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Curriculum Standards
Nonpublic Schools
General Guidelines for State-Approved Nonpublic Schools
The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) is authorized through R.S. 17:11 to adopt standards and guidelines used to determine the academic classification of all nonpublic schools applying for annual state approval.
Follow the link below for the Louisiana Handbook for NONPUBLIC School Administrators which outlines the requirements, recommendations, goals, and objectives for nonpublic schools.
(Nonpublic) Bulletin 741-LA Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators
November 2009
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New Nonpublic Schools - Seeking Initial State Approval
If you are a new nonpublic school and you wish to apply for initial state approval, use the link below for information regarding the application process and steps for seeking state approval.
New Nonpublic Schools Seeking INITIAL State Approval
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Registered Nonpublic Schools (Not Seeking State Approval)
If you are operating an educational program or school but do not wish to seek state approval, please click the link below to find out how to register your nonpublic school not seeking state approval in accordance with R.S. 17:232 (C) and (D).
Registered Nonpublic Schools (Not Seeking State Approval)
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Nonpublic Annual School Report
Nonpublic schools seeking state approval must submit a Nonpublic Annual School Report during the annual reporting period (October 1-15). The Division of Curriculum Standards receives approximately 400 Nonpublic Annual School Reports and recommends the academic classification to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) for approval.
The Nonpublic Annual School Report data are used to verify nonpublic school compliance with the regulations established by the SBESE, for funding allocations, completion of the Annual Financial and Statistical Report, educational research and publication of the Louisiana School Directory. A summary of the Nonpublic Annual School Report data for the current school year is available in the Louisiana School Directory Online section of the Department's website.
Louisiana School Directory Online - Louisiana Nonpublic Schools
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Academic Classifications for Nonpublic Schools
Based on a review of the information submitted in the Nonpublic Annual School Report, nonpublic schools are assigned an an academic classification as described below:
Approved (A): School meets all standards specified in Standards for Approval of Nonpublic Schools.
Provisionally Approved (PA): School has some deficiencies in standards, such as class size and number(s)
of the faculty teaching in an area in which qualifications specified are not met, etc.
Probationally Approved (P): School has one or more of the following deviations from standards: principal does not hold a master's degree or principalship certification; non-degreed teacher with fewer than five years of teaching experience is employed; school has been on provisional approval for the previous two years for the same deficiency.
Unapproved (U): School maintains any of the above-mentioned deviations from standards which placed it in the probationally approved category the preceding year. A school may not maintain a probationally approved category for two consecutive years. A school which loses annual state academic approval shall become ineligible for state and federal funding.
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Regular School Year: Nonpublic schools seeking an academic classification are given a preliminary analysis of their status in late January and are given technical assistance to correct any deficiencies. The academic classification for each school is finalized and approved by the SBESE at their Board meeting each June.
Summer School: Applications are available mid-April and must be filed no later than the end of the first week after the summer session begins. Applications are analyzed from June-August.
Click the link below for nonpublic summer school application forms.
2009 Nonpublic Summer School Application Forms
Word
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Brumfield vs. Dodd Compliance
Each year, in order to benefit from state and federal funds, each state-approved nonpublic school shall be in compliance with the requirements of Brumfield vs. Dodd, C.A. No. 71-1316 (E.D. LA.).
Upon request, state-approved nonpublic schools are sent an application form to apply for Brumfield vs. Dodd approval. The application form must be completed, notarized and returned along with a copy of the school's Articles of Incorporation (as on file with the secretary of State's Office), and proof of the school's policy of non-discrimination (as appeared in a public notice such as a newspaper advertisement in large print, not in the classified or legal section). The application is reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice. State-approved nonpublic schools found to be Brumfield vs. Dodd compliant are recommended to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (SBESE) for approval at one of their regularly scheduled Board meetings.
Annually, nonpublic schools must submit a Brumfield vs. Dodd Compliance Report in order to maintain eligibility.
To receive information regarding Brumfield vs. Dodd initial approval and/or information regarding the required annual compliance, contact the Division of Communications and Legislative Services at (225) 342-1171 or toll free at 1-877-453-2721.
Brumfield vs. Dodd
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Electronic Submission of the Nonpublic Annual School Report Using LEADS
Nonpublic school administrators submit their Nonpublic Annual School Report electronically using the Louisiana Educational Accountability Data System (LEADS). Using information from the mandatory documentation, required to be kept on site at each nonpublic school, data is submitted in sections as described below:
SCHOOL DATA - Information identifying the person submitting the Nonpublic Annual School Report.
SECTION I - Grade configuration, number of instructional days, and faculty count.
SECTION II - Student count by ethnicity, gender and grade.
SECTION III - High School graduate count by ethnicity and gender (for prior school year).
SECTION IV - Responses to nonpublic school academic approval questions.
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Follow the image link above to access LEADS.
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The Nonpublic Schools Data Collection User Guide contains information for nonpublic school administrators who electronically submit the Nonpublic Annual School Report and includes the following:
- A list of contacts who can provide technical assistance,
- Instructions for resetting passwords,
- Instructions for logging on to the LEADS system,
- Screen by screen instructions for electronically submitting the nonpublic school data, and
- Hyperlinks to specific nonpublic school regulations and supporting mandatory documentation.
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Important Notice Regarding Failure to File Required Reports
Important Notice: School administrators who fail to submit a Nonpublic School Annual Report during the annual reporting period (October 1-15), will be responsible for the loss of the schools annual academic classification causing the suspension of Brumfield vs. Dodd compliance. This oversight will consequently make the school ineligible for federal and state funding.
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Follow the image link above to access the User Guide.
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Security and Confidentiality Policy
Data security standards define specific requirements for managing and controlling access to the Louisiana Educational Accountability Data System (LEADS) for the electronic submission of the Nonpublic Schools Annual Report. Security goals will be met by requiring all personnel using Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) computer systems to have a unique user access code, called a User ID, and to be associated with a security profile that will control their access to computer resources. The monitoring and control of access to computer resources will be accomplished using automated security software. These standards apply to all persons who use or have access to LEADS and other nonpublic data resources.
Users must read and agree to adhere to the policies as listed in the Security and Confidentiality Policy
Security and Confidentiality Policy
PDF
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User IDs and Passwords
If you are a new user or you have a User ID from a previous Student Transcript System (STS) reporting system and your personal information has not changed, you will need to be granted authority to access LEADS. Complete the NP-002 Site Level Security Request Form below to request a User ID. All User ID requests are evaluated and are assigned according to categories of organizations making the requests. Submit completed forms to the Nonpublic Security Coordinator as indicated on the form.
Complete the online form below and submit to the Department by E-MAIL (with electronic signatures).
NP-002 Site Level Security Request Form ONLINE
Word
Print the form below, complete, obtain approval signatures and forward to the Department by U.S. MAIL using the address as indicated on the form.
NP-002 Site Level Security Request Form MAIL
PDF
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Updating General Nonpublic School Information
General school information cannot be modified during the submission period for the Nonpublic Annual School Report. To request and/or report changes to the following information, complete the NP-005 Nonpublic School Information Change Form below and forward it to the LDE Data Management Coordinator as indicated on the form:
Principal/Administrator change (New Principal)
E-Mail address change (New e-mail address for nonpublic school correspondence)
Grade configuration change (Adding or deleting grades)
School Name modification
School Address change (School moving or relocating)
NP-005 Nonpublic School Information Change Form
Word
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Notification of Nonpublic School Closing
It is important to notify the Department when a nonpublic school is being closed. Complete the online form below and forward to the LDE Data Management Coordinator as indicated on the form.
NP-006 Closing Nonpublic School Form
Word
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Nonpublic Schools Mandatory Documentation
All nonpublic schools are required to maintain supporting Mandatory Documentation on site to verify compliance with regulations established by the SBESE and to be used during the submission of the Nonpublic Annual School Report. The Mandatory Documentation is intended to assist each school administrator in maintaining compliance with (Nonpublic) Bulletin 741-LA Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators. If the Principal has been notified of a Program Audit, a copy of this documentation must be submitted to the Department. In addition, a copy of this documentation must be available for Department staff review during scheduled site visits. Please do not send copies of these items to the Department, unless you are notified to do so.
Mandatory documentation including forms, sample formats and supplemental worksheets are included as attachments to the Nonpublic Schools Data Collection User Guide and listed below:
This is a summary of questions and a list of the required Mandatory Documentation.
NP ATTACHMENT 7: Summary of Questions and Mandatory Documentation
Word
Use these sample formats to create Daily Schedules.
NP ATTACHMENT 1: Daily Schedule (Pre-K and Kindergarten)
Word
NP ATTACHMENT 1: Daily Schedule (Elementary)
Word
NP ATTACHMENT 1: Daily Schedule (High School)
Word
Print this form to record the School Calendar for the current school year.
NP ATTACHMENT 2: School Calendar (2009-2010)
Word
Use this form to record information about the Principal or Headmaster, Assistant Principal(s), and High School Librarian. For the Instructional Staff record information about Certification, Qualifications, and Classes taught listing class periods, grades taught and class size. For other staff list name and title only.
NP ATTACHMENT 3: Faculty Data Sheet
Excel
Use this worksheet to determine Qualification Verification Codes for the Instructional Staff.
NP ATTACHMENT 4: Instructional Staff Verification Worksheet
Word
This is a sample list of Professional Education "Knowledge of the Learner" Courses.
NP ATTACHMENT 5: Professional Education Courses
Word
Use this sample format to create a Four-Year Program of Study for High School students.
NP ATTACHMENT 6: Four-Year Program of Study
Word
To request authorization and/or approval of new ELECTIVES COURSES, print the form below, complete, obtain approval signatures and forward it to the Department by U.S. MAIL using the address as indicated on the form.
NP-007 New Electives Course Authorization MAIL
PDF
Use the Louisiana State Police website to access the forms required for background checks - Authorization Form (DPSSP 6696) and Rap Disclosure Form (LSAPP5/R10.03).
Louisiana State Police - http://www.lsp.org/technical.html#criminal
Use the Teach Louisiana website to verify nonpublic teacher qualifications, certification and to print copies of certificates.
Teach Louisiana - https://www.teachlouisiana.net
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Program Audits and Site Visits of Nonpublic Schools
Annually, the Department performs a Program Audit of all new nonpublic schools and other randomly selected nonpublic schools. The Principal is notified and requested to submit, by a certain due date, a copy of all of the Mandatory Documentation for Department staff review. Technical assistance is provided by the Department staff to correct any deficiencies. All Program Audits and deficiency corrections must be completed prior to the end of the school year.
Site Visits are scheduled annually for all new nonpublic schools and other randomly selected nonpublic schools. The site visit is scheduled through the Principal who is requested to submit and/or have on hand a copy of all of the Mandatory Documentation for Department staff review. Technical assistance is provided by the Department staff to correct any deficiencies. Site visits and deficiency corrections must be completed prior to the end of the school year.
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Deficiency corrections must be completed before the end of the school year.
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Required Services for Nonpublic Schools
The Required Services Program is intended to reimburse nonpublic schools for the actual cost of performing selected activities. The link below provides information regarding eligible reimbursement services and deadlines for submitting reimbursement forms.
Required Services - Nonpublic Schools
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Related Information Regarding Nonpublic Schools
To find related information about non-public schools visit the U.S. Department of Education website shown below.
Please note: The following links are maintained by other public and private organizations. The Louisiana Department of Education does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information. Further, the inclusion of thes links is not intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered, on these sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
Office of Non-Public Education
The Louisiana Department of Education does not accredit private schools. However, to find out more about agencies that do, visit the following link.
National Council For Private School Accreditation
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