Dear Superintendent Touchet,

We, the undersigned parents and concerned community members of Lafayette Parish, write to you with urgency and hope. We have heard encouraging rumors of the return of French Immersion Pre-K in our school system, and we respectfully request that you confirm its reinstatement as soon as possible. 

Families across our parish need clarity to make informed decisions about our children’s education, and the preservation of our heritage depends on early language immersion. 

The importance of the French language in Lafayette cannot be overstated. It is not just a subject of study—it is our cultural foundation. Research and lived experience show that true fluency begins in early childhood, making Pre-K the ideal entry point for French Immersion programs. Without it, we risk losing another generation to the erosion of our linguistic and cultural identity.

For too long, our language has been silenced—once by force, and now by neglect. The very school boards of Louisiana that once punished our grandparents for speaking French have an obligation to help restore what was taken. The revival of French Immersion Pre-K is not just a choice; it is a responsibility.

We ask you, Superintendent Touchet, to honor this duty and confirm the return of French Immersion Pre-K without delay. The future of our language and culture depends on it.

We have a choice, and so do you.

Sincerely,

Parents & Community Members

CC: Assistant to the Superintendent, ccguidry@lpssonline.com

CC: School Board members: blatiolais@lpssonline.com, dlejeune@lpssonline.com, jedmond@lpssonline.com, rbergeron@lpssonline.com, jhidalgo@lpssonline.com, cdesormeaux@lpssonline.com, atrahan@lpssonline.com, kblabue@lpssonline.com, hsmason@lpssonline.com