The Louisiana Department of Education has opened the 2027–2028 Notice of Intent for BESE-approved nonpublic schools that want to take part in the School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities. Schools should submit it by October 30, 2026, when the application closes. The program offers tuition assistance to families of qualifying students with exceptionalities, including some students with disabilities in certain districts. Assistance equals 50% of the state per pupil funding for the student's district, about
,500, and cannot exceed private tuition. Families cover any difference. Participating schools must be BESE approved, Brumfield v. Dodd compliant, and show experience serving students with exceptionalities. Questions go to the Office of School Choice, and eligibility details are in the Family Participation Guide.
Joseph Cao, a Republican and former congressman, won a seat on Louisiana's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) with 63% of the vote over Democrat Angela Hershey, a retired St. Tammany Parish teacher. Gov. Jeff Landry appointed Cao to the board earlier this year, and he will serve the rest of a term that ends in 2028. BESE sets policy for public K-12 schools and the formula for distributing state money to them. Cao has said his priorities include expanding the LA GATOR voucher program, improving student access to healthcare in schools and raising teacher pay. The Louisiana Senate has twice rejected Landry's requests to substantially boost LA GATOR funding since the program was created in 2024.
Louisiana Department of Education · Mon, Nov 2, 2026
The Louisiana Department of Education is inviting educators to apply to serve as teacher leader advisors who will help choose the English Language Arts materials used in Louisiana classrooms. Applications close Nov. 20. The department's page also highlights its Teachers Advisory Council, where fourteen Louisiana educators have just begun a new term sharing feedback with State Superintendent and other state leaders on education initiatives. Families who want to know which reading and writing materials their children use, or who want to follow how decisions are made, can find these opportunities on the department's site.
NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) opened applications on November 2, 2026, for the 2027-2028 school year through its NOLA-PS Common Application Process (NCAP). The announcement mentions new kindergarteners, but the excerpt cuts off before giving the full details. Families planning ahead for next year can use NCAP to apply, and the full press release should be read for any deadlines or eligibility information.
Homeschool advocacy groups and Louisiana officials met last week with the state's Department of Children and Family Services after comments by Secretary Rebecca Harris sparked concern among homeschooling families. Harris had told a Senate committee in March that children in homeschools are often abused, and the Home School Legal Defense Association requested the meeting in response. According to the association, Harris and her team expressed support for homeschooling and said DCFS wants more information before deciding next steps. Advocates remain opposed to legislation that could restrict parents' ability to homeschool, and the discussions are ongoing. Families in the state-approved home study program should note its annual renewal deadline of October 1.
New Orleans school officials are reviewing Fannie C. Williams Charter School in New Orleans East early, under a new accountability system that took effect in July, after the school received low state grades. Superintendent Fateama Fulmore has backed a proposal to merge Fannie into ReNEW Schools, which would move ReNEW's Schaumburg students into Fannie's building. Many parents criticized the plan, saying it would effectively close the school. The merger must first be approved by the school's operator, Community Leaders Advocating Student Success, and by ReNEW's board. It then goes to the superintendent and the district's school board, which will vote in December. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Charter Elementary is also under early review.
Proposed federal scholarship rules released by the Treasury Department and IRS would limit how Louisiana can narrow eligible school types or educational expenses, and would let scholarship organizations fund tutoring for students who remain in public schools. The federal Scholarship Tax Credit program begins Jan. 1. States may choose whether to take part, but those that opt in would follow the federal standards. Donors could receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to
,700 a year, and Gov. Jeff Landry committed Louisiana to the program in December. The regulations are not final. The notice provides a 60-day public comment period and schedules a hearing for Dec. 15.
A Stanford University study cited by Leaders for a Better Louisiana finds that New Orleans students are showing the fastest academic growth in the nation. Before Hurricane Katrina, more than 60% of New Orleans schools were considered academically unacceptable. Today, nearly every school in the city operates as a charter. Education reform advocate Leslie Jacobs says charter schools alone don't explain the gains. She credits talented school leaders, charter management organizations, and the autonomy that gives schools control over their curriculum, budget, staffing and culture. The study finds students learned nearly 34% more in a school year than the national average between 2022 and 2025. Jacobs also says the gains have contributed to a decline in crime in the city.
Louisiana Department of Education · Thu, Aug 20, 2026
The Louisiana Department of Education has adopted new K-12 Student Standards for Physical Education. According to the report, the standards focus on student movement and emphasize fitness and healthy lifestyles. Earlier, the department released draft physical education standards for public review, with comments accepted through April 15 at 4 p.m. These are state standards, so they cover public schools across Louisiana. The article does not give further details about the adopted standards.
The Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges System is launching its own charter school to reach students earlier, since the average community or technical college student is 26. LCTCS President Richard Nelson says every LCTCS college will partner with the school, with shared leadership between its board and LCTCS, a mix of online courses and in-person classes at any community college location, and the goal of making existing faculty, facilities and curriculum available to nearly every high school student who wants to enroll. The letter of intent has been submitted to the Louisiana Department of Education, and the application is expected to be finished this month. Nelson expects Board of Elementary and Secondary Education review this year and first students in fall of next year.
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