Welcome to the Louisiana Department of Education
About the Louisiana Department of Education
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) provides guidance and support to all publicly funded early childhood centers and elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana. Specifically, the department provides tools and resources to schools and school systems to support classroom instruction, assessments, workforce development and college and career preparation. Additionally, the department provides families and the public with transparent reporting of center, school, and school system performance and quality through the Louisiana School Finder.
To stay connected with the LDOE and receive updates on our work and our resources, visit our newsroom and our newsletter subscriptions page.
Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)
The LDOE is the administrative arm of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). BESE was established by the 1974 Louisiana Constitution. The Board is composed of 11 members: eight elected by the citizens of Louisiana’s eight BESE districts, and three appointed by the governor of Louisiana to represent the state at-large. Together, these members adopt and enact policies governing the elementary and secondary schools of Louisiana.
Louisiana's Education Priorities
Louisiana's education priorities maintain a clear focus on what matters most for academic achievement.
- Early childhood leading to kindergarten readiness
- Literacy instruction aligned to the Science of Reading
- Math instruction from foundational to advanced skills
- Opportunities ensuring a meaningful high school experience
- An effective teacher for every student
- Expand educational choice for students and families
Request Information
If you have questions, including public records requests, questions about licensure, or other types of inquiries, please see our contact us page.
Louisiana State Superintendent
Dr. Cade Brumley
Dr. Brumley is a Louisiana native who has dedicated his career to serving children, parents, and educators.
Back to the Basics
Louisiana's Education Priorities
From being ready to learn on the first day of kindergarten to thriving in a career, college
Employment Opportunities
Careers at LDOE
Join the Louisiana Department of Education as we strive for excellence.
Policy Guidance
State Advisory Groups
The LDOE facilitates over a dozen councils, committees, task forces, and other groups.
In partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education, LOSFA launches its 'FAFSA Now' Pilot initiative
BATON ROUGE, La. -- This month, high school seniors will begin checking off one of the to-do's on their senior checklist - completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the application for federal, state and institutional aid and is available on October 1 each year. Today, the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) is launching its FAFSA Now Pilot initiative, in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education, and urging the Class of 2021 to complete their FAFSA early, by February 1, 2021.
To date, 40 Louisiana schools have registered to participate in LOSFA's FAFSA Now Pilot campaign to encourage their seniors to complete the FAFSA by February 1.
"Completing the FAFSA early means students could potentially receive their college award letters sooner so they can know how much aid they will qualify for," said Dr. Sujuan Boutte, executive director of LOSFA. "Once the application is complete, seniors can begin searching for scholarships and planning out how they will pay for the rest of their college education."
When families consider the rising cost of college, not completing the FAFSA could mean students miss out on free money. Free money is another name for gift aid or financial aid that does not have to be paid back. Filling out the FAFSA can reduce a student's out-of-pocket expenses for post-secondary studies.
Along with federal aid such as the Pell Grant, Work-Study and Federal Student Loans, the FAFSA is the application for state aid programs like the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), TOPS Tech and the Louisiana GO Grant. Colleges and universities also receive money to award students. Federal aid like Work-Study and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and some institutional aid are first-come, first-serve. If a student waits too long to complete their FAFSA, with only so many funds available, they could possibly miss out on potential financial aid dollars.
"Every child deserves the opportunity to continue their education after high school, and financial burdens should not be a barrier," said State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley. "This initiative will help open doors for our families that would have otherwise remained closed."
The FAFSA Now Pilot will use text messaging and social media (@LOSFA: Twitter and Facebook; @LOSFA001: Instagram) to spread the word on the importance of completing the FAFSA. Students and parents can text the word 'LOSFA' to 50065 for help, use #GeauxFAFSA on social media and/or email GeauxFAFSA@la.gov.
LOSFA will continue to assist schools with FAFSA completion events and offer virtual FAFSA assistance by registering here.
# # # # # #