Charter School Authorization

The charter school application process provides Louisiana non-profit organizations with the opportunity to create schools that parents and guardians desire for their students. The students of Louisiana are diverse and thus, shall be provided with school choice options that best fit their individual needs.

There are six types of charter schools in Louisiana, outlined below. The oversight for Type 1, 3, and 3B charter schools lies with the local district by which the schools are authorized, while the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is directly responsible for the oversight of Type 2, 4, and 5 charter schools.

Louisiana Charter School Types

Type 1

A Type 1 charter school is a new school operated as a result of and pursuant to a charter between the nonprofit corporation created to operate the school and a local school board.

Type 2

A Type 2 charter school is a new school or a preexisting public school converted and operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between the nonprofit corporation created to operate and BESE.

Type 3

A Type 3 charter school is a preexisting public school converted and operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a nonprofit corporation and the local school board.

Type 3B

A Type 3B charter school is a former Type 5 charter school transferred from the Recovery School District to the administration and management of the transferring local school system.

Type 4

A Type 4 charter school is a preexisting public school converted and operated or a new school operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a local school board and BESE.

Type 5

A Type 5 charter school is a preexisting public school transferred to the Recovery School District (RSD) as a school determined to be failing pursuant to state statute and operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a nonprofit corporation and BESE.

2025-2026 New Charter School Request For Applications

Local district authorizers must use the BESE approved Common Charter Application and may add additional questions. Each local school system must have the Charter RFA application materials and point of contact on their websites. Please see the website for the school system in which you wish to apply for a Type 1 or 3 charter school. To view the BESE approved Common Charter Applications for New Operators, Experienced Operators, and Virtual Operators, see the applications below.

New Operator Common Charter Application

Nonprofit organization whose primary members (founder and/or proposed school leader) do not have prior experience in leading or managing a public school; and
Who do not intend to employ an educational service provider (ESP) with prior experience in leading or managing public schools.
See the addendum for virtual operators

Experienced Operator Common Charter Application

Nonprofit organizations whose primary members (founder and/or proposed school leader) have prior experience in leading or managing a single public school; and/or
Nonprofit organizations which have operated more than one charter school; and/or
Nonprofit organizations which intend to employ an education service provider (ESP) which has operated more than one charter school.
See the addendum for virtual operators

Additional Resources

Key Dates For Local Authorizing

September 8, 2025: Deadline by which local school boards must post application materials to their websites. Use of the District Website template is optional.
October 20, 2025: Charter applications are due to districts.
January 29, 2026: Deadline for districts to consider charter applications. If a district has not made a decision about a charter application by this point, that applicant group is eligible to appeal to BESE.
January 30, 2026: Report any charter entered into; the number of schools chartered; the status of those schools, and any recommendations relating to the charter RFA process to [email protected].

*Note:This list includes a limited selection of key dates and deadlines. Please see the local authorizer's websites for a full description of timelines.

Key Dates for BESE-Approved Charter Applications (Types 2 and 4)

2025-2026 ANNUAL NEW CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (SCHOOLS SLATED TO OPEN AUGUST 2027)

February 2, 2026: LDOE application opens for Types 2 and 4 applicants
February 9, 2026 by 5 p.m. (emailed to [email protected]): Letters of Intent due to the LDOE
March 9, 2026 by 5 p.m. (emailed to [email protected]): Eligibility determination forms due
March 30, 2026 by 5 p.m. (emailed to [email protected]): LDOE submission deadline for the full application for Types 2 and 4 applicants
August 18, 2026: BESE considers applications for new Type 2 and 4 applicants

2026 MID-YEAR NEW CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (SCHOOLS SLATED TO OPEN AUGUST 2027)

June 1, 2026 by 5 p.m.: LDOE application window opens for Types 2 and 4 applicants
June 8, 2026 by 5 p.m. (emailed to [email protected]): Letter of intent due to the LDOE
July 6, 2026 by 5 p.m. (emailed to [email protected]): Eligibility Determination Forms Due
July 20, 2026 by 5 p.m. (emailed to [email protected]): LDOE submission deadline for the full application for Types 2 and 4 applicants.
December 8, 2026: Types 2 and 4 applicants: BESE considers applications for new charter schools

Charter School Authorization