Louisiana

Overview

Notice Requirements

Assessment Requirements

Curriculum & Qualifications

Additional Notes

Louisiana's two-pathway system creates a meaningful trade-off: BESE Option 1 offers state diploma recognition, TOPS scholarship eligibility, and sports access but requires annual application, renewal, 180 days, and annual assessment. Option 2 is minimally regulated but forfeits those benefits. Most families weigh the TOPS scholarship value (significant for in-state college tuition) against the regulatory burden. The Louisiana Home Education Network (LAHEN) and Homeschool Louisiana (homeschoollouisiana.org) provide support.

Tips for Homeschooling in Louisiana

1. 1

   File your notice on time: "BESE Option 1: apply within 15 days of beginning; renew annually by October 1. Nonpublic Option 2: written notification to the school the student previously attended within 10 days of enrollment". Set a calendar reminder 2 weeks before to prepare documents.

2. 2

   Choose your assessment method early. Options include: BESE Option 1 (required): choose one annually — (a) LEAP (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program) standardized test; (b) California Achievement Test (CAT) or other BESE-approved standardized test at/above grade level or showing one grade level of progress per year; (c) written statement from a teacher certified at the child's grade level verifying instruction in a sustained curriculum equal to public school standards, Nonpublic Option 2: no state-mandated assessment; school sets its own standards. Many families find portfolio reviews the least stressful.

3. 3

   Join a local Louisiana homeschool co-op or support group. Peer connections help with curriculum sharing, field trips, and social opportunities for your learner.