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Curriculum Standards
Nonpublic Schools
General Guidelines for State-Approved Nonpublic Schools
The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) is authorized through R.S. 17:11 to adopt standards and guidelines used to determine the academic classification of all nonpublic schools applying for annual state approval.
The Louisiana Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators outlines the requirements, recommendations, goals, and objectives for nonpublic schools. The following link will take you to the BESE webpage. Scroll down to the link for (Nonpublic) Bulletin 741-LA Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators.
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Nonpublic Annual School Report
Nonpublic schools seeking state approval must submit a Nonpublic Annual School Report during the annual reporting period (October 1-15). The Division of Curriculum Standards receives approximately 400 Nonpublic Annual School Reports and recommends the academic classification to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) for approval.
The Nonpublic Annual School Report data are used to verify nonpublic school compliance with the regulations established by the SBESE, for funding allocations, completion of the Annual Financial and Statistical Report, educational research and publication of the Louisiana School Directory. A summary of the Nonpublic Annual School Report data for the current school year is available in the Louisiana School Directory Online section of the Department's website.
Louisiana School Directory Online - Louisiana Nonpublic Schools
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New Nonpublic Schools - Seeking Initial State Approval
If you are a new nonpublic school and you wish to apply for initial state approval, use the link below for information regarding the application process and steps for seeking state approval.
New Nonpublic Schools Seeking INITIAL State Approval
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Electronic Submission of the Nonpublic Annual School Report Using LEADS
Nonpublic school administrators submit their Nonpublic Annual School Report electronically using the Louisiana Educational Accountability Data System (LEADS). Using information from the mandatory documentation, required to be kept on site at each nonpublic school, data is submitted in sections as described below:
o SCHOOL DATA - General nonpublic school information
o SECTION I - Grade configuration, number of instructional days, and faculty count.
o SECTION II - Student count by ethnicity, gender and grade.
o SECTION III - High School graduate count by ethnicity and gender (for prior school year).
o SECTION IV - Responses to nonpublic school academic approval questions.
The SCHOOL DATA section contains general nonpublic school information. To update information that cannot be accessed through LEADS such as Principal name, E-mail address, School address, or Grade configuration, complete form NP-005 Sponsor Site Data Change Form and forward to the LDE Data Management Coordinator indicated on the form.
NP-005 Sponsor Site Change Form (with revisions for nonpublic schools)
NP-005 Sponsor Site Data Change Form ONLINE
Word
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Security and Confidentiality Policy
Data security standards define specific requirements for managing and controlling access to the Louisiana Educational Accountability Data System (LEADS) for the electronic submission of the Nonpublic Schools Annual Report. Security goals will be met by requiring all personnel using Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) computer systems to have a unique user access code, called a User ID, and to be associated with a security profile that will control their access to computer resources. The monitoring and control of access to computer resources will be accomplished using automated security software. These standards apply to all persons who use or have access to LEADS and other nonpublic data resources.
Users must read and agree to adhere to the policies as listed in the Security and Confidentiality Policy
Security and Confidentiality Policy
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User IDs and Passwords
If you are a new user or you have a User ID from a previous Student Transcript System (STS) reporting system and your personal information has not changed, you will need to be granted authority to access LEADS. All requests for User IDs must be submitted to the Nonpublic Security Coordinator by completing form NP-002 Site Level Security Request Form. Each request will be evaluated to determine whether to authorize access. All User IDs are assigned according to categories of organizations making the requests.
Use the form below to complete online and save prior to sending it to the Department by E-MAIL with electronic signatures.
NP-002 Site Level Security Request Form ONLINE
Word
Use the form below to print, complete by hand, and obtain signatures prior to sending it to the Department by MAIL.
NP-002 Site Level Security Request Form
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Nonpublic Schools Data Collection User Guide for LEADS access
The Nonpublic Schools Data Collection User Guide contains information for nonpublic school administrators for the electronic submission of the Nonpublic Annual School Report. The User Guide identifies contacts for technical assistance, provides information for resetting passwords, lists instructions for electronically submitting the nonpublic school data, and provides details regarding the LEADS questions and mandatory supporting documentation.
Nonpublic Schools Data Collection User Guide for LEADS
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Academic Classifications for Nonpublic Schools
Based on a review of the information submitted in the Nonpublic Annual School Report, nonpublic schools are assigned an an academic classification as described below:
Approved (A): School meets all standards specified in Standards for Approval of Nonpublic Schools.
Provisionally Approved (PA): School has some deficiencies in standards, such as class size and number(s)
of the faculty teaching in an area in which qualifications specified are not met, etc.
Probationally Approved (P): School has one or more of the following deviations from standards: principal does not hold a master's degree or principalship certification; non-degreed teacher with fewer than five years of teaching experience is employed; school has been on provisional approval for the previous two years for the same deficiency.
Unapproved (U): School maintains any of the above-mentioned deviations from standards which placed it in the probationally approved category the preceding year. A school may not maintain a probationally approved category for two consecutive years. A school which loses annual state academic approval shall become ineligible for state and federal funding.
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Regular School Year: Nonpublic schools seeking an academic classification are given a preliminary analysis of their status in late January and are given technical assistance to correct any deficiencies. The academic classification for each school is finalized and approved by the SBESE at their Board meeting each June.
Summer School: Applications are available mid-April and must be filed no later than the end of the first week after the summer session begins. Applications are analyzed from June-August.
Click the link below for nonpublic summer school application forms.
2009 Nonpublic Summer School Application Forms
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Brumfield vs. Dodd Compliance
Each year, in order to benefit from state and federal funds, each nonpublic school shall be in compliance with the requirements of Brumfield vs. Dodd, C.A. No. 71-1316 (E.D. LA.). Upon request, an application form is sent to each nonpublic school. The application form must be completed, notarized and returned along with a copy of the school's Articles of Incorporation (as on file with the secretary of State's Office), and proof of the school's policy of non-discrimination as appeared in a public notice such as a newspaper advertisement (must be in large print, not in the classified or legal section). The application is reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice. Nonpublic schools who have received an initial academic classification and found to be Brumfield vs. Dodd compliant are recommended to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) for approval at one of their regularly scheduled Board meetings.
In order to maintain eligibility, each year nonpublic schools must submit a Brumfield vs. Dodd Compliance Report. To apply for initial Brumfield vs. Dodd approval, and/or to receive information regarding the Brumfield vs. Dodd Compliance Report, contact the Division of Communications and Legislative Services at (225) 342-1171 or toll free at 1-877-453-2721.
Brumfield vs. Dodd
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Important Notice Regarding Failure to File Required Reports
Important Notice: School administrators who fail to submit a Nonpublic School Annual Report during the annual reporting period (October 1-15), will be responsible for the loss of the school’s annual academic classification causing the suspension of Brumfield vs. Dodd compliance. This oversight will consequently make the school ineligible for federal and state funding the following school year.
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Program Audits and Site Visits of Nonpublic Schools
Annually, the Department performs a Program Audit of all new nonpublic schools and other randomly selected nonpublic schools. The Principal is notified and requested to submit, by a certain due date, a copy of all of the Mandatory Documentation for Department staff review. Technical assistance is provided by the Department staff to correct any deficiencies. All Program Audits and deficiency corrections must be completed prior to the end of the school year.
Site Visits are scheduled annually for all new nonpublic schools and other randomly selected nonpublic schools. The site visit is scheduled through the Principal who is requested to submit and/or have on hand a copy of all of the Mandatory Documentation for Department staff review. Technical assistance is provided by the Department staff to correct any deficiencies. Site visits and deficiency corrections must be completed prior to the end of the school year.
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Required Services for Nonpublic Schools
The Required Services Program is intended to reimburse nonpublic schools for the actual cost of performing selected activities. The link below provides information regarding eligible reimbursement services and deadlines for submitting reimbursement forms.
Required Services - Nonpublic Schools
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Related Information Regarding Nonpublic Schools
To find related information about non-public schools visit the U.S. Department of Education website shown below.
Please note: The following links are maintained by other public and private organizations. The Louisiana Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information. Further, the inclusion of thes links is not intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
Office of Non-Public Education
The Louisiana Department of Education does not accredit private schools. However, to find out more about agencies that do, visit the following link.
National Council For Private School Accreditation
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Registered Nonpublic Schools (Not Seeking State Approval)
If you are operating an educational program or school but do not wish to seek state approval, please click the link below to find out how to register your nonpublic school not seeking state approval in accordance with R.S. 17:232 (C) and (D).
Registered Nonpublic Schools (Not Seeking State Approval)
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