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.
Informational Resources, Grade-By-Grade Learning Activities Now Available Online
BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, today released an online toolkit of resources designed to help teachers and families communicate the importance of the 2020 Census to their students and children. The toolkit, now available at louisianabelieves.com, includes general informational resources, such as flyers, statistics, and videos, as well as a suite of learning activities by grade level, from counting for pre-kindergartners to examining career statistics for high schoolers.
"We are proud to partner with the U.S. Census Bureau to ensure every child counts in Louisiana," said State Superintendent John White. "A complete and accurate census is critical for all communities, as the results affect various aspects of education, from offering affordable, healthy school lunch options to providing high-quality early care and education to supporting historically disadvantaged students and their families."
The Constitution mandates a count--or a census--of the population every 10 years. The census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories. In March, homes across the country will begin receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, respondents can complete the survey by phone, by mail, or for the first time, online. Census responses are confidential.
The census provides vital information for you and your community.
- It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries.
- Communities rely on census statistics to plan for a variety of resident needs, including new roads, schools, and emergency services.
- Businesses use census data to determine where to open places to shop.
Each year, the federal government distributes more than $675 billion to states and communities based on Census Bureau data. However, participation in Louisiana has decreased over time.
In 2000, for example, 68 percent of questionnaires were mailed back by Louisiana households that received them. In 2010, the rate decreased to 65 percent. That same year, no Louisiana parish had a participation rate exceeding 75 percent. Ouachita Parish had the highest rate of participation, at 74 percent, and Tensas Parish had the lowest rate of participation, at 44 percent.
Visit the 2020 Census Toolkit to learn more about how to ensure every child counts in Louisiana.