Tag: LEAP

New LEAP Data Shows Louisiana Moves Closer to Excellence

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has released the 2025 results for the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP), and the data shows promising signs of academic improvement. According to the latest report, the overall percentage of students in grades 3 through 8 who scored at the Mastery or Advanced levels (referred to as Mastery+) has risen by one percentage point. In the 2024–2025 academic year, 35 percent ofLouisiana students achieved Mastery+, up from 34 percent the previous year, as per this news release from LDOE.

Mathematics saw a particularly encouraging increase. The statewide Mastery+ rate for math among students in grades 3 through 8 climbed two percentage points to reach 33 percent. This improvement aligns with the LDOE’s larger strategy aimed at bolstering mathematics performance throughout the state. Since 2021, Louisiana has experienced a five-point increase in Mastery+ rates for these grade levels, highlighting steady and sustained academic gains.

A closer look at the results reveals that 80 percent of Louisiana’s school systems either maintained or improved their Mastery+ scores for grades 3–8. Similarly, 74 percent of systems saw stable or improved results across grades 3–12. These outcomes suggest that widespread efforts to improve instruction and student achievement are yielding positive results.

Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley credited teachers for the progress, noting that their dedication and hard work have been central to the state’s continued academic growth. However, he also emphasized that the journey is far from over. Brumley explained that while the upward trend is encouraging, Louisiana must intensify efforts to support its educators, elevate expectations for students, and maintain a clear focus on academic success.

This year’s results will contribute to school performance scores, which the LDOE is expected to release later in 2025. Notably, these will be the final performance scores calculated under Louisiana’s current accountability system. Beginning with the 2025–2026 academic year, LEAP results will feed into a revised accountability framework designed to elevate academic standards and better reflect student readiness.

The new accountability system aims to set higher expectations for schools while also placing a stronger emphasis oncareer readiness and making school performance data more accessible to the public. The first official scores using this revised system will be published in 2026.

One additional development of note is the early release of the LEAP results. For the first time since 2016, statewide LEAP data was made available in early July. On June 30, the LDOE distributed student-level reports to school systems, and system-level results were made public soon after. This earlier release schedule enables schools to prepare more effectively for the upcoming year by aligning instruction and support to meet current student needs.

The LDOE is urging school systems to share LEAP results with families as soon as possible. Parent guides and other resources are available on the department’s official website, offering explanations of test scores and suggestions for how families can support student learning.

LEAP assessments are administered to students in grades 3 through 12 and cover English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Students are evaluated using five performance levels: Unsatisfactory, Approaching Basic, Basic, Mastery, and Advanced. Those scoring at Mastery or Advanced levels are considered proficient, indicating that they are prepared for the next grade level without needing remediation.

As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance assessment quality, the LDOE is also preparing to release new social studies results later this year. These results will be based on updated standards known as the Freedom Framework, and the corresponding test was administered operationally for the first time during the 2024–2025 school year.

Together, these developments signal a critical moment of progress and transition for Louisiana’s public education system—one that blends measurable academic gains with strategic innovation and higher expectations.

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LEAP, Attendance Requirements Waived For 2019-2020

In an article in Louisiana Weekly, it was revealed Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards had proclaimed a waiver for standardized testing (LEAP) state-wide, as well as A-F letter grades and attendance requirements for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

Expected by local school leaders to promote student mental health and well-being by unburdening them of concerns of grades, attendance and schoolwork, this decision also allows schools to work to explore online learning in these rapidly changing times. The U.S. Department of Education will have to approve some of the waivers, with Edwards noting, “While I’m going to suspend state law, those suspensions are really only effective when we get the waiver.” He indicated that he did not think this would be a problem and that he expected that other states would be seeking the same suspension of requirements on assessment.

Edwards stressed the need for swift, sweeping changes, stating, “The bottom line is this, based on all the information we have, we have two weeks to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and we can only influence that if we are doing what we are being asked to do. Please understand, this fight against coronavirus is going to last longer than two weeks. We don’t want to look like Italy two weeks from now.”  This decision to waive LEAP testing comes after the Governor announced a month-long closure of schools earlier in the month of March to attempt to slow the spread of the virus in The Pelican State.

Several schools nationwide are quickly adapting to closures and the need for online/remote educational options. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom relayed that “few, if any” schools would be reopening in spring 2020.

Knowing families are still invested in their children’s education, schools in the state continue to offer online and take-home learning for students, even with the waived mandates on LEAP testing, attendance and grading.

In New Orleans, fifth-grade teacher at Morris Jeff Community School, Matthew Tuttle, starts morning classes daily with his students in a live video conference.  He relayed, “There’s something to be said with continuing instruction in the face of complete changes of routine, lifestyle and everything. There is something to knowing that your teacher is still going to be there, if by phone, or computer screen. That is something kids can hold on to in an unpredictable time.” Tuttle feels that the waivers will allow for teachers to focus on what really matters, educating students without the added pressure of attendance, testing and grading. The waivers are a relief on both students and teachers in these unprecedented circumstances.

Crescent City Schools CEO Kate Mehok said their schools’ distance-learning plan was changing by the day.  Currently, they are focused on ensuring students needing computer, phone and internet access have it.  “Even though we’ve not officially closed schools for more than just four weeks I think we anticipate this could last longer.  Any decision we would make to end school, my guess is we would make that decision together. I am open to hearing from others and working with the district and Orleans to make sure we’re doing the right thing for kids. So whatever that is, I imagine we’ll do it together,” she said.

In a statement from NOLA Public Schools, the district “is working with our partners to assess how this decision will impact the 2019-2020 school year as the situation develops over the coming months.”

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