Charter School Authorization
Charter School Application Process Quick Links
Charter Applicant Rules and Regulations
Charter Applicant Tools
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.
2024-2025 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 9, 2024: Deadline by which local school boards must post application materials to their websites. Use of the template is optional.
- October 25, 2024: Charter applications are due to districts.
- January 17, 2025: 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 31, 2025: 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 charters@la.gov.
2024-2025 TYPE 5 (RSD) New Charter School Request for Applications (Schools Slated to Open August 2026)
- December 9, 2024: RSD application opens for Type 5 applicants.
- December 13, 2024 by 5pm (emailed to RSDschools@la.gov): Letters of Intent due to department
- December 16, 2024 by 5pm (emailed to RSDschools@la.gov): Eligibility Determination Forms Due
- December 20, 2024: RSD submission deadline for the full application for Type 5 applicants
- January 9, 2025: BESE School Innovation and Turnaround Committee Meeting: Charter Proposal Presentations (Applicants have 5 minutes to present to the board.) R.S. 17:6(A)(10), R.S. 17:3981, and R.S. 17:3983
- March 11, 2025: Type 5 Applicants: BESE considers applications for Type 5 charter schools.
Key Dates for BESE-Approved Charter Applications (Types 2, 4, and 5 Charters)
2024-2025 ANNUAL NEW CHARTER SCHOOL REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (SCHOOLS SLATED TO OPEN AUGUST 2026)
- February 3, 2025: LDOE application opens for Type 2, 4, and 5 applicants
- February 10, 2025 by 5 p.m. (emailed to charters@la.gov): Letters of Intent due to the LDOE
- March 10, 2025 by 5 p.m. (emailed to charters@la.gov): Eligibility determination forms due
- March 31, 2025: LDOE submission deadline for the full application for Types 2, 4, and 5 applicants
- August 19, 2025: Type 2, 4, and 5 applicants - BESE considers applications for new charter schools
Mid-year 2025-2026 New Charter School Request for Applications
- June 11, 2025 by 5 p.m. (emailed to charters@la.gov): LDOE application window opens for Types 2, 4, and 5 applicants
- June 30, 2025 by 5 p.m. (emailed to charters@la.gov): Letter of intent due to the LDOE
- July 7, 2025 by 5 p.m. (emailed to charters@la.gov): Eligibility Determination Forms Due
- July 18, 2025 by 5 p.m. (emailed to charters@la.gov): LDOE submission deadline for the full application for Types 2, 4, and 5 applicants.
- December 9, 2025: Types 2, 4, and 5 Applicants: BESE considers applications for new charter schools