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 Councils
The LDOE facilitates over a dozen councils, committees, task forces, and other groups.
Application for standards review committees open now through January 27
(BATON ROUGE, LA) - The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) will review the state’s student standards for math and English language arts (ELA). The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved the review process during their meeting today and the standards review committees application is now open. Louisiana teachers, administrators, school system staff, higher education faculty, parents, and community members are encouraged to apply.
“This is a profound opportunity to pursue academic excellence in Louisiana classrooms,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Professionally, I’m excited about an increased focus on phonics, grammar, and foundational math skills.”
“Louisiana has renewed its focus on the fundamentals of learning, and English and math skills are part of the core foundation for student success,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris. “We look forward to engaging with parents, educators and all stakeholders to evaluate and strengthen our state’s standards for these essential subjects and their practical application. Robust academic standards lay the groundwork for a meaningful and relevant educational experience and help ensure that Louisiana’s students will be well-prepared for career and post-secondary opportunities.”
Standards Review Committees and Application
The online application will be open until January 27 at 8 a.m. Selected participants will be notified in late February and submitted to BESE for approval in March.
The standards committees will consist of a steering committee and content expert workgroups for ELA and math. The committees will be composed of Louisiana stakeholders. Meetings will begin in April, continue through July, and be open to the public.
Standards Review Process Goals
Louisiana’s current math and ELA standards were last revised about a decade ago.
The goals of the standards review process in ELA include:
- Strengthening the progression of foundational skills standards in elementary, aligning with the Science of Reading.
- Reinforcing specific language standards, including grammar, usage, and mechanics.
- Providing world, American, and Louisiana reading text exemplars for each grade band.
The goals of the standards review process in math include:
- Strengthening the foundational skills progression ensuring the development of advanced skills, including logic and reasoning.
- Identifying relevant mathematics pathways for students, aiming for success in college, career, or service.
Standards vs. Curriculum
Student standards are different from curriculum in that standards define what students are expected to learn in a particular subject and grade, and a curriculum defines how teachers will teach to ensure students learn the standards.
In Louisiana, the LDOE works with stakeholders to set and review high-quality student standards. School systems make their own decisions to choose a curriculum. To support local school systems in selecting and implementing high-quality instructional materials, the LDOE provides reviews of instructional materials per statute, the Instructional Materials Professional Learning Partner Guide, and the tools and resources found in the Teacher Support Toolbox.
Please email classroomsupporttoolbox@la.gov with any questions.
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