To ensure a Strong Start to the 2020-2021 school year, the Department is focused on helping school systems address unfinished learning from the 2019-2020 school year, set the foundation for continuous learning in 2020-2021 and prepare for potential modified operations in the future.
A Strong Start for every student means:
In light of the Governor’s Roadmap to Restarting Louisiana, the Department has issued guidance pertaining to opening public and nonpublic school facilities to serve students in the 2020-2021 school year. This guidance is relative to operating schools in Phases 1, 2 and 3 of reopening.
Since Louisiana’s school facilities first closed in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, school systems and the Department have worked to ensure the safety of students and staff was of utmost priority. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) adopted minimum health and safety standards for reopening schools. If you would like to register a specific school or system health and safety concern you feel is not in alignment with one or more of these standards, please email ldoecovid19support@la.gov. The Department maintains and updates a record of registered concerns that have been sent to schools/school systems.
The Louisiana Department of Education is compiling links to system and school reopening plans. The Department, as well as Louisiana systems and schools, are in communication with medical experts. Reopening plans are subject to change. Please check with your system or school to ensure you have the most updated information for 2020-2021.