The Louisiana Department of Education is, of course, concerned with the well being of all students and recognizes our responsibility to ensure every child receives a free and appropriate education. While we have no way of verifying these specific incidents as of yet, it’s unacceptable that any child or family would have to endure the kind of hardships that were described by the Southern Poverty Law Center in this complaint. At the same time, we are disappointed that this organization did not make us aware of these reports and concerns until today, several hours after a press conference was held outlining this complaint. If we had been notified, we would have worked with this organization, these students and their families to resolve any deficiencies so that their physical, emotional and educational needs are met by their local districts and schools. Read More ...

Today the U. S. Department of Education (USDOE) announced finalists for the second round of the federal Race to the Top (R2T) program, and Louisiana is on the list of 18 states and the District of Columbia advancing to the next phase of the competition. The next step in the application process is an interview that will take place in Washington, D.C. during the week of August 9. If selected as a Round Two winner, Louisiana could receive up to $175 million to implement the reform plan outlined in the state’s application.  Read More ...

Student achievement is improving in public schools across Louisiana. In fact, over the last two years alone, the percent of students performing at grade level on statewide assessments has increased by five percentage points – from 60 percent in 2008 to 65 percent in 2010. And according to a list published by the Louisiana Department of Education today, the gains in student achievement have resulted in fewer schools receiving the Academically Unacceptable School (AUS) label. While the most recent list includes eight schools that were not on the 2009 list, twelve schools that were previously labeled AUS boosted their School Performance Score (SPS) above the minimum standard to shed the AUS label.  Read More ...

When classes resume at Lafayette High School on August 12, math teacher Julia Williams will arrive in a bright new car. The eight-year veteran was named Louisiana’s 2011 Teacher of the Year tonight during the Fourth Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration. The title not only comes with the use of a Mercedes Benz for one year, but it is a distinction of the highest honor.  Read More ...

Although most of the attention around Race to the Top (R2T) has centered on the $4.35 billion competitive grant program that required states to individually compete based on their commitment to identified education reform strategies, the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) set aside R2T dollars to finance other education initiatives, and states are vying to earn a share of the funding. Read More ...

In response to prior and projected budget reductions, today the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced the additional layoff of 31 staff members. Through voluntary retirement and the elimination of vacant positions, the agency had previously trimmed its workforce by 34, thus resulting in an overall reduction of 65 employees.  Read More ...

Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has been on the rise over the last ten years, as evidenced by a new national report.  Read More ...

Today, a representative of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) delivered the state’s application for Round Two of the federal Race to the Top (R2T) grant to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE). Read More ...

This week House Bill 1033 was approved by the Louisiana Legislature and signed into law by Governor Bobby Jindal. The legislation, which was part of Governor Jindal’s legislative package, links the evaluations of teachers and school administrators to student growth, and specifically calls for the annual evaluation of teachers and the statewide implementation of Louisiana’s value-added assessment model by the 2012-2013 school year. Read More ...

For the third consecutive year, Recovery School District students showed significant improvement in state standardized test scores, according to preliminary data released today.  Read More ...

Following historic gains in 2009, today Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) officials announced a second straight year of growth in the percentage of students scoring Basic and above for all grades and subjects tested on the state’s LEAP, GEE and iLEAP assessments. Read More ...

Today, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) issued an official statement in support of Louisiana’s Round Two Race to the Top (R2T) application. Read More ...

Today, the Louisiana Department of Education announced the 2010 Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship recipients. One hundred and thirty-seven Louisiana graduates will benefit from the national scholarship program. Read More ...

Louisiana and other Gulf South states are fighting hard to protect cherished coastlines from the massive oil spill that has been building in the Gulf of Mexico for more than three weeks now. In an effort to ensure teachers, families and students have access to instructional tools and up-to-date information, the Louisiana Department of Education has posted an Oil Spill Educational Resource Guide on its website.  Read More ...

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), through the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), is now accepting applications from organizations interested in operating new Type 2, 4, or 5 charters. Read More ...

We want to congratulate Delaware and Tennessee on their selection. Both of those states put forth strong applications, and we wish them the very best as they begin this very important work. Read More ...

Louisiana’s 2010 Students of the Year have been named. The winners, one student each from the elementary, middle and high school levels, were announced during the annual Student of the Year awards ceremony at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge Wednesday night.  Read More ...

As students across the state gear up to take standardized assessments, with the first testing date set for March 23, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is once again offering assistance to parents and students through its Tutoring Hotline. Additionally, LDOE is reminding families, students and teachers of all the resources available to them as they prepare for the state exams. Read More ...

Louisiana and 15 other finalists are vying for a share of the $4.35 billion federal Race to the Top (R2T) grant. Today a team of five education and policy leaders made the case for Louisiana’s application in Washington. The R2T grant, which was authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), is designed to encourage states to implement dramatic reform initiatives. Only a handful of states are expected to receive grants when the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) announces state recipients for the first phase of the awards cycle. Louisiana is asking for $314 million to boost and enrich reform strategies. Read More ...

Louisiana is among the finalists for the first round of the federal $4.35 billion Race to the Top (R2T) grant program. The list of states, released by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) today, identifies 16 finalists from the initial pool of 41 applicants. Read More ...

Louisiana’s progress in linking high school standards, resources and practices to the expectations of colleges and employers is recognized in a national report released today. Read More ...

Today the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released the names of 18 students selected as regional finalists in the state’s annual Student of the Year competition. The 18 students selected include one 5th, 8th and 12th grader from each of the state’s six regions – and represent public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools across Louisiana. The finalists will convene at the Louisiana State Museum in Baton Rouge on March 17 for an awards ceremony and the announcement of the three state Student of the Year winners. Read More ...

No description is available. Read More ...

Today in a House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education questions were raised and comparisons were made regarding the number and value of contracts the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has entered into each year over the last six years. Read More ...

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) announced that the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program applications are available to eligible 2009-2010 Louisiana high school seniors. Read More ...