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 ...

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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 ...

State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek has been named an Innovator in Action by the Reason Foundation. Read More ...

[The Washington Post: Louisiana’s Race to the Top application among nation’s strongest] and [Education Sector: Louisiana’s Race to the top application demonstrates commitment to reform] Read More ...

For the last three years, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has sought to identify and honor schools that are overcoming the challenges associated with educating large populations of poor and minority children. Today, the Department released the latest list of High Performing, High Poverty Schools. While twenty schools made the list each year in 2008 and 2009, this year 35 schools in 18 districts across the state have earned the distinction. Read More ...

The Race to the Top (R2T) is officially underway, and Louisiana is among the 41 competitors entering the contest for the $4.35 billion federal education grant. Last Tuesday, January 19th, officials from the Louisiana Department of Education delivered the state’s application to the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. And today, LDOE publicly released the contents of Louisiana’s 187-page R2T application, 68-page budget and 418-page appendix.  Read More ...

On Monday the Louisiana Department of Education announced that 28 districts have notified the agency of their desire to directly participate in Louisiana’s Race to the Top (R2T) application as a Participating LEA (Local Education Agency).  Read More ...

“Homecoming celebration” took on a new meaning today at Joseph A. Craig School as students, faculty, State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, local school officials and city leaders marked the school’s long-awaited return to the Treme neighborhood with a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony. Read More ...

The 2010 edition of Quality Counts was released today, and Louisiana’s overall standing jumped from 35th last year to 27th this year. Read More ...

In a move aimed at encouraging the implementation of best practices across the state, today the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) voted to approve Louisiana’s Race to the Top (R2T) application.  Read More ...

Today the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released an updated list of districts that have agreed to participate in the state’s Race to the Top (R2T) application. As of last Friday, 23 districts had notified LDOE that they wanted to directly take part in the state’s R2T plan. But another five districts joined that group today, including Avoyelles, the City of Bogalusa, Orleans Parish, Richland and St. Bernard Parish. Read More ...

Today, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) outlined mid-year budget cuts totaling more than $16 million.  Read More ...

Today the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released an updated list of districts that have notified the agency that they will sign partnership agreements to participate in the state’s Race to the Top (R2T) application. Read More ...

Today, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released a list of 15 districts that have notified the agency that they will sign partnership agreements to participate in the state’s Race to the Top (R2T) application. Read More ...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ... MORE ON LOUISIANA’S PARTICIPATION IN RACE TO THE TOP Read More ...

Over the course of the next week, local school districts will deliberate whether to officially participate in Louisiana’s Race to the Top application.  Read More ...

Louisiana has set its sights on a big prize – a share of the $4.35 billion federal Race to the Top grant, designed to encourage and support systematic education reform.  Read More ...

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Today, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) announced its 2009 Class of Board Certified Teachers, and the list includes 132 Louisiana teachers. This brings the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in Louisiana to 1,532. Louisiana ranks 16th nationwide in the number of new NBCTs this year and 15th in the country in the total number of NBCTs in its teaching population.  Read More ...

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"Over the last several weeks, education groups inside and outside the state have expressed overwhelming support for Louisiana’s Race to the Top plan. We are optimistic that local districts and other groups will choose to participate in this unprecedented opportunity. This is a chance for Louisiana to secure millions of dollars in federal funding for the purpose of applying proven strategies and effective programs in schools across Louisiana. " Read More ...