LDOE outlines computer‑science standards, teacher training and AI guidance for statewide rollout

The Louisiana Department of Education told the BESE task force the state has adopted a framework for computer‑science instruction that is designed to adapt to rapid changes in artificial intelligence and to scale teacher supports statewide.

Ashley Thompson, assistant superintendent for policy and governmental affairs at LDOE, reviewed the statutory background, saying legislation from 2022 established a Computer Science Education Commission and later action in 2024 created requirements to embed computer‑science instruction in K‑5 beginning with the 2027–28 school year and to ensure course offerings for middle and high school students. "That means that every kid in Louisiana is gonna get computer science content," Thompson said.

Implementation supports: Thompson cited targeted state funding and training already under way: about $3,300,000 has been distributed through Computer Science Technical Assistance grants (70 awards) that the presentation said have reached roughly 578,262 students, and a direct student services funding pool of approximately $5,800,000 is available in the next application cycle for tutoring or AI applications.

Guidance and teacher training: LDOE released broad AI guidance for schools in 2024 and developed the CREATE framework for effective AI prompting aimed at teachers; Thompson said the guidance is designed to be updated annually or more often so that rapid technology changes do not require rulemaking. She stressed that the standards intentionally preserve long‑running framework concepts (modeling, simulation, data representation, cybersecurity) and place AI specifics in guidance rather than in a rule that would be harder to update.

Classroom examples and safeguards: Thompson described district technical assistance, teacher‑leader advisor networks and pilot classroom lessons that introduce age‑appropriate AI concepts (for example, second‑grade coding foundations that scaffold to more sophisticated AI concepts in later grades). She said LDOE also provides parental resources addressing deep fakes, ghost apps and acceptable‑use policies and that roughly 60% of school systems currently incorporate AI in acceptable‑use policies.

What’s next: LDOE plans continued revision of guidance, expanded teacher‑leader summits and coordination with higher‑education partners to build micro‑credentials and faculty capacity. Thompson said districts may propose alternate evidence‑based platforms for the direct student services funds, subject to state review.

Representative quote: "We released [AI guidance] in 2024... these guidance documents can be updated every year if we need to," Thompson said.

The takeaway: LDOE framed its approach as standards plus flexible guidance and training to allow the state to adapt to AI’s rapid evolution while protecting core learning objectives and supporting teachers.