Since 1999, the state has issued School Performance Scores for public schools, which are based on student achievement data. To clearly communicate the quality of school performance to families and the public, Louisiana adopted letter grades (A-F). All schools with sufficient data receive school performance scores.

VIEW VIDEO ON HOW SCHOOL PERFORMANCE SCORES ARE CREATED.

Starting in 2017, all publicly funded early childhood programs including early childhood centers, Head Start and pre-K will receive performance ratings detailing how well the program is preparing children for Kindergarten.

VIEW VIDEO ON HOW EARLY CHILDHOOD PERFORMANCE PROFILES ARE CREATED.

Both school performance scores and early childhood performance profiles are reported this year through Louisiana’s new interactive, online tool the Louisiana School Finder.

The Louisiana School Finder provides families with:

• school performance scores and early childhood performance ratings to show how well schools and centers are preparing students for the next grade-level;
• basic information about schools and centers such as their address, website, hours of operation, licensing reports and principal or director’s name; and
• listings of course offerings, clubs, enrichment and extracurricular activities.

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)

The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) helps low-income families to pay for child care while working or attending school or training. Monthly payments are based on the number of hours the parents work or attend school or training, as well as the amount charged by the child care provider, family size and household income. Parents can select any Class A child care center, school-based before and after school program, licensed child care center determined by the Department of Defense, registered Family Child Day Care Home, or In-Home provider that is active in the CCAP provider directory.

Head Start

Head Start is a federal program that promotes school readiness of preschool-age children and their families by enhancing the child’s cognitive, social and emotional development.

Head Start programs provide a learning environment that supports children’s growth in the following domains: language and literacy; cognition and general knowledge; physical development and health; social and emotional development; and approaches to learning.

Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child’s first and most important teacher. Head Start programs build relationships with families that support:

• Family well-being and positive parent-child relationships
• Families as learners and lifelong educators
• Family engagement in transitions
• Family connections to peers and community
• Families as advocates and leaders

NSECD (Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program)

The Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program (NSECD) provides tuition reimbursement to parents who send their children to state-approved private preschools and child care centers. The program provides six hours of daily instruction and up to four hours of before- and after-school care. To qualify, families must meet the income requirement, which is 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

For more information, visit: https://www.prekla.org/parents/index.html

Public Schools PreK Programs

Cecil J. Picard LA4 Early Childhood and PreK Expansion Grant Programs

• As Louisiana’s largest preschool program, the Cecil J. Picard LA4 Early Childhood Program provides economically disadvantaged children with early childhood education during a six-hour-a-day program and before- and after-school enrichment. Through a federal grant, the Louisiana Department of Education has funded several PreK classes.
• Four-year-olds who qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch are eligible to participate in these programs.

The 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Program

• The 8(g) Student Enhancement Block Grant Program preschool program was established in 1993 to serve students who are at-risk of not being prepared for Kindergarten. Priority is given to students from economically disadvantaged families.

The LA4 program is Louisiana’s main preschool program. However, school districts can use other funding sources, such as Title 1 funds or other district resources to fund PreK classes.