Partnering with Families for Success
At the Louisiana Department of Education, we believe that parents are the primary influence in shaping a child’s future. Early childhood providers and educators play a valuable role in supporting families by fostering development and learning in the crucial early years. We are here to equip you with the tools and resources to enhance that support, helping to ensure that every child receives the strong start they need. Explore our resources to strengthen your work in partnership with families and create positive outcomes for Louisiana’s youngest learners.
Contact Us
- General Early Childhood Support at earlychildhood@la.gov
- Child Care Assistance Program Support at ldeccap@la.gov
- Child Care Center Licensing Support at ldelicensing@la.gov
- Early Childhood Child Care Provider Certification at providercertification@la.gov
Early Childhood Educators
2025 Early Learning Development Standards (ELDS)2025 Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS) (Standards Only)Continuing Professional DevelopmentEarly Childhood ConferenceEarly Childhood Educators and ClassroomsEdLink TrainingLELA InitiativePerformance ProfilesPreparing and Certifying TeachersYoung Children with Disabilities
The LDOE Empowers Early Childhood Educators
Quality Providers: Act 3 (2012) called for the establishment of the Louisiana Early Childhood Care and Education Network to unify the state’s early childhood education programs. This statewide network is comprised of 65 local early childhood community networks that include every publicly-funded Pre-K, child care, and Head Start program within the state.
Classroom Supports: Early Childhood Community Networks improve family access to high-quality early learning experiences for children and increase support for programs.
Lead Agencies: Every Early Childhood Community Network has a lead agency that facilitates the coordinated leadership functions for the community. Lead Agencies coordinate local CLASS™ observations for publicly-funded sites, facilitate the coordinated enrollment process, conduct community meetings, and distribute communication from the Department.
Jefferson Parish and Winn Parish students headed to Washington, D. C. and to receive $10,000 scholarship, Lafayette Parish students chosen as alternates
(BATON ROUGE, LA) - Two Louisiana high school students will join Senator Bill Cassidy and Senator John N. Kennedy in representing their state during the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) Washington Week March 1-8. Emily Nevils of Winnfield and Neal Tandon of Kenner were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation that will attend meetings and briefings with senators, the president, a justice of the Supreme Court, leaders of cabinet agencies, and other officials throughout the week. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.
Alternates for the 2025 program are Siyeon Joo, a resident of Lafayette, who attends Episcopal School of Acadiana and Walker John Prejean, also a resident of Lafayette, who attends Lafayette High.
"The republic endures when our citizens are knowledgeable and engaged,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley, “This is a tremendous honor for these students and exemplifies how civics education prepares the next generation to uphold and protect the ideals of our Founding Fathers."
Emily Nevils, a senior at Winnfield High, serves as the Louisiana FFA state vice president. As a Louisiana FFA state officer, she has traveled the state advocating for agricultural education, met with legislators to advocate for the Farm Bill, and led educational camps for FFA members to enhance their leadership. Emily is also the parliamentarian on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council and has helped to create and present bills to the Louisiana legislature on behalf of this organization. Emily hopes to attend Vanderbilt University and major in public policy with a minor in history. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she plans to attend Georgetown University’s law school to become an attorney in Washington, D.C. She would like to be appointed to the U.S. Circuit of Appeals and possibly the U.S. Supreme Court.
Neal Tandon, a senior at Haynes Academy, serves as chair of the Criminal Justice Committee on the Louisiana Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC). With LYAC, he helped develop and testified for HB 577, a bill unanimously passed in both Louisiana chambers, addressing the teen mental health crisis by prohibiting social media companies from targeting advertising to minors. He is a co-president of the Haynes Academy Youth and Government program and on the Jefferson Parish Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council. In 2023, Neal was selected as Louisiana’s YMCA-USA national youth advocate, where he was able to lobby for multiple pieces of legislation regarding healthcare, civic engagement, and housing infrastructure. He hopes to major in political science and attend law school.
Each year this extremely competitive merit-based program provides two outstanding high school students from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs.
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