PRAIRIEVILLE - For the 2025-26 school year, the Ascension Parish School District is expanding technology in the classroom, bringing on more educational programs and continuing to strengthen security.

In a rapidly advancing digital age, Chief Administrative Director Darby Lambert said the school system works year-round to get technology into the hands of students in every grade.

"Students get exposure, so no matter where they go, what they do, whatever dream they have as far as career, they're ready for it," Lambert said.

Starting in kindergarten, students are handed laptops. Lambert said students pay a low fee to use the device. Right now. Lambert said approximately 26,000 devices are circulating in the school system.

"We're cleaning devices, we're imaging them. Everything we need to do to prepare for the next year, from May to July, that's when we're taking the time to do that," Lambert said.

Chief Instructional Director Carli Francois said the laptops will be put to use as the school system implements a new language program this year. Students in fourth through eighth grade, around 9,000 students, will be enrolled in Spanish.

"We're investing in some digital platforms to help our fourth through eighth grade students as they learn Español in the 25-26 school year, so we're really excited about this new advancement, it's something that our community has been asking for," Francois said.

Also new this year: Cosmetology and pharmacy tech classes will be offered through the district's Career and Technical Education program.

"Our vision is to be sure our students are set up for success when they leave, so they can pursue the dreams of their choice!" Francois said.

Ascension Public Schools said school security is another area where it is leading the way. Chief Operations Director Jeff Parent said there are plans to expand the district's Raptor program into what it calls phase two, "Reunification."

"Raptor will help us identify where the student is, who's the right parent or guardian, and then there's a right process to bring the child to their parent," Parent said.

Teachers and school administrators from their phone or laptop will be able to send the school into lockdown.

"It's as easy as a click and a slide on an iPhone. I would hit it, if I hit initiate, it would go to our dispatch center with our sheriff's office, and it's going to send sirens out to personnel as well as law enforcement," Parent said. "Our goal is to save precious seconds and minutes."