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.
Summer learning program guidance helps school systems develop enriching opportunities for all students in academics, arts, P.E. and well-being supports
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Louisiana Department of Education is encouraging school systems to approach summer learning in a new way. The Department’s new summer learning program guidance helps systems develop offerings that mirror summer camp. Along with core content tutoring in small groups, the sample structure provided by the LDOE includes field trips, the arts, library visits, recess and well-being supports.
“Despite the heroic efforts of our educators, students lost out on more than academics during the pandemic. They also missed music, art, P.E. and the social connection with classmates and educators,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “We’re pleased systems are considering our guidance utilizing their pandemic funding to rethink summer school. Families deserve the choice of full-day, enriching activities with high-quality educators.”
Summer learning programs are designed to provide students with additional opportunities for learning and growing during the summer months. The Department is encouraging school systems to create opportunities for all students to access a summer learning program. The new guidance includes sample structures, schedules, staffing, academic offerings and enrichment activities school systems can use as they fund summer opportunities for incoming K-8 students. The guidance also recognizes the long-term benefits of systems connecting with community partners to support their work.
School systems can utilize multiple funding sources to support implementation. These include funds from their general fund, Title I, CARES, CAA and Direct Student Services allocations.
There are various short- and long-term benefits of summer learning programs, including:
- Student well-being
- Acceleration, maintenance or extension of academic skills
- Allows students to explore activities and interests that develop the whole child
- Helps prevent summer learning loss
- Provides a safe, positive environment
- Builds student-teacher relationships
- Decreases discipline referrals
- Decreases likelihood of students repeating a grade
- Increases attendance
- Stronger academic performance
The summer learning program guidance was first released to school systems in February. School systems can utilize the Department’s Accelerate tutoring initiative along with their summer learning program. Launched this year on February 1, Accelerate is designed to provide systems with the structures and teachers with resources that will accelerate students’ learning in connection with what’s taught during the normal school day. In education terms, an acceleration approach means connecting unfinished learning in the context of new learning, integrating new information and the needed prior knowledge.
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