Charter schools will now become a reality in Lafayette Parish after the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted today to approve charter schools in the parish.

The BESE Board committee approved the motion yesterday and the full BESE board also approved the motion today.

Yesterday, Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper made a strong plea for the charter schools. He believes that this would help bring Lafayette up to an "A" ranked parish.

This means the full body of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education have voted to approve applications dealing with National Heritage Academies and Charter Schools USA to open five schools in Lafayette Parish.

More From 99.9 KTDY