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) - Louisiana is working to make good on its commitment to responsibly reduce the time students spend taking state tests. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced changes to grade 3-8 social studies testing that will cut assessment time in half, while more closely aligning with the state’s more rigorous Freedom Framework standards.
“Count me in the number that believe Louisiana students spend too much time testing,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Assessments are vital to measure academic progress and guide instruction and policy decisions. We will continue to take a strategic approach to reduce testing time while maintaining high-quality assessments.”
Changes to Social Studies Testing in Grades 3-8
Currently, Louisiana is one of only 13 states that require social studies assessments and the only state that mandates annual social studies testing for grades 3-8. Federal regulations do not require states to administer social studies assessments at any grade level.
Beginning with the 2027-28 school year, Louisiana will align social studies testing with the state’s new Freedom Framework standards. Instead of testing every year in grades 3-8, students will take social studies assessments in grades 3, 5, and 8. This change will cut total testing time in half—from 1,100 minutes to 550 minutes.
The Freedom Framework divides social studies instruction into three learning modules across grades K-8. Students in K-3 learn about the American story, grades 4-5 learn world history, and grades 6-8 learn Louisiana and American history. Under the revised testing schedule, assessments will align with the conclusion of each module. High school students will continue to take a civics assessment.
A Long-Term Commitment to Testing Reduction
In October 2024, Dr. Brumley announced a significant reduction in student testing time and committed to further reductions. That action resulted in a 20% reduction in testing time made to the grade 3-8 ELA and math LEAP assessments. This latest round of reductions continues the department’s commitment to responsible testing adjustments.
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