Expanding Education Options for All Students

LOUISIANA SCHOOL CHOICE

School Choice Options for Louisiana Students

Expanding educational choice for student and families is one of Louisiana's Education Priorities. Parents are their child’s first and foremost teachers, and are in control of their child’s education. Families should have the freedom to choose the educational setting that best meets their needs. That’s why we are committed to school choice options, from high-quality traditional public schools to public charters, non-public schools, and home-study programs. No child should be limited by their zip code.

School Choice

LA GATOR Scholarship Program Charter Schools BESE-Approved Nonpublic Schools Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval BESE-Approved Home Study Program Louisiana Scholarship Program School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities Tuition Donation Credit Program

School Choice in Louisiana

These are some of the options families in Louisiana have when choosing the best education environment for their child. Click on the links at the top of this page to learn more and access resources for families, educators, and system leaders.

Traditional Public Schools

Public schools serve local communities and are open to all students. They follow state-approved curriculum standards and are funded by taxpayer dollars to ensure a well-rounded, accessible education.

Charter Schools

Charter schools offer innovative approaches to education and greater flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods. They’re publicly funded and open to all students, with accountability to state standards and school performance.

Nonpublic Schools

Approved nonpublic schools offer families a private school option that meets specific state requirements. They may provide unique curricula, faith-based programs, or specialized instruction to fit family preferences.

Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval

These private schools operate independently without state oversight. They offer more freedom in curriculum design, though they aren’t required to meet state standards or performance reporting.

Home Study

The home study option allows families to develop a personalized education experience at home. It’s a flexible, parent-led program with state registration available to meet certain criteria and access select state resources.

Comprehensive new guide outlines safe, ethical, and effective use of AI

(BATON ROUGE, LA) - The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is equipping educators with resources to harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom. The LDOE has developed a comprehensive new guide on the safe, ethical, and effective use of AI. Based on recommendations from the LDOE’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force, the guidance can be used by school systems to create their own AI policies.

“As the impact of artificial intelligence grows, it’s important we provide information on effective and safe utilization,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “I’m excited to share the first edition of a living document we will update as this transformative technology evolves.”

Artificial Intelligence in Louisiana Schools benefits teachers, school leaders, and system leaders. It includes an overview of AI and the challenges it can present in education, steps for integration, safeguards, technical considerations, relevant laws and policies, and training and support. The LDOE established guiding principles to ensure responsible and effective integration of AI technologies in Louisiana's K-12 classrooms.

Data Privacy and Security: Robust data privacy and security measures must be in place to protect student information and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Ethical Considerations: AI should be used according to ethical principles, including fairness and avoiding potential biases in algorithms and data.
Student-Centered Learning: AI should personalize learning experiences, address individual student needs, and promote agency and ownership over learning.
Transparency and Explainability: AI systems should be transparent and explainable, enabling educators and students to understand how decisions are made and ensuring accountability.
Professional Development: Ongoing professional development ensures educators possess the knowledge and skills to integrate AI effectively into their teaching practices.

“AI is already creating fundamental shifts in the classroom and in the way students learn,” said BESE President Ronnie Morris, who serves on Louisiana’s AI task force as well as the Southern Regional Education Board Commission on Artificial Intelligence in Education. “Through the work of the AI Task Force and the development of guidance for school systems, we’re taking a proactive approach to establishing best practices regarding the effective and ethical use of this technology. The publishing of these guidelines sets a basic framework to better leverage AI to the benefit of students and educators – establishing parameters while identifying and avoiding unintended consequences.”

Louisiana is one of nearly two dozen states to release AI guidance and has been an early adopter of responsible use of this technology in schools. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) convened members of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Task Force to discuss the safe, ethical, and effective use of AI in K-12 classrooms. The taskforce created recommendations from which the LDOE developed guidance regarding AI usage that includes safeguards for AI in education, technical considerations, relevant laws and policies, and training and support.