Starting a Private School in Louisiana
Regulations, Resources, & Support
Louisiana State Regulations
General Regulations
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Louisiana does not have accreditation or licensing requirements for nonpublic schools.
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All schools, regardless of approval, must register with the state.
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Approval is optional and requires an annual review of curriculum and student performance.
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The Louisiana Department of Education has assembled a page of detailed requirements for private schools.
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The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled a summary of regulations for private schools operating in Louisiana.
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Homeschool families must register with the state.
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The Louisiana DOE has no published requirements for school insurance -- consult a professional for guidance in this area.
State Funding Sources & Support
Curriculum Requirements
Approved schools must meet curriculum requirements in line with public schools in the state. Non-approved schools can offer any curriculum but must limit class size to 35 students, except in large activity courses such as band and physical education.
Teacher Certification & Hiring
Schools receiving state, local, or federal funding must hire certified teachers. Schools not receiving government funding can hire teachers at their discretion.
Food Services / Lunch
In Louisiana, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Department of Education.
Length of School Year
Schools must operate at least 180 days per year. School days must include 330 minutes of instruction per day.
Recordkeeping & Reports
All schools must maintain student registration, attendance, and health records and report to the state each year.
Healthy & Safety Requirements
Students must be immunized, unless medically or religiously exempt, and provide documentation to the school.
Transportation
Parish and city school boards must provide free transportation for nonpublic school students attending approved schools, providing the school does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, or national origin. If a parish or city school board determines transportation by bus is impractical, not available, or unwarranted, the board may utilize common carriers.
Testing
Students are required to pass state standardized tests to earn a standard state diploma.
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Louisiana State Resources
State & Regional Associations
Government Websites
Helping Educators Do the Work That Matters
Quick Guide Nav
We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!
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