National education policy playbook highlights Louisiana as a state exemplar for its “simple, transparent, and rigorous” formula that prepares students for career, college, or military service
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana has been named a national standard for how schools and school systems are graded. ExcelinEd recognized Louisiana as the state exemplar for school and system accountability in its 2026 Education Policy Playbook. The playbook praises Louisiana for its transparent and rigorous approach that drives student outcomes and helps schools continuously improve.
“Louisiana is a national leader in education reform and those efforts are reflected in our academic progress,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “These shifts will push Louisiana students to greater heights, while the public receives a transparent look at school quality.”
Setting a National Standard
Created by the national education nonprofit ExcelinEd, the 2026 Education Policy Playbook is an annual report designed to help state leaders implement policies that improve student achievement. The guide names Louisiana as the model for school accountability, which is how states measure and share school performance.
“Louisiana has set a national standard with its Grow. Achieve. Thrive. accountability framework,” the playbook states. “The state now uses a simple, transparent, and rigorous formula that holds schools accountable for three clear goals: helping all students reach grade-level proficiency or higher, ensuring individual growth for every student toward proficient or advanced achievement, and prioritizing growth for the most struggling learners.”
Grow.Achieve.Thrive.
Grow. Achieve. Thrive. is Louisiana’s newly revised accountability system. It raises expectations for student performance, emphasizes transparency, and places greater focus on whether students are graduating ready for a career, college, or military service.
Schools and systems will be measured using a clear, balanced scorecard built around three core expectations for every student:
- Grow: Students should make meaningful academic progress every year.
- Achieve: Students should reach proficiency in key subjects.
- Thrive: Students should graduate on time and be prepared for a college, career, or service.
The first official performance scores using Grow. Achieve. Thrive. will be released in late 2026, reflecting results from the 2025–2026 school year.
About ExcelinEd
ExcelinEd is a nonprofit organization that supports state leaders in transforming education to unlock opportunity and lifelong success for every child. The organization provides policy expertise, implementation support, and research to help states increase learning, eliminate inequities, and ensure graduates are prepared for college and career.
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