Louisiana

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Louisiana
Image of topics for reading excerpts.
Illustration by Laura Baker/Education Week via Canva
Reading & Literacy There's a Design Flaw With Many Reading Tests. Here's One State's Fix
Louisiana is piloting a test measuring knowledge of the texts and curriculum kids have been exposed to, not random passages.
Libby Stanford, January 15, 2024
9 min read
The Supreme Court building is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 10, 2023.
The Supreme Court building is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington, Jan. 10, 2023.
Patrick Semansky/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Declines Case on Corporal Punishment for Student With Autism
The justices refused to hear the appeal of an 11-year-old Louisiana student who alleges that two educators slapped her on her wrists.
Mark Walsh, January 8, 2024
3 min read
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Kobus Louw/E+
School Climate & Safety Q&A Two Students—One Jewish, One Muslim—Give Advice on Discussing the Israel-Hamas War
Learning and talking about the conflict gives students the opportunity to become compassionate global citizens, experts say.
Lauraine Langreo, December 15, 2023
5 min read
Photo of boy in front of white board with math problem.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Mathematics 7 States Now Require Math Support for Struggling Students. Here's What's in the New Laws
They focus on providing PD, diagnostic tools, and evidence-based teaching. But it will take time to work out the details.
Sarah Schwartz, August 9, 2023
7 min read
"In God We Trust" is seen on a wall at South Park Elementary in Rapid City, S.D., on July 23, 2019. South Dakota is one of 17 states that requires or allows the motto to be displayed inside K-12 public schools.
"In God We Trust" is seen on a wall at South Park Elementary in Rapid City, S.D., on July 23, 2019. South Dakota is one of 17 states that require or allow the motto to be displayed inside public schools.
Adam Fondren/Rapid City Journal via AP
States Louisiana’s Public Schools Must Now Display ‘In God We Trust’ in Classrooms
Mandates like Louisiana's are relatively common, and they are also controversial.
Sarah Schwartz, August 3, 2023
5 min read
Educators at the College Board's AP annual conference learn about various AP program offerings intended to address access and equity to advanced coursework for underrepresented students in Seattle, Wash. on July 20, 2023.
Educators at the College Board's AP annual conference learn about various AP program offerings intended to address access and equity to advanced coursework for underrepresented students in Seattle, Wash. on July 20, 2023.
Ileana Najarro/Education Week
Equity & Diversity How to Make AP Classes Accessible and Equitable: District Leaders Share Strategies
Various presentations at the College Board's AP annual conference this month touched on equity concerns around the AP program.
Ileana Najarro, July 27, 2023
5 min read
Protesters cheer outside Senate chambers at the Indiana Statehouse on March 22, 2023, in Indianapolis. Indiana schools may soon be required to notify parents if their child requests a name or pronoun change at school, after state Senators on April 10, 2023, advanced a bill that some worry could out transgender kids to their parents.
Protesters cheer at the Indiana Statehouse on March 22, 2023, in Indianapolis. Indiana schools may soon be required to notify parents if their child requests a name or pronoun change at school, after state lawmakers advanced a bill that some advocates worry could out transgender kids to their parents.
Arleigh Rodgers/AP
Equity & Diversity Pronouns for Trans, Nonbinary Students: The States With Laws That Restrict Them in Schools
Under the laws, teachers aren’t required to use trans or nonbinary students’ requested pronouns.
Eesha Pendharkar, June 14, 2023
7 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School Choice & Charters Opinion Attend These Charter Schools. Leave With College Credentials
The founder of a charter network discusses how his schools bring a K-16 model to the K-12 system.
Rick Hess, March 30, 2023
6 min read
Student Well-Being Video How This New Orleans School Is Getting Teen Moms to Graduation
Graduation rates for teenage moms are much lower than their peers'. One school system is banking on in-school child care to fix that.
Lauren Santucci, February 13, 2023
6:19
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
School Choice & Charters Opinion How Are Charter Schools Faring in Our Polarized Political Era?
There are several distinct and passionate school communities that reside under the charter school banner. Can they work alongside another?
Rick Hess, February 9, 2023
6 min read
Third graders identify the different components of a strong paragraph, practicing with a sample piece of writing. Teachers at Kegonsa use models like this to help students master the frameworks that they will use in their own writing.
Third graders identify the different components of a strong paragraph, practicing with a sample piece of writing. Teachers at Kegonsa Elementary, in Stoughton, Wis., use models like this to help students master the frameworks that they will use in their own writing.
Narayan Mahon for Education Week
Reading & Literacy Young Writers Need Structure to Learn the Craft. How Much Is Enough?
Writing instruction should give students both tools and exemplars they can use—and frequent opportunities to practice them at length.
Sarah Schwartz, January 17, 2023
11 min read
The icon for TikTok pictured in New York on Feb. 25, 2020.
The icon for TikTok pictured in New York on Feb. 25, 2020.
AP
Classroom Technology Should Schools Ban TikTok? Louisiana Ed. Chief Urges Districts to Do It
Louisiana is one of the first states to recommend school districts ban TikTok from all school-owned devices, amid major privacy concerns.
Alyson Klein, January 3, 2023
3 min read
Social Studies Video Updating Social Studies Expectations in the ‘Critical Race Theory’ Era
Always a focal point for controversy, updating what students should know in history class became especially charged in late 2021 and 2022.
Lauren Santucci & Stephen Sawchuk, January 3, 2023
5:23
Social studies teacher Matthew Hawn, who is accused of insubordination and repeated unprofessional conduct for teaching about racism and white privilege, sits on his couch inside his home on August 17, 2021.
Tennessee social studies teacher Matthew Hawn, who is accused of insubordination and repeated unprofessional conduct for teaching about racism and white privilege, sits on his couch inside his home back in August of 2021.
Caitlin Penna for Education Week
Equity & Diversity Educators' Opposition to Censorship Comes at a Big Personal Cost
A Tennessee teacher and a Louisiana librarian discuss their very public battles against book bans or restrictions on teaching about racism.
Eesha Pendharkar, December 29, 2022
5 min read