LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — After pushback over funding cuts by the Lafayette Parish School System, the Pre-K French Immersion program at Myrtle Place Elementary is officially making a comeback for the 2025-2026 academic school year.

Parents Blair Broussard and Cara Acomb, and LPSS school board member Roddy Bergeron, say the Pre-K French Immersion is needed for the community and culture.

“When it was announced in January that the Pre-K Immersion Program would be cut from Myrtle Place, we wanted to make our voices heard about that and have our concerns be taken into consideration about this decision,” said Broussard.

This comes after LPSS cut funding for the Pre-K French immersion at Myrtle Elementary School in January. After LPSS made budget cuts on the program, a local group of about 80 individuals have been advocating to save the program.

Acomb says the program is a great resource and provides a headstart for children who want to be fully exposed to the language.

“Both of my daughters are in the program, and they will every once in a while, switch to French,” said Acomb. “I’m wondering what they are saying back there, but they both speak it so fluently, and it’s just a great tool,” said Acomb.

After hearing many concerns from parents, LPSS announced they have since reconsidered their plans to cut the program. In a letter sent to parents in April, it states the program would be resuming applications for the upcoming school year.

Roddy Bergeron, a LPSS Board Member, says officials are working to preserve the program throughout the years.

“There’s some potential through funding, there is community partners out there, it’s still the state legislature, they have some purse strings too that we can pull on and see if there’s any funding for us, we’re going to find every avenue we can to help preserve the program,” said Bergeron.

Broussard says she is grateful she and other parents’ concerns were taken into consideration.

“There will be Pre-K in the fall happening,” said Broussard. “It is so important that all of these stakeholders have worked together to make this possible, this is the next chapter for Pre-K and French Immersion and really all world language immersion that LPSS offers.”

There are limited spots available for Pre-K students who want to pursue the French immersion program. The program is being run on a tuition contract. The tuition rate is $603 per month for 9 months from September to May.

If you are interested in applying for this program, here are the next steps:

• Complete an online application at www.enrolllafayette.com for the Program Choice of “Lafayette Parish School System Pre-K Program.”
• If you have already completed a Lafayette Parish School System Application at www.enrolllafayette.com, our Early Childhood placement team will be contacting you via our online application system regarding this new placement opportunity. You will receive a notification when the information is sent.
• If you have not already done so, complete a Lafayette Parish School System Application at www.enrolllafayette.com

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