Nonpublic Schools
Nonpublic Schools Seeking State Approval
Currently, more than 100,000 students are enrolled in Louisiana nonpublic BESE (Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) approved schools. Nonpublic schools may choose to seek BESE approval as a Nonpublic School Seeking State Approval, but it is not required.
In order to be approved by the BESE, nonpublic schools must meet all criteria established by Bulletin 741 for the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).
Graduates from Nonpublic Schools seeking state approval are eligible for TOPS, a state merit-based scholarship program for Louisiana residents. To be approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), schools must offer an education comparable to the quality of public schools. Graduates from confirmed Nonpublic Schools Seeking State Approval are eligible for TOPS, a state-funded college scholarship program.
The Louisiana Department of Education does not accredit or license K-12 private schools. Additionally, the Louisiana Department of Education does not officially recognize any of the agencies that accredit private schools.
There are several organizations with independently structured quality standards and program requirements that accredit private schools. Requests for information about the accreditation of a specific school should be directed to the school staff or its designated accrediting agency.
RS 17:4021 lists the associations of accrediting organizations a private school participating in the BESE approval process may choose an accrediting agency from.
The NPS Approval Process: Accreditation Organizations outline all accrediting agencies that qualify a school for the accredited approved, non-accredited, Louisiana Montessori accredited approved, or Louisiana Montessori provisionally accredited approved designations.
2025-2026 BESE Approval Application
Nonpublic Schools Seeking State Approval must apply annually for approval by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. To become eligible for state and federal funding, schools must be approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and also comply with Brumfield vs. Dodd, a federal court order that prohibits discrimination.
Step 1: Review the Nonpublic School Approval Document Submission Process Checklist
Step 2: Complete a 2025-2026 BESE application by clicking the button below.
Step 3: If you are seeking BESE and Brumfield vs. Dodd approval, complete the necessary Brumfield vs. Dodd application “UPLOAD” sections within the BESE application.
Step 4: All required documents must be completed and submitted as a part of your BESE application by October 15, 2024 to be considered for BESE approval.
2025-2026 BESE Approval Application
Please contact nonpublicschools@la.gov if you have any questions.
2025-2026 Brumfield vs. Dodd Application
All Louisiana nonpublic schools seeking state and federal funds must comply with the nondiscrimination requirements of Brumfield v. Dodd. The approval of an application verifies that schools are not racially segregated or do not use racially discriminatory policies and practices.
Nonpublic schools seeking Brumfield v. Dodd approval must complete one of the following applications:
Brumfield v. Dodd Initial Application 2025-2026
Brumfield v. Dodd Annual Compliance Report (Renewal)
The Brumfield v. Dodd initial application must be completed, notarized and returned along with the school’s Article of Incorporation (as a file with the Secretary of State’s Office) and submitted with their BESE approval application.
BESE approved nonpublic schools must submit an annual Brumfield v. Dodd Compliance Report in order to maintain eligibility for state and federal funding, participate in the School Choice Program (SCP) and/or the Tuition Donation Credit (TDC) Program. This annual renewal application requires two forms of verification that publicize the school’s nondiscriminatory admissions policy by providing website screenshots of its announcements, including newspaper advertisements, and/or copies of any brochures or similar publications.
Brumfield v. Dodd applications are reviewed by the U.S. Department of Justice. State-Approved non-profit schools found to be Brumfield v. Dodd compliant are recommended for approval to the Board of Education and Secondary Education (BESE) during regular scheduled Board Meetings.
Nonpublic School Annual Reporting (NPS)
The annual enrollment report window for all nonpublic schools approved by BESE (Nonpublic School Seeking State Approval) is now closed.
Bulletin 741 requires that an administrator for each nonpublic school submit the annual enrollment data for the grade levels approved by BESE.
The annual enrollment report window for all nonpublic schools approved by BESE (Private Schools Seeking State Approval) to submit their school’s 2024-2025 annual enrollment data opens early September and closes on October 15.
To request access to Edlink and complete the annual enrollment report, you will need to follow the steps in the manual provided below:
Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval
Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval must annually submit enrollment information for their school by using the
online attendance submission form. Persons entering their email address on the form will receive an Attendance Submission Confirmation letter via email immediately upon completion of the form. The attendance submission confirmation is valid for one year from the date of the letter. In hardship situations, attendance submissions may be submitted by mail. For more information, see the
Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval page.
Please email nonpublicschools@la.gov with questions about any of the processes above.