Louisiana Invests $5.1M to Support Students with Disabilities!

Louisiana is investing
more than $5.1 million in
federal funding to
strengthen instruction for
students with disabilities,
state education leaders an-
nounced this week.

The funding, approved
by the Louisiana Board of
Elementary and Secondary
Education (BESE), will be
used to provide educators
with specialized training,
classroom resources, and
implementation support
aimed at improving out-
comes for students who
need additional assistance.

State Superintendent of
Education Dr. Cade Brum-
ley said the investment is fo-
cused on equipping teachers
with the tools they need to
meet the needs of every
learner.

“Outside of the parent,
nothing has a greater impact
on student outcomes than
the classroom teacher,”
Brumley said. “This invest-
ment helps ensure more
educators have the tools and
training to meet the needs of
every learner.”

According to the Louis-
iana Department of Educa-
tion (LDOE), the funding
will support training in areas
such as
- assistive technology
- executive functioning
- communication strategies

for students with disabil-
ities. It will also help cover
costs for substitutes, sti-
pend, and professional
learning partners to ensure
teachers can apply what
they learn in the classroom.

To qualify for the fund-
ing, school systems must
commit to using high-qual-
ity instructional materials
and evidence-based teach-
ing practices.

For school systems in
Avoyelles Parish and across
rural Louisiana, the invest-
ment is expected to provide
additional support for edu-
cators working to meet di-
verse student needs, particu-
larly in classrooms where
resources can be limited.

The funding is part of
Louisiana’s broader school
improvement strategy under
the federal Every Student
Succeeds Act (ESSA).
Through this process, the
LDOE identifies schools in
need of additional support,
helps develop improvement
plans, and provides funding
to assist with implementa-
tion.

School systems access
these funds through the
state’s “Super App,” a com-
hensive application that
allows districts to assess
needs and apply for both
formula and competitive
funding in one process.

State officials say the
goal is to ensure that all stu-
dents, regardless of ability,
have access to high-quality
instruction and the support
needed to succeed.