What to teach in Louisiana

Courses that cover the core subjects

Louisiana names no subjects, so nothing here is required of you. This is the sequence this site teaches, offered as a default rather than an obligation.

Mathematics

English

Science

Social studies

Each is planned as a 36-week year of about 180 sessions, five a week — the year 20 of the 21 course guides set out explicitly. How long a session runs is yours to set.

Does this meet the hours?

180 days per school year (LDOE guidance; R.S. 17:236 minimum session for nonpublic schools)

Each course here plans a 36-week year of about 180 sessions, five a week — the year 20 of the 21 course guides set out explicitly. The length of a session is left to you, because a Grade 6 session and a Grade 12 one are not the same thing.

Four such courses run across the same 180-session year, so a four-course year meets Louisiana's 180 days without any arithmetic: the days are the calendar, not a total to accumulate.

The four high school years

Louisiana reviews the work each year, so the high school record matters twice: once for the annual assessment and again for whoever reads the transcript afterwards. A full sequence of these courses looks like this.

Four subjects across four years is 16 full-year courses. Credits, grades and the diploma itself are Louisiana's business, not this site's — what Louisiana says about diplomas and transcripts.

Evidence for the annual review

Louisiana asks for testing or evaluation, so the year has to leave a paper trail. These courses produce four things that serve as evidence, without any extra work:

• Printable lessons. Every lesson has a print view holding the full teaching text, worked examples and practice — dated pages for a portfolio.
• Exams with answer keys and marking criteria. Each course has a midterm, a final and a sample exam, each question carrying response criteria an evaluator can read.
• A 36-week pacing table. The parent guide for each course lists the week-by-week assignments, which is the planning document most evaluators ask to see.
• Exit tickets and checkpoints. Short written responses through each lesson, showing work over time rather than one test score.

Home study only, at each renewal: submit ONE of (1) a packet with subject outlines, book/materials list, work samples, test copies, third-party observation statements; (2) standardized test (e.g., CAT or other BESE-approved test) at or above grade level, or showing one grade level of progress per year; (3) a statement from a teacher certified at the child's grade level; or (4) a passing score on the state test (local school board may charge up to $35). Nonpublic option: no testing required.

Deadline: With the home study renewal: by Oct 1 of the school year or within 12 months of initial approval, whichever is later (also when advancing a grade level)