Evolving Early Childhood Education For Teachers in Louisiana

To address the challenge of improving early childhood education in Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) partnered with Designing Digitally (DDINC) to create a transformative statewide training initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of education. The project began with a thorough analysis and consulting phase, during which DDINC conducted extensive research into LDOE’s existing training programs, workforce challenges, and compliance requirements. Through stakeholder interviews, regulatory reviews, and an assessment of exemplary early learning programs, DDINC identified key deficiencies in the current training approach and developed a comprehensive implementation strategy.

This strategy established a structured, competency-based learning experience designed to standardize onboarding, improve educator preparedness, and ensure alignment with Louisiana’s Early Learning and Development Standards (ELDS). To bring this vision to fruition, Designing Digitally created a comprehensive online training program that equipped early childhood educators with the essential knowledge, practical skills, and real-world applications needed for success in the classroom. The curriculum focused on three critical domains: Professionalism, Health & Safety, and State Licensing Regulations to ensure compliance and high-quality caregiving; Child Development, Learning Standards, and Learning Activities to provide educators with an understanding of developmental milestones and effective teaching practices; and Teacher-Child Interactions, Child Guidance, and Classroom Management to promote strong relationships, positive learning environments, and effective behavior management strategies. Designed with interactive elements, scenario-based learning, and competency-driven assessments, the training program was engaging and outcome-focused, ensuring that educators not only learned the material but also gained the skills to apply it effectively in real classroom settings.

After the program’s launch, DDINC and LDOE implemented a multi-phase evaluation framework to measure its long-term effectiveness. Over several months, educators, administrators, and compliance officers provided structured feedback, participated in post-training assessments, and engaged in classroom observations to assess knowledge retention, implementation success, and overall improvements in educator performance. The results were transformative, with educators across the state reporting significant increases in confidence, preparedness, and adherence to best practices. This led to improved classroom management, stronger teacher-child interactions, and greater consistency in meeting state education standards. The program also achieved exceptional certification completion rates, highlighting its effectiveness in delivering a highly engaging and results-driven training experience. Through this groundbreaking initiative, LDOE and DDINC successfully raised the standard for early childhood education in Louisiana, ensuring that every new educator enters the workforce equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to positively impact young learners’ futures.

This custom online training program not only transformed teacher training statewide but also set a national precedent for how strategic consulting, instructional design, and technology-driven learning can revolutionize educator development on a large scale. As a result, Louisiana’s early childhood education system is now recognized as a leader in training excellence, ensuring that children receive the highest quality care and education from their very first day in a classroom.