Education Spotlight: The End of Desegregation in Louisiana
This article is co-authored by Todd A. Battiste, United Way of Southeast Louisiana and Mike Woodward, Schott Foundation for Public Education, who serve as the GNOFN Youth & Education Action Table Co-chairs
On May 2, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to end Louisiana’s last remaining federal school desegregation order.
While this action may represent the formal close of a chapter in the state’s legal history, it does not mark the achievement of educational equity. In fact, it underscores the urgency of continuing and expanding the work to ensure every child in Louisiana has access to a high-quality, just, and inclusive public education.
The desegregation order may be ending, but the conditions that necessitated it persist. Schools remain racially and economically segregated, students of color face disproportionate barriers to academic success, and many communities continue to experience chronic underinvestment. In this moment, it is critical not to step back but to step forward with renewed commitment and resources.
At the GNOFN, we are focused on increasing equity, well-being, and opportunity for young people across our region. Through our Education Action Table, we collaborate with community-based organizations, funders, and advocates to support strategies that address the root causes of educational disparities and create long-term systems change.
Fortunately, Louisiana has made progress that can serve as a foundation for what comes next. The state’s recent literacy initiative is one example. By investing in high-quality reading curricula, expanded tutoring, and educator coaching, this effort is already helping thousands of students improve foundational skills and build confidence. These kinds of coordinated, evidence-based interventions work, and they must be scaled.
In addition, there is growing momentum around other transformative strategies:
- Louisiana’s new early literacy initiative, which provides science-based reading curricula, tutoring, and coaching, is already helping thousands of students catch up and gain confidence. It’s proof that coordinated, well-resourced interventions work.
- Across the state, educators and advocates are calling for increased investments in teacher training, culturally affirming curricula, and robust pipelines to recruit and retain educators of color—because representation matters and burnout is real.
- Nonprofits are providing holistic supports, from mental health services to after-school programming to mentorship—resources that research shows are critical for student well-being and long-term success.
- Communities are leading innovative efforts to amplify youth voice, organize parents, and build cross-sector coalitions that demand accountability and better outcomes from public systems.
GNOFN is proud to elevate this work. Our collaborative grantmaking model allows local nonprofits to expand their reach and deepen their impact. We prioritize community leadership and racial equity in every investment we make, knowing that those closest to the challenges are also closest to the solutions.
The end of a court order does not erase the need for equity-focused education strategies. Instead, it reminds us that systemic change requires sustained investment, coordinated action, and shared accountability. We encourage our fellow funders, civic leaders, and community members to join us in building an education system that is worthy of all Louisiana’s children.
