisiana Department of Education. Families, early childhood programs, and community members may submit comments on the request using the online form or the contact information on this page.
About This Notice
Required by Louisiana BESE Bulletin 140, §709(B) — the lead agency must give each publicly funded program and the general public a chance to comment on the proposed funding request before it is submitted to the state.
Section 709(B) of Bulletin 140 states: “The lead agency shall provide an opportunity for each publicly-funded program in the community network and the general public in the coverage area of the community network to comment on the proposed funding request prior to submission to the department and shall include documentation of this process in the funding request.”
For more information about early childhood programs in Grant Parish, visit the Grant Early Childhood Network website.
How to Submit a Comment
Use the comment form at the bottom of this page, or send your comment to Michael DuBois, Elementary Supervisor, by email or mail.
- Email: parents@gpsb.org
- Mail: Grant Parish School Board, Attn: Michael DuBois, Elementary Supervisor, P.O. Box 208, Colfax, LA 71417
- Phone: (318) 627-3274
If you send a comment by email or mail, please include your name and, if you represent an early childhood program, the name of the program.
Opportunities for Public Comment
The Grant Early Childhood Network (GECN) engaged publicly funded program partners and the general public in developing the 2027–2028 Early Childhood Education Funding Request. Opportunities for partner input on seat allocations, status, and future plans occurred during GECN Partner Meetings (September 2, 2025; December 2, 2025; February 3, 2026; May 26, 2026) and Grant Ready Start Advisory Council Meetings (September 18, 2025; December 10, 2025; March 20, 2026; September 10, 2026), supplemented by direct emails and phone outreach. The community and local leaders reviewed and commented on the application during Early Education Day (February 18, 2026) and the Building Brighter Futures Briefing (May 21, 2026). Public feedback surveys were collected at the Grant Outdoor Adventure & Expo (May 2, 2026) to assess community needs, with ongoing outreach scheduled for a Family Summit on October 10, 2026. General public access was provided via a public notice on the district website (https://grantpsb.org/) with instructions to email comments to GPSB Elementary Supervisor Michael DuBois at parents@gpsb.org. This application link was also distributed directly to program directors, and progress was publicly updated on September 24, 2026.
Provider Selection Criteria and Process
The Lead Agency used a structured, collaborative process to establish criteria for provider selection and seat allocation across the network. Selection criteria were based on state licensing status (requiring Type III Early Learning Center designation), high-quality performance ratings, classroom capacity, geographic accessibility, and history of compliance with program standards. The Lead Agency conducted dedicated planning discussions with GECN partners during network meetings on September 2, 2025; December 2, 2025; February 3, 2026; and May 26, 2026, to assess community seat availability for children from birth to three years of age. During these sessions, each participating provider evaluated its facility’s capacity and requested seat allocations aligned with local family demand. Following mutual agreement on allocations, partners convened for a mandatory Grant Ready Start Network Early Childhood Education Onboarding meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. At the conclusion of this onboarding session, each qualified Type III owner formally executed a 2026–2027 Partnership Agreement, solidifying provider selection and seat commitments.
Use of Child Count Data
The Grant Early Childhood Network (GECN) used local Child Count data and site capacity figures to establish an accurate baseline of community need for the 2027–2028 funding request. The Lead Agency collected all required provider application data, site capacities, and seat requests directly from participating centers through network documentation during collaborative partner meetings. Partners reviewed Child Count totals, waitlists, and age-cohort transitions to ensure requested seat allocations matched local family demand for children from birth to three years of age across Grant Parish. Finalized Child Count numbers and agreed-upon seat allocations were shared across the network and formally executed within each provider’s Partnership Agreement with the Grant Ready Start Network.
Community Concerns and Comments
The primary feedback from stakeholders and families is that demand for early childhood education seats for children from birth to three years of age continues to exceed available capacity across Grant Parish.
Submit a Comment
Your name and email address are optional. Include your email address if you would like a reply.
Comments submitted to the Grant Parish School System may become public records under Louisiana Public Records Law and may be shared with the Louisiana Department of Education as part of the funding request.