Special education in Louisiana

What Louisiana calls special education, how long each step takes, who to call, free help, paying for services, and how the state scores.

Special education in Louisiana

Special education is called

Special Education (LDOE Diverse Learners)

The IEP meeting

IEP team meeting

Eligibility team

Pupil appraisal team

Evaluation timeline

60 business days. 60 business days from consent (Bulletin 1508 / LAC 28:CI.511)

IEP timeline

30 days (federal)

Transition planning starts

16 (being checked)

Rights transfer to the student at

Developmental delay category

3 to 8 (child count)

Dyslexia law

yes: La. R.S. 17:24.10 and 17:392.1: K-3 literacy screening incl. characteristics of dyslexia

State categories

Gifted and talented served under exceptionality rules

Find your district and schools

189 districts and charter districts. 18 special education schools and 145 public charter schools.

Get your Hall Pass Schools in Louisiana Services for children in Louisiana (on Disability Atlas)

The state office and your options when you disagree

State special education office

Louisiana Department of Education, Division of Special Populations (877) 453-2721

Procedural safeguards (your rights notice)

Read the state's notice

Mediation

Ask for mediation

State complaint

File a state complaint

Due process

Ask for a due process hearing

Ombudsman

LDOE Special Education Ombudsman

Free help for families

Parent centers

Louisiana Parent Training and Information Center
Parent Training and Information Center (PTI), Harahan
(504) 888-9111
Pyramid Community Parent Resource
Community Parent Resource Center (CPRC), New Orleans
(504) 218-8922

Disability rights agency

Disability Rights Louisiana
Protection and Advocacy Agency, New Orleans
(504) 522-2337

Advocacy groups in Louisiana

Paying for it

Medicaid for children

Healthy Louisiana (Louisiana Medicaid)

CHIP

LaCHIP

Apply

Apply for coverage

Medicaid for children with disabilities, whatever the family's income

yes: Children's Medicaid Option (TEFRA)

Schools bill Medicaid for health services

yes (limited services for all Medicaid-enrolled students)

Autism insurance law

yes. under 21; $36,000 maximum

Scholarship or ESA for students with disabilities

both: LA GATOR ESA (phased rollout toward universal eligibility, funding-limited); School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities (SWD); Tuition Donation Rebate tax-credit scholarship

Program page

Official program page

How school, Medicaid and insurance fit together

How Louisiana scores

First edition. These grades are new (November 2026) and the weights may still change. Texas graduation data is being confirmed with the state.

State of Schools

Rank 23 of 51

State of Support

D-

Rank 46 of 51

Combined

D+

Rank 42 of 51

Pillar	Grade
Following the law	D
Learning together	C
Results	C
School funding	C-
Family protections	A-
Options and transition	B+

IDEA determination 2026: Needs Assistance (2 or more years). How we grade.

Sources for this page are listed in the SPED Atlas research tables (state terms, state help, paying for it). Items marked "being checked" are waiting on a primary source.

Last reviewed: November 2026. Rules, programs and phone numbers change. Check with the office named on this page. Report outdated or wrong information.