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.
(BATON ROUGE, LA) - Today’s all-school assembly at Central Intermediate School turned into the celebration of a Milken Milestone nearly 40 years in the making! Milken Educator Awards Founder Lowell Milken surprised fourth grade math teacher Ashley Davis with the 3,000th Award and an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize that she can use as she wishes. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley joined in celebrating Davis, along with cheering students, proud colleagues, local dignitaries, and a large cohort of Milken Educator Award recipients representing every corner of the Pelican State. Davis is the first Award recipient in the Central Community School System and the 51st recipient in Louisiana.
“It gives me great pleasure to honor Ashley Davis as the 3,000th recipient of the Milken Educator Award. Ashley’s many contributions to Central Intermediate School have not only raised academic achievement, but have also instilled in students a passion for learning and the confidence to move on successfully to the next stage of learning and life,” said Lowell Milken. “Today Ashley joins the national Milken Educator Network, which represents the tenets of educational excellence and leadership. With this historic milestone, we recognize the extraordinary work of all 3,000 Milken Educators across America who shape the future for their students, inspire colleagues, and uphold the nobility and vitality of the profession for generations to come.”
The Milken Educator Awards is hailed as the “Oscars of Teaching.” This school year, up to 45 recipients will be honored, reaching more than $75 million in individual financial prizes and more than $145 million invested in the Milken Educator Award national network overall.
“Achieving excellence in education begins with exceptional teachers. Ashley Davis exemplifies the dedication and skill that make Louisiana’s classrooms places of opportunity and growth,” said State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley. “She ensures every child is valued and benefits from high-quality instruction.”
The Milken Educator Awards inspire educators, students and entire communities to “Celebrate, Elevate and Activate” the K-12 teaching profession and encourage young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career. Outstanding educators like Davis are not aware of their candidacy for the Award. Recipients are sought out while early- to mid-career for what they have achieved — and for the promise of what they will accomplish given the resources and opportunities afforded by the Award.
The Milken Educator Award Reaps Lifelong Benefits
- The $25,000 cash Award is unrestricted. Recipients have used the money in diverse ways. Some recipients have spent the funds on their children’s or their own continuing education, financing dream field trips, establishing scholarships, and even adopting children.
- Honorees receive powerful mentorship opportunities for expanded leadership roles that strengthen education practice and policy. Milken Friends Forever (MFF) pairs a new recipient with a veteran Milken Educator mentor; the Expanding MFF Resource and Explorer Program fosters individual veteran Milken Educator partnerships around specific topic areas; and Activating Milken Educators promotes group collaboration in and across states to bring solutions to pressing educational needs.
- The honorees attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles in April 2025, where they will network with their new colleagues as well as veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education.
- Veteran Milken Educators demonstrate a wide range of leadership roles at state, national and international levels.
Visit MilkenEducatorAwards.org or call the Milken Family Foundation at (310) 570-4772 for more information.
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