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.
Child Care Providers to Receive Subsidies Based on Enrollment for Another 30 Days
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Amid the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the Louisiana Department of Education today announced it would provide subsidized child care to essential critical infrastructure personnel for an additional 30 days. The extension, which comes a month after the Department opened the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) to these workers regardless of income, applies to families already receiving services, as well as to families who continue to seek services.
The Department also today announced it would continue to pay child care providers who participate in the CCAP based on the number of children enrolled, not the number of children attending each day, through the month of May to help offset the financial impacts of the public health crisis. According to a recent report from the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children, 78 percent of child care providers have lost revenue, totaling at least $1.7 million so far.
"If families can keep children at home, they are urged to do so. But for those who are on the frontlines and who do not have this option, we must continue to ensure affordable access to child care," said Assistant Superintendent Jessica Baghian, who oversees early childhood education. "We must also support child care providers who, already operating on razor-thin financial margins, are experiencing serious, negative impacts as a result of COVID-19."
The Governor's emergency proclamations to close school facilities to students have not included child care and early learning centers. Early learning centers continue to make individual decisions about whether to close their businesses. To date, 69 percent have closed. Those that have chosen to remain open have been advised to follow health and safety guidance from the Governor's Office and public health officials, including limiting group sizes to 10 or fewer children and adults.
The licensed child care centers and the registered and certified family child care and in-home providers that remain open are primarily serving children of critical personnel.
To date, more than 3,700 critical personnel have applied for the CCAP for their children. Of those applications, over 3,800 children have been approved for service.
As of now, applications will continue to be accepted through the month of May. In addition to childcare providers and staff, essential critical infrastructure workers in the following industries are eligible:
Chemical
Communication and Information Technology
Critical Manufacturing
Defense Industrial Base
Energy (electrical industry, petroleum, natural and propane gas worker)
Financial Services
Food and Agriculture
Hazardous Material
Health Care/Public Health
Law Enforcement, Public Safety, First Responders
Other Community Based Government
Public Works
Transportation and Logistics
Waste and Wastewater
Upon approval, initial certification will be valid for 30 days. The Department will reassess applications as it continues to monitor the public health crisis.
Learn more about eligible workers.
Access the CCAP Pandemic Protective Services Crisis Application.
View a map of child care providers.
Access additional COVID-19 information and resources.
# # # # # #