Louisiana

The purpose of this document is to capture state-by-state information of policy and guidelines related to the science of reading / evidence-based reading instruction to be presented on The Reading League Compass, a website of reliable and reputable guidance and resources for targeted stakeholder groups.

Updated 2025

Local control?

Yes

Has your state passed legislation and/or non-legislated rule changes related to the science of reading?

Yes,

Act 108 (SB216) requires early literacy training for K-3 teachers of reading, math, science, and/or social studies as well as principals and assistant principals of schools that include the K-3 grade levels. It also requires school systems to report on successful training completion to the Department.

Act 438 (SB222) – This act requires early literacy instruction for K-3 students, annual literacy assessment of certain students, literacy supports for certain students, professional development and teacher training around the science of reading, school literacy plans, and annual literacy reporting by schools.

Act 448 (HB 214) – Requires passage of a reading instruction test as a condition of teacher certification in elementary education. (Updated new Praxis test in June) Now requires reading test to be aligned with the science of reading.

Does your state have an approved curriculum list?

Yes. Louisiana is a local control state, but only approved curriculum and vendors are funded with federal funds. We have an IMR (Instructional Materials Review) team that reviews materials and regularly updates the approved curriculum list.

Was evidence-aligned reading instruction a consideration for the curriculum review?

Yes rubrics can be found here.

Act 517 of 2022 amended R.S. 17:24.10 to prohibit the use of instructional materials that employ the three-cueing system model of reading, visual memory as the primary basis for teaching word recognition in reading instruction.

Please describe any other instructional-materials work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

Bulletin 1903 §111 outlines the requirements of a multisensory structured language and literacy program that must be routinely provided during the regular school day to support students and outlines the specific content components and instructional methodology that must be included.

Does your state mandate or provide guidance on early screening?

Yes. Bulletin 741 – Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators – Addresses requirements outlined in R.S. 17:24.9 which include: administering the literacy screener three times per school year to each student in kindergarten through third grade (within the first thirty days, in December, and in April).

Please describe any other assessment work related to the science of reading with links, where applicable

Act 266 provides for the screening and diagnosis of students with respect to dyslexia. Kindergarteners are to be screened at end of year.

Does your state have policy or guidance related to MTSS that incorporates information on the science of reading and/or evidence-based literacy practices?

Yes, please visit this link.

Does your state have policy or guidance related to instruction and/or professional development

Yes,

Literacy Library

Category of Literacy Supports for Leaders 

Category of Literacy Supports for Teachers

Does your state have state-developed guidance documents or training courses related to the science of reading?

The LDOE has developed our own SOR training (Louisiana Art and Science of Teaching Reading) that is free for every Louisiana educator, including Higher Ed, pre-service teachers, and tutoring providers. 

Currently working on one for our Early Childhood educators

Please describe any grant work that names the science of reading and/or evidence-aligned instruction including links, where applicable

Both of our CLSD (Comprehensive Literacy State Development) grants (2019 and 2020) name evidence-aligned instruction and funds systems and schools to get trained in the Science of Reading.

Recipient of the CLSD 2024 grant.

Has your state reviewed standards for alignment to the science of reading?

Does your state have guidance or resources for families related to the science of reading?

Yes. We have a family section on our literacy library LDOE page. All resources are created in-house and are aligned to the science of reading.

Does your state have licensure or program approval criteria to ensure Educator Preparation Programs are aligned to the science of reading?

Yes, all approved providers must submit literacy coursework for review and approval.

Do you have a “contact us” website that we can share publicly on TRL Compass?

Please describe and link to any other work you would like to share that relates to the science of reading

We have a full suite of professional learning for K-2 through secondary aligned to the Science of Reading.

Use the interactive state map to find descriptions of state-level policy adoption, guidance, and practices related to the science of reading. State policy may include legislation incorporating training or practices related to the science of reading or state education agency guidance regarding policy, professional development, curricula, instruction, or assessment.

Filter by specific topic area(s) to find state-specific work: 

The Reading League expresses gratitude to our collaborators and associates within the state education agencies for sharing their state-specific data. This data will undergo semi-annual updates, contingent upon the availability and resources of the respective state agencies. For any inquiries, clarifications, or updates, please reach out to compass@thereadingleague.org.