Regrouping after the loss of his business, John Lee] went to work in New Orleans as a consulting engineer and met John Alvendia, an electrical engineer with Chevron who would become JRL's executive vice president. The study of the I CAN Learn pilot program in Jefferson Parish Public Schools led to JRL's distinction from the WWC in its 30- month review of more than 800 studies of math programs. Only 11 studies met WWC standards and four were of the I CAN Learn program. The Orleans Parish School Board voted in December to place I CAN Learn labs in 38 schools. The $2.2 million contract was endorsed after the Louisiana Board of Ethics determined it was not a violation for NOPS teachers to work with JRL as consultants.