La. Rev. Stat. § 17:15 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 15
Criminal history review
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) A person who has been convicted of or has pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C) or whose name is recorded on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry on or after August 1, 2018, shall not be hired by a city, parish, or other local public school board or a nonpublic school or school system as a bus operator, substitute bus operator, or janitor, or as a temporary, part-time, or permanent school employee of any kind.

(b)(i) Except as otherwise provided in this Subparagraph, a city, parish, or other local public school board or a nonpublic school or school system shall not knowingly hire a person as an administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher if the person:

(aa) Has been convicted of or has pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C) even if adjudication was withheld or a pardon or expungement was granted.

(bb) Is recorded on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry on or after August 1, 2018.

(cc) Has been found to have submitted fraudulent documentation to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or the state Department of Education as part of an application for a Louisiana teaching certificate or other teaching authorization.

(dd) Has been found to have facilitated cheating on any state assessment as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(ii) A city, parish, or other local public school board or a nonpublic school or school system may hire a person as an administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher who is otherwise prohibited from being hired pursuant to Subitems (i)(cc) and (dd) of this Subparagraph if the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approves a formal appeal request submitted by the person and issues a teaching certificate or authorization as provided in R.S. 17:8.7(B).

(c) For purposes of this Section, any person employed to provide cafeteria, transportation, janitorial, maintenance, or student services by any person or entity that contracts with a school or school system to provide such services shall be considered to be hired by a school system.

(2)(a) A city, parish, or other local public school board shall dismiss:

(i) An administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher upon the final conviction of or submission of a plea of nolo contendere to any crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C); however, if the person has obtained tenure, such dismissal shall occur only after a hearing held pursuant to the provisions of Part II of Chapter 2 of this Title.

(ii) An administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher whose name is recorded on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry on or after August 1, 2025.

(iii) An administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher who is found to have submitted fraudulent documentation to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or the state Department of Education as part of an application for a Louisiana teaching certificate or other teaching authorization.

(iv) An administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher who is found to have facilitated cheating on any state assessment as determined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(v) Any other school employee if the employee is convicted of or pleads nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C), except R.S. 14:74.

(vi) Any other school employee if the employee's name is recorded on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry on or after August 1, 2025.

(b) The superintendent of schools of any school system dismissing an employee pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph shall notify the state superintendent of education of the employee's dismissal not later than thirty days after such dismissal.

(c) A city, parish, or other local public school board may reemploy an administrator, teacher, or other school employee who has been dismissed for conviction of a crime, except a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C), pursuant to Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph only upon written approval of a district judge of the parish and the district attorney, or upon written documentation from the court in which the conviction occurred stating that the conviction has been reversed, set aside, or vacated. Any such statement of approval of the judge and the district attorney and any such written documentation from the court shall be kept on file at all times by the school and shall be produced upon request to any law enforcement officer. No later than thirty days after its being placed on file by the school, the school principal shall submit a copy of any such statement of approval or written documentation from the court to the state superintendent of education.

B. Each city, parish, and other local public school board shall establish, by regulation, requirements and procedures consistent with the provisions of R.S. 15:587.1 under which the school systems may determine whether an applicant with a teaching credential or authorization issued by the state board or the state department, and shall determine whether an employee, including any person employed as provided in Subparagraph (A)(1)(c) of this Section, has been arrested for or convicted of or pled nolo contendere to any criminal offense. A criminal background check is not required for an applicant with a teaching credential or authorization issued by the board or the department unless the applicant's teaching certification or teaching authorization has been denied, suspended, or revoked by the board or the department. Included in this regulation shall be the requirement and the procedure for the submission of a person's fingerprints in a form acceptable to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information prior to employment of the person.

C. For the purposes of this Section, "city, parish, or other local public school board" shall mean the governing authority of any public elementary or secondary school.

D.(1)(a) An administrator, teacher, or other school employee upon his final conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any criminal offense, excluding traffic offenses, shall report the fact of his conviction or plea to his employer and to the department within two business days, exclusive of weekends and holidays, of the conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere. Upon receiving a report of a final conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to any criminal offense, excluding traffic offenses, by an employee holding a teaching certificate or teaching authorization issued by the state board, a school or school system shall report the fact of the conviction or plea to the Department of Education within two business days, exclusive of weekends and holidays, of receiving the report of the conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere.

(b) An administrator, teacher, or other school employee whose name is recorded on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry on or after August 1, 2025, shall report the recordation to his employer and to the department within two business days, exclusive of weekends and holidays.

(2) An administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher who fails to report a conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of any felony offense or fails to report recordation on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry shall be fined not more than one thousand dollars or imprisoned for not more than one year, with or without hard labor, or both.

(3) A school employee other than an administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher who fails to report a conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of any criminal offense listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C)(1) or fails to report recordation on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, with or without hard labor, or both.

E.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education may assess a civil fine against a school governing authority, equal to the average state yearly compensation for a public school teacher, inclusive of salary and benefits, who knowingly employs a person without requesting the criminal records or verifying whether the person's name is recorded on the Department of Children and Family Services' state central registry as required by this Section or who knowingly hires a person who has been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to any crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C) or whose name is recorded on the state central registry.

(2) The fine shall be levied only after a final judgment is rendered pursuant to an adjudication process conducted in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 49:975 et seq.

(3) The state board shall report any instances of fine assessments to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education within thirty days of such assessment. Civil fines collected pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be deposited immediately into the state treasury. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act for implementation of this Subsection.

F. At the request of his parent or legal guardian, a student shall be removed from the class of any teacher who has a felony conviction and placed in another class if there is another class of a suitable grade or subject available.

Acts 1986, No. 760, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1987; Acts 1989, No. 14, §2; Acts 1990, No. 618, §1, eff. July 19, 1990; Acts 1993, No. 1056, §1, eff. July 13, 1992; Acts 1999, No. 1052, §2, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2005, No. 416, §1; Acts 2006, No. 233, §1; Acts 2008, No. 649, §2; Acts 2009, No. 192, §2, eff. June 30, 2009; Acts 2017, No. 335, §1; Acts 2017, No. 423, §2, eff. June 26, 2017; Acts 2018, No. 634, §1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 387, §1; Acts 2022, No. 745, §2; Acts 2023, No. 392, §1, eff. June 14, 2023; Acts 2025, No. 409, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2035 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2035
Necessary expenditures; board's authority to make
Status: in_force

The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges may make such expenditures for the actual expenses of the board and for the salaries of assistants and for office and other expenses as in its judgment are necessary for the proper administration of this Subpart.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:221.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 221.5
Placement in classrooms of children born at the same birth event; parental request; limitations
Status: in_force

A. In accordance with the provisions of this Section and effective with the 2008-2009 school year and thereafter, a parent of more than one child born at the same birth event may request that such children initially be placed in the same classroom or in separate classrooms if the children are enrolled in the same grade level at the same public elementary school. At the time of making such request, appropriate school or school system employees may provide advice and information to the parent relative to such request and make recommendations to the parent regarding such placement.

B. A request for the placement of a child pursuant to Subsection A of this Section shall be made to the superintendent of the school system in which the public elementary school is located or his designee no later than fourteen days after the first day of each school year or no later than fourteen days after the first day of attendance of the child during a school year if the child enrolls in school after the fourteenth day of a new school year. Notwithstanding any law, rule, regulation, or school board policy to the contrary, the request by a parent for the initial placement of a child in a classroom in accordance with this Section shall be granted subject to change as provided by Subsection C of this Section.

C. The initial placement of a child in a classroom in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall be reviewed by the superintendent or his designee as soon as practicable after the end of the first grading period applicable to such child. If the superintendent or his designee, in consultation with the school principal, the child's teachers, and the parent, determines that such initial placement is disruptive to the school or is not in the best educational interest of the child, the initial placement of the child shall be modified, and the child shall be placed in accordance with school board policy otherwise applicable to the child.

D. For the purposes of this Section, the term "parent" shall mean the person responsible by law for the child's school attendance.

E. The provisions of this Section shall apply only to children enrolled in a public elementary school through the second grade.

Acts 2008, No. 507, §1, eff. June 25, 2008.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1521 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1521
Establishment
Status: in_force

The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College is hereby authorized to establish, as a branch or extension of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College a two-year junior commuters' college which shall be located at Eunice in the Eunice, Crowley, Jennings and Ville Platte area.

Added by Acts 1964, No. 74, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1989.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1989.2
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Part, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Director" means the director of the program.

(2) "Program" means the Governor's Program for Gifted Children.

(3) "University" means the college or university at which the program's activities are held, if any.

Acts 1999, No. 595, §1, eff. June 30, 1999; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3138.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3138.9
Louisiana Cybersecurity Talent Initiative Fund; Cybersecurity Education Management Council
Status: in_force

A.(1) The Louisiana Cybersecurity Talent Initiative Fund, referred to in this Section as the "fund", is hereby created within the state treasury as a special fund for the purpose of funding degree and certificate programs in cybersecurity fields offered by public postsecondary education institutions in order to meet the state's workforce needs.

(2) Any money donated to the fund or appropriated to the fund by the legislature shall be deposited in the fund. Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the general fund. Interest earned on investment of monies in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

(3) Monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the Board of Regents to be distributed to public postsecondary education institutions.

(4) The funds distributed pursuant to this Section shall be used by the institutions for expansion of cybersecurity programs. Any funds distributed to an institution that remain unexpended or unobligated at the end of the fiscal year shall be available for use in the subsequent fiscal year by an institution for such purpose.

(5) Funding shall be distributed by the Board of Regents to the public postsecondary education management boards only upon the certification by such a board, on behalf of the receiving institution, that a match of no less than twenty-five percent of the amount of funding to be distributed has been guaranteed by a private entity. The certification shall detail the type of private match to be provided, which may include but is not limited to cash; in-kind donations of technology, personnel, construction materials, facility modification, or corporeal property; internships; scholarships; sponsorship of staff or faculty; or faculty endowment.

(6) The fund is in addition to, and separate from, monies appropriated or allocated to any public postsecondary education management board. Allocations from the fund shall not be included in the Board of Regents' funding formula calculation, nor shall they supplant any state general fund allocations to institutions. The availability of the fund shall not in any way substitute, limit, or otherwise affect the allocation of any funds otherwise available to those institutions under state or federal laws.

B.(1) The Cybersecurity Education Management Council, referred to in this Section as the "council", is hereby created under the auspices of the Board of Regents for the purpose of advising and making recommendations to the board with respect to distributions from the fund.

(2) The council annually shall review the list of degree and certificate programs upon which the distribution is based and the final distribution amounts.

(3)(a) The council membership shall be as follows, and any member selecting a designee shall select the designee from his respective system, agency, office, or association, as applicable:

(i) Two members appointed by the governor.

(ii) The commissioner of higher education or his designee.

(iii) A representative of the state Department of Education with expertise in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education appointed by the state superintendent of education.

(iv) The president of the Louisiana Chemical Association or his designee.

(v) The president of the Louisiana State University System or his designee.

(vi) The president of the Southern University System or his designee.

(vii) The president of the University of Louisiana System or his designee.

(viii) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System or his designee.

(ix) The secretary of Louisiana Works or his designee.

(x) The secretary of Louisiana Economic Development or his designee.

(b) A vacancy in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(c) The members of the council shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and other officers as they consider necessary.

(d) The members of the council shall serve without compensation, but they shall be reimbursed for actual expenses, including travel expenses, to the extent that funds are made available for such purpose.

(e) The council shall meet at least quarterly according to a schedule it establishes. Special meetings shall be held on call of the chairman or of a quorum of the members of the council. For all regular or special meetings, the chairman or other members calling the meeting shall give at least seven days notice to the members of the council of the time and place where the meeting will be held. A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business.

(f) The council shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge but may hold public meetings elsewhere in the state.

C. The Board of Regents annually shall submit a report to the Senate Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Finance, the House Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Appropriations. The report shall include the distribution method, the list of degree and certificate programs upon which the distribution is based, the final distribution amounts, the number of jobs created as a result of the distribution, and the method and data used to determine the reported number of jobs created. Each public postsecondary education management board shall report to the Board of Regents the information necessary for the Board of Regents to satisfy the requirements of this Subsection.

Acts 2020, No. 57, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3166 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3166
Student counseling
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents shall develop and maintain a comprehensive, web-based system to provide information to students, advisers, and faculty regarding statewide articulation and transfer policies and requirements. This system shall include information relative to:

(1) The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council.

(2) The statewide articulation agreement.

(3) The statewide course numbering system.

(4) Articulation policies and rules.

(5) General education courses and common degree program prerequisites.

(6) Course and degree requirements for all fields of study.

(7) Planning and advising resources.

B. Each educational institution shall designate an existing staff or faculty member to serve as a transfer counselor to advise students and administer articulation and transfer functions and operations.

Acts 2009, No. 356, §1, eff. July 6, 2009, Acts 2021, No. 275, §4.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3702 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3702
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Athletic booster" means a person or entity that has participated in or has been a member of an organization promoting a postsecondary education institution's athletic program.

(2) "Athletic program" means an intercollegiate athletic program at a postsecondary education institution.

(3) "Intercollegiate athlete" means a student enrolled in a postsecondary education institution who participates in an athletic program.

(4) "Postsecondary education institution" means a Louisiana public postsecondary education institution or nonpublic postsecondary institution that receives or disburses any form of state student financial assistance, including scholarships and grants.

Acts 2021, No. 479, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2085 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2085
New Covenant College
Status: in_force

A. New Covenant College, with the specific approval by the Louisiana Board of Regents is hereby recognized to be a corporation organized under the laws of this state and domiciled in the city of New Orleans and is hereby authorized and empowered to confer upon its students, or upon any persons deemed by it worthy of such distinction, degrees in the arts and sciences and all of the learned professions, such as are granted by other colleges and universities in the United States, and to give diplomas or certificates thereof; provided that the curricula or courses of study in the learned professions shall equal those maintained by other standard colleges and universities and provided that said college meet all the standards for new colleges and universities as required by the Board of Regents.

B. The degrees and diplomas or certificates shall be recognized by the courts and officials of this state as entitling the graduates and persons receiving the degrees and holding the diplomas or certificates to the same rights, immunities, and privileges in the state of Louisiana as the graduates of any other college, university, or institution of learning.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 780, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3832 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3832
Teacher incentive programs; establishment
Status: in_force

Any local system may establish a program for awarding incentive pay to its teachers for not using sick leave. The program shall include the criteria for eligibility for incentive pay, the amount of incentive pay, the method by which teachers shall be reviewed for eligibility, and how such eligibility shall be determined. Determination of the amount of incentive pay which eligible teachers are to receive shall be made by the local system. The incentive pay awarded under a program for not using sick leave established pursuant to this Chapter shall be in addition to any other salary the teacher is entitled to receive from the local system, the state, or any other governmental entity. Any incentive payment shall be nonrecurring and shall be made solely from local funds.

Acts 1999, No. 1231, §1, eff. July 9, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1511 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1511
College established; four-year college curriculum
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby established, in accordance with the approval thereof granted by the Louisiana Coordinating Council for Higher Education in January, 1972, as a branch or extension of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, a four-year college which shall be located in the Shreveport-Bossier City area, and shall be designated as Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

B. The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College is authorized and directed to evolve and effectuate such plans as are necessary to convert the existing two-year institution located in the Shreveport-Bossier City area and designated as Louisiana State University in Shreveport as a four-year institution of higher learning.

C. REPEALED BY ACTS 1991, NO. 14, §1.

Added by Acts 1964, No. 41, §1. Amended by Acts 1972, No. 66, §1; Acts 1991, No. 14, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:231 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 231
Retirement, tenure, and other welfare benefits of visiting teachers, or supervisors of child welfare and attendance
Status: in_force

Visiting teachers, or supervisors of child welfare and attendance, employed under the provisions of this Subpart, shall have the same status with respect to teacher retirement, tenure, sabbatical leave, sick leave, maternity leave, adoptive leave, and all other teacher-welfare provisions as other teachers or supervisors whose employment requires that they hold valid teachers' certificates issued by authority of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Acts 1964, No. 109, §2; Acts 2018, No. 631, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:24.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 24.2
Department of Education; teacher selection; technical assistance
Status: in_force

The department, in connection with its program of educational accountability or otherwise, and consistent with the powers and duties of the superintendent as provided by R.S. 17:22, shall establish a program of technical assistance for local public school systems to provide them with information and assistance in developing methods for the selection of highly effective teachers. The purpose of the program shall be to assist local school systems to develop standardized procedures and techniques to be used in screening applicants for teaching positions in order to assure employment of the best qualified teachers available. The program shall include but not be limited to information and instruction to local school personnel in the use of techniques to achieve this purpose, including but not limited to interviews, review of resumes, testing of ability to teach and communicate and knowledge of the subject matter and any other methods found effective in achieving the purpose of the program.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 646, §1; Acts 2012, No. 788, §1, eff. June 13, 2012.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:416.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 416.3
Search of students' persons, desks, lockers, other areas; defense of suits against school personnel; indemnification; reporting of implements seized
Status: in_force

A.(1) The parish and city school systems of the state are the exclusive owners of all public school buildings and all desks and lockers within the building assigned to any student and any other area of any public school building or grounds set aside specifically for the personal use of the students. Any teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator in any parish or city school system of the state may search any building, desk, locker, area, or grounds for evidence that the law, a school rule, or parish or city school board policy has been violated.

(2)(a) The teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator may search the person of a student or his personal effects when, based on the attendant circumstances at the time of the search, there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the search will reveal evidence that the student has violated the law, a school rule, or a school board policy. Such a search shall be conducted in a manner that is reasonably related to the purpose of the search and not excessively intrusive in light of the age or sex of the student and the nature of the suspected offense.

(b) Random searches with a metal detector of students or their personal effects may be conducted at any time, provided they are conducted without deliberate touching of the student.

B.(1) If any teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator in the public school system is sued for damages by any student, the parent of any student, or other person qualified to bring suit on behalf of the student, based upon a search of that student's person, desk, locker, or any other area of a school building or grounds set aside specifically for that student's personal use, when the teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator reasonably believed that the student had weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, stolen goods, or other materials or objects the possession of which is a violation of the parish or city school board policy on his person, or had reasonable belief that such desk, locker, or other area contained such items, or based upon a search using a metal detector, it shall be the responsibility of the school board employing such teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator to provide the defendant with legal defense, including reasonable attorney's fees, investigatory costs, and other related expenses.

(2) If any such teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator is cast in judgment for damages in the suit, it shall be the obligation of the school board employing the defendant to indemnify him fully against such judgment, including all principal, interest, and costs.

(3) Nothing in this Section shall require a school board to indemnify a teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator against a judgment wherein there is a specific finding that the action of the teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator was maliciously, wilfully, and deliberately intended to harass, embarrass, or intimidate the student.

C.(1)(a) On or before January 1, 1995, each parish and city school board shall adopt a policy that is consistent with Subsection A of this Section to provide for reasonable search and seizure by public school teachers, principals, and other school administrators of students' persons, desks, lockers, or other school areas for evidence that the law, a school rule, or a parish or city school board policy has been violated.

(b) Such policy shall include at a minimum:

(i) Specification of standards regarding procedures for searching students to prevent excessive intrusion.

(ii) Specification of standards for retaining and securing confiscated implements and materials.

(iii) Directions regarding the disposal of implements and materials reported to law enforcement authorities when such authorities notify the principal that the implements and materials need not be retained.

(iv) Specification of disciplinary action when a principal or designated administrator violates any provision of this Section.

(2)(a) Nothing in this Section shall require defense and/or indemnification by a school board, a principal, or other school administrator for suits regarding search and seizure unless such acts are in accordance with the policy adopted by the school board that employs him, if the policy is declared to be reasonable by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(b) No teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator shall be held personally liable for any action authorized by this Section and performed in accordance with school board policies adopted pursuant to this Section.

D.(1) Upon the seizure by any public school teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator of any firearm, bomb, knife, or other implement which can be used as a weapon and the careless use of which might inflict harm or injury or any controlled dangerous substance as defined in R.S. 40:961(7), the principal or his designated administrator shall report the confiscation of such implement or material to the appropriate law enforcement officials. The principal or his designated administrator may report the confiscation of any other implement or material.

(2) Any implement or material required by Paragraph (1) of this Subsection to be reported to law enforcement officials shall be retained and secured by the school principal in such a manner as to prevent the destruction, alteration, or disappearance of it until such time as the law enforcement authority either takes custody of the implement or material or provides notice to the school principal that it need no longer be retained. In the case that it need not be retained, the school principal shall comply with his school board's policy regarding disposal of the item.

(3) The failure of any principal or designated administrator to report the confiscation of such implement or material or the failure to retain and secure such implement or material shall be reported by the law enforcement authority to the employing school board which shall take disciplinary action pursuant to its policy.

E. The provisions of this Section shall apply to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as it relates to state schools operated by the board in the same way it applies to city and parish school boards.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 658, §1. Amended by Acts 1981, No. 872, §1; Acts 1982, No. 675, §1, eff. July 22, 1982; Acts 1983, No. 378, §1; Acts 1991, No. 328, §1, eff. July 6, 1991; Acts 1992, No. 161, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 24, §1, eff. July 6, 1994.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3021 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3021
Louisiana student financial assistance; Board of Regents
Status: in_force

The Board of Regents, hereafter referred to in this Chapter as the board, shall supervise, control, direct, and administer state and federal programs to provide loans to assist persons in meeting the expenses of higher education, and state and federal scholarship programs for higher education in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

Acts 1978, No. 135, §2; Acts 1979, No. 349, §1; Acts 1980, No. 815, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1054, §1; Acts 1995, No. 713, §1; Acts 2003, No. 393, §1, eff. June 18, 2003; Acts 2016, No. 314, §3(A).
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3884 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3884
Evaluation records; response; access
Status: in_force

A.(1) Each evaluation required in this Part shall be documented in writing and a copy shall be transmitted to the school employee not later than fifteen days after the evaluation takes place. The employee shall have the right to initiate a written reaction or response to the evaluation. Such response and evaluation shall become a permanent attachment to the official personnel file for the employee.

(2) After the evaluation and any documentation related thereto has been transmitted to the employee, upon request of the employee, and before the end of the school year, a meeting shall be held between the employee and the appropriate official of the local board in order that the employee may respond to the evaluation and have the opportunity to amend, remove, or strike any information proven to be inaccurate or invalid as may be found within the written documentation and from the employee's personnel file. The employee shall have the right to receive proof by documentation of any item contained in the evaluation that the employee believes to be inaccurate, invalid, or misrepresented. If such documentation is not presented, such items shall be removed from the evaluation record and shall not be the basis for any decision of the board regarding certification or the local board regarding any employee action.

B. Copies of the evaluation results and any documentation related thereto of any school employee may be retained by the local board, the board, or the department and, if retained, are confidential, do not constitute a public record, and shall not be released or shown to any person except:

(1) To the evaluated school employee or his designated representative.

(2) To authorized school system officers and employees for all personnel matters, including employment application, and for any hearing, which relates to personnel matters, which includes the authorized representative of any school or school system, public or private, to which the employee has made application for employment.

(3) For introduction in evidence or discovery in any court action between the board and a teacher in which either:

(a) The competency of the teacher is at issue.

(b) The evaluation was an exhibit at a hearing, the result of which is challenged.

C. The superintendent of education shall make available to the public the data specified in R.S. 17:3902(B)(5) as may be useful for conducting statistical analyses and evaluations of educational personnel but shall not reveal information pertaining to the evaluation report of a particular employee. Beginning with the 2012-2013 school year, such public information may include school level student growth data as specified in R.S. 17:3902(B)(5).

D. Any local board wishing to hire a person who has been evaluated pursuant to this Chapter, whether that person is already employed by that school system or not, shall request such person's evaluation results as part of the application process. The board to which application is being made shall inform the applicant that as part of the mandated process, the applicant's evaluation results will be requested. The applicant shall be given the opportunity to apply, review the information received, and provide any response or information the applicant deems appropriate.

Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. June 22, 1994; Acts 2010, No. 54, §1, eff. May 27, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:424.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 424.1
Credit for teaching service in the United States armed forces institute school system
Status: in_force

Any Louisiana certified teacher in the United States armed forces institute school system, who has taught academic subjects consecutively in Louisiana, and who transferred from the United States armed forces institute to a parish or city school system of this state, shall be given full credit on the teachers salary schedule of the parish or city school system concerned, for the years and months of satisfactory teaching service previously rendered in the United States armed forces institute school system of the state.

Added by Acts 1962, No. 81, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:497 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 497
School bus operators; compensation
Status: in_force

A.(1) There shall be paid to operators as defined in this Section, for the operation of each school bus operated in the public school system of the state of Louisiana, a rate of compensation for such operation in accordance with the following:

(a) For buses with a manufacturer's rated capacity of forty-eight passengers or fewer, the minimum operational pay rate is $1.4683 per mile of paid mileage.

(b) For buses with a manufacturer's rated capacity of greater than forty-eight passengers, the minimum operational pay rate is $1.756 per mile of paid mileage.

(2) For buses equipped with lift and mobility device securement systems, the manufacturer's rated capacity shall be determined by the rated capacity of a bus of equal length that is designed to transport only ambulatory passengers.

(3)(a) The compensation, as computed in accordance with this Section, shall be paid for the number of days of actual operation, but not less than one hundred eighty days, during the official school year adopted by the public school governing authority, and for the number of days of actual operation for the summer semester, if applicable.

(b) Each public school governing authority shall establish supplemental payments for individual operators who are required by the governing authority to purchase any of the following equipment:

(i) Lift mechanisms, wheelchair or other mobility device securement systems, occupant restraints, cleaning supplies, or other equipment required exclusively for transporting students with disabilities.

(ii) Air-conditioning equipment.

B. The term "operator" as used in this Section shall mean any individual or public school governing authority that owns and is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and replacement of a school bus operated in the public schools of the state, including state universities, colleges, and junior colleges.

C. The term "paid mileage" as used in this Section shall mean the distance the bus travels after picking up its first student until it reaches the final student discharge destination or school of each morning and afternoon route officially designated by the public school governing authority.

D.(1) Each public school governing authority shall designate the size of the bus to be used on each official regular school bus route. When an operator deems it necessary to purchase a bus, either new or used for not more than five years from the date of manufacture, of the designated size to be used on an official regular school bus route, he shall obtain the approval for the purchase from the public school governing authority or its duly designated officer or agent. After purchasing an approved bus, no operator shall be penalized as a result of the change by the public school governing authority in the designated size of the bus or the length of the route within a seven-year period.

(2) No public school governing authority shall approve the purchase by an operator of a used bus when the sole purpose of such purchase is to extend the protected period against penalty provided for in this Subsection.

(3) The distribution of state funds for school transportation to the public school governing authority shall include any costs incurred by the public school governing authority in complying with these provisions.

E. A public school governing authority exempt from the provisions of R.S. 17:496 is subject to this Section in the same manner as other public school governing authorities.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 74, §3. Amended by Acts 1955, No. 57, §1; Acts 1955, No. 58, §1; Acts 1956, No. 112, §1; Acts 1964, Ex.Sess., No. 27, §1; Acts 1966, No. 167, §1; Acts 1967, No. 58, §1; Acts 1968, No. 397, §4; Acts 1968, Ex.Sess., No. 40, §1; Acts 1970, No. 586, §1; Acts 1970, No. 625, §2; Acts 1971, No. 103, §1; Acts 1974, No. 206, §1; Acts 1978, No. 37, §1; Acts 1979, No. 452, §1, eff. July 13, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 147, §1, eff. July 2, 1980; Acts 1980, No. 382, §1; Acts 1983, No. 658, §1; Acts 1985, No. 619, §1; Acts 1986, No. 140, §1, eff. beginning of 1986 fall term; Acts 1986, No. 360, §1; Acts 1986, No. 1025, §1; Acts 1992, No. 1086, §1; Acts 2017, No. 335, §1; Acts 2022, No. 449, §1, eff. June 15, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 661, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:187.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 187.2
Computer science education; legislative findings; intent
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds the following:

(1) Computer science is a transforming industry that bolsters productivity, drives innovation, and creates commerce.

(2) Knowledge of computer science and the use of technology is essential for all individuals, not just those working or planning to work in the technology sector.

(3) Cross-curricular instruction at all grade levels in computer science will enhance student achievement in core subjects, increase student motivation for learning, and develop a skilled workforce.

(4) Positions related to computer science are some of the fastest-growing in the global economy, yet many of those positions remain unfilled. In order to fill those positions, a comprehensive computer science education strategy needs to be integrated into the elementary and secondary grades that flows seamlessly into careers and postsecondary education pathways.

(5) In Louisiana, the fastest growing industry is Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services which is composed of much of the technology industry. Software developers and network administrators are among the ten fastest-growing occupations in the state requiring a college education, yet the state is producing fewer than half of the graduates needed to fill computer science- related jobs.

(6) Successful completion of rigorous postsecondary computer science programs requires a thorough foundation at the elementary and secondary education level.

(7) It is in the public interest that a comprehensive computer science education initiative be undertaken to ensure Louisiana has citizens who have the expertise to perform the technology skills embedded in most professions, who can meet the ever-increasing workforce demands in the technology sector, and who can envision and grow the next generation of technological advances.

(8) In order to fulfill the need for a comprehensive computer science education, more teachers need to be trained to teach computer science, and all schools need to offer computer science courses.

B. It is the intent of the legislature to create a comprehensive statewide computer science education program that benefits all citizens, flows seamlessly between all levels of education, and meets the needs of a dynamic and competitive economy.

Acts 2022, No. 541, §1, eff. June 17, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:419.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 419.2
Extra compensation for school support personnel
Status: in_force

A. All noncertificated support personnel employed by city, parish, or other local public school systems and noncertificated, unclassified support personnel employed by the Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, the Louisiana School for the Deaf, the Jimmy D. Long, Sr. Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts, the Southern University Laboratory School, the Louisiana State University Laboratory School, the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, the special school districts, the office of juvenile justice in the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and nonpublic lunchroom employees eligible for state salary supplements shall be paid by the state extra compensation as provided in Subsection B of this Section. The annual state extra compensation shall be paid only to those support personnel not paid exclusively from federal funds.

B. The annual state extra compensation shall be allocated on a per employee basis with an average employer retirement contribution rate of eight percent. The total allocation per employee shall be five hundred fourteen dollars with a minimum payment to each employee of four hundred seventy-six dollars. The extra compensation for part-time employees shall be a prorated amount based on the time worked by the part-time employee compared to the time worked by a full-time employee.

C. The amount to be distributed to each city, parish, or other local public school system and each of the other entities provided in Subsection A of this Section shall be no greater than the amount distributed in Fiscal Year 2002-2003 from the funds appropriated in Act No. 13 of the 2002 Regular Session of the Legislature.

D. In any year in which the minimum foundation program formula adopted by the legislature contains the extra compensation paid by the state for support personnel employed by city, parish, or other local public school systems, extra compensation for such personnel as provided in this Section shall not be in force and effect for such year and for any succeeding year in which such formula remains in effect.

Acts 2003, No. 1143, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2008, No. 565, §2; Acts 2017, No. 374, §2, eff. June 23, 2017; Acts 2019, No. 411, §1, eff. June 20, 2019; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3129.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3129.10
Authority to carry over interagency transfers and self-generated revenues; the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents, as the governing authority of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), may retain and carry over into the next fiscal year those balances in LUMCON's interagency transfers and self-generated revenue accounts which remain unexpended at the end of a fiscal year.

B. The Board of Regents, as the governing authority of LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network (LOUIS), may retain and carry over into the next fiscal year those balances in LOUIS's interagency transfers and self-generated revenue accounts which remain unexpended at the end of a fiscal year.

Acts 2019, No. 248, §1, eff. June 11, 2019.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:400 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 400
Administration; technical assistance and monitoring; rules and regulations by the state board; annual reporting; effectiveness
Status: in_force

A. The department shall be utilized as needed to provide technical assistance to the city and parish school boards and to carry out the department's responsibilities for reviewing, monitoring, and evaluating the remedial programs conducted under this Part. If the department determines through its monitoring authority that a city or parish board is not actually providing the type of remedial education program that was approved through its pupil progression plan or is not complying with state evaluation regulations, the department shall withhold remedial education funding until such time as it is determined that the school board is in compliance with its approved pupil progression plan and with state evaluation regulations.

B. The state board shall adopt rules which in its opinion are necessary to assure that the programs in each city and parish school system are carried out in a manner consistent with the purpose and intent of this Part. The state superintendent of education shall prepare an annual report which shall contain:

(1) The number of students participating in programs under this Part.

(2) The level of student achievement.

(3) An analysis of the expenditure of funds by the city and parish boards.

The report shall be transmitted to the state board and the Joint Committee on Education of the Louisiana Legislature.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 433, §1, eff. July 21, 1980. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 138, §1, eff. July 12, 1982; Acts 1986, No. 698, §1, eff. June 1, 1987.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2115.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2115.5
School grounds
Status: in_force

No law, rule, or policy shall prevent a student attending any public elementary or secondary school from participating in voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer on school property before or after school or during free time.

Acts 1995, No. 264, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1203 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1203
Pay deduction for tardiness
Status: in_force

No teacher employed in the public schools shall suffer any loss or deduction of pay for tardiness, unless such tardiness has caused loss of time from official class duties, on more than two occasions and for a period of one hour or more, during any one school year. In all cases where deduction of pay may be made as herein provided, the amount of pay deducted shall be based on one day's pay proportioned to the period of tardiness. To definitely fix and establish the extent of time tardy, a teacher, upon request of his superior or principal, shall sign a slip stating the time of her arrival and reporting for duty; and if not requested so to do, he may voluntarily sign such slip and present it to the principal or superior.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1519.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1519.1
Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this Subpart, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) "Academic health center" means an organization that has a medical school, one or more other health professional schools or programs, and one or more affiliated teaching hospitals.

(2) "Administrative board" means the administrative board for the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans created by cooperative endeavor agreement pursuant to R.S. 17:1519.9.

(3) "Board" means the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.

(4) "Chancellor" means either the chancellor of the LSU Health Sciences Center at New Orleans or the chancellor of the LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport. "Chancellors" means both such chancellors.

(5) "Health care services division" or "division" means the organizational unit of the LSU Health Sciences Center at New Orleans comprised of the hospitals and administrative personnel immediately responsible for the operation of the division.

(6) "Huey P. Long Medical Center" means the Huey P. Long Medical Center and any facilities owned or leased by the board to provide services formerly or currently provided by the hospital.

(7) "LSU Health Sciences Center" and "LSU HSC" mean the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans or the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport. "LSU Health Sciences Center at New Orleans" and "LSU HSC-NO" mean the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans. "LSU Health Sciences Center-Shreveport" and "LSU HSC-S" mean the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport.

(8) "LSU HSC hospitals" means the health care institutions set forth in R.S. 17:1519.2(B), together with all programs and facilities thereof. "LSU HSC-NO hospitals" means all the health care institutions set forth in R.S. 17:1519.2(B)(1), together with all the programs and facilities thereof.

(9) "LSU HSC-S hospitals" means all the health care institutions set forth in R.S. 17:1519.2(B)(3), together with all the programs and facilities thereof.

(10) "Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans" means Charity Hospital and the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans including University Hospital at New Orleans.

(11) "University Hospital Shreveport" means Louisiana State University Hospital Shreveport, which merged with the LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport pursuant to R.S. 17:1517.

(12) "Medically indigent" means any person whose income is below two hundred percent of the federal poverty level and who is uninsured.

Acts 1997, No. 3, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 802, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 872, §2, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 906, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2007, No. 220, §1, eff. July 2, 2007; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.

NOTE: See Acts 2003, No. 872, §3, relative to provisions of Acts 2003, No. 906, superceding Act 872 to the extent in conflict.

NOTE: See R.S. 17:1519(5) as amended by Acts 2003, No. 872, §1, and repeal of R.S. 17:1519.1(B)(4) in Acts 2003, No. 872, §2, all superceded by Acts 2003, No. 906, as provided in Acts 2003, No. 872, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:427 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 427
Teachers of exceptional children; compensation
Status: in_force

Teachers of exceptional children who are employed in the public schools of this state and who are certified under the latest requirements as set forth by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as teachers of exceptional children may be paid an amount equal to their base pay plus ten per cent of this base pay provided, however, that no teacher presently receiving base pay plus ten per cent will receive a reduction in pay.

Added by Acts 1960, No. 275, §1. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 607, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:391.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 391.4
Pupil proficiency
Status: in_force

A. The superintendent of education shall, by January 1, 1978, establish reasonable minimum levels of pupil proficiency in the basic communication and computational skills which shall be integrated into instructional programs. The superintendent of education shall, by January 1, 1979, develop and administer a uniform system of assessment based in part on criterion referenced tests to determine pupil status, pupil progress, and the degree to which such minimum proficiency standards have been met. The grade levels involved in such assessment shall be chosen by the superintendent. The local school governing bodies shall cooperate with the superintendent and the state Department of Education in the administration of this Section.

B. The school board of each district shall for the 1978-1979 school year and annually thereafter prepare a report of the aforementioned assessment results which shall include pupil assessment by grade and subject area for each school in the district, including those grade levels as established by the superintendent; and the board shall file such report with the superintendent of education.

C. The state superintendent of education shall make an annual report of the aforementioned assessment results. Such report shall include, but not be limited to, a report of the assessment results by grade and subject area for each school district of the state. The superintendent, by January 1, 1980, shall also include in such report an analysis and recommendations concerning the costs and differential effectiveness of instructional programs.

D. In addition, the state Department of Education shall prepare and submit an annual report to each school district in the state, and to the education committees of both houses of the legislature, containing an analysis, on a district-by-district basis, of the results and test scores of the testing program in the basic skills courses. The report shall include, but shall not be limited to, an analysis of the following operational factors having a substantive relationship to or bearing on such results:

(1) Average class size in grades one to three, inclusive.

(2) Pupil-teacher ratio in grades one to eight, inclusive.

(3) Average transitory factors as derived from dividing the average daily attendance of the district or selected schools by the total annual enrollment of the district.

(4) Analysis of compensatory educational needs in each parish and city school system, and

(5) Provide for an explanation of factors affecting the assessment results.

(6) Analysis of curriculum, textbooks and/or other teaching material as related to the grade or subject areas tested.

E. All test scores of individual students, average scores for individual classes or schools, and average scores for individual school systems shall be exempt from the public records act (L.R.S. 44:1-7). School boards may choose to release test data if it does not identify individual students, classes, or teachers. All test scores or test averages released to the public, however, must be accompanied by a complete analysis of socioeconomic factors beyond the control of the school or school system which have an effect on student scores.

Acts 1977, No. 621, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:437.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 437.1
Suicide prevention; in-service training; materials and supplies; limitation on liability
Status: in_force

A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop and adopt guidelines for in-service training in suicide prevention as provided for in Subsection B of this Section. The board, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Health, shall identify suitable programs for use in such training. The state Department of Education shall post on its website a listing of approved programs. The list shall include instructions on accessing such programs. The board shall update the list every five years.

B. Repealed by Acts 2024, No. 686, §2, eff. June 19, 2024.

C.(1) No person shall have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of or good faith attempt to implement the provisions of this Section or resulting from any training or lack thereof required by this Section, unless such loss or damage was caused by willful or wanton misconduct.

(2) Neither the training required by this Section nor the lack thereof shall be construed to impose any specific duty of care.

D.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall randomly survey employees of public and approved nonpublic secondary schools to ascertain their compliance with the suicide prevention training requirements of this Section.

(2) The governing authority of each such secondary school shall document and verify to the state Department of Education, by December thirty-first of each year, that all school employees have received the mandatory suicide prevention training as outlined in this Section.

(3) The board shall annually develop a written report of the survey findings and any recommendations and shall submit such report to the Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare, and the House Committee on Health and Welfare not later than March first of each year.

E. This Section shall be known and may be cited as the "Jason Flatt Act".

Acts 2008, No. 219, §1, eff. June 16, 2008; Acts 2017, No. 86, §1; Acts 2019, No. 93, §1; Acts 2024, No. 686, §2, eff. June 19, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2155 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2155
Limitations on annual principal and interest requirements
Status: in_force

The annual principal and interest requirements of any loan authorized in this Sub-part shall not exceed the amount that the taxes dedicated to the payment thereof might reasonably be expected to yield, nor shall the total principal amount thereof exceed the total amount that might reasonably be expected from the said tax during the time the bonds are outstanding.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:24.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 24.10
Early literacy instruction and screening; foundational numeracy skills instruction and screening; parental notification; reporting
Status: in_force

A. Each public school shall:

(1) Provide each student in kindergarten through third grade age-appropriate, systematic foundational literacy skills with instruction based on scientifically researched methods proven to provide a strong literacy foundation.

(2) Within the first thirty days of each school year, in December, and in April, administer the literacy screener developed or selected and provided by the state Department of Education pursuant to R.S. 17:24.9 to each student in kindergarten through third grade to determine each student's literacy level.

(3) Provide literacy interventions and supports designed to improve the foundational literacy skills of any student identified as having literacy skills below grade level. The supports may include daily targeted small-group interventions, before and after school literacy intervention provided by a teacher or tutor with specialized literacy training, at-home literacy programs that include literacy workshops for the parents and legal guardians of students and web-based or parent-guided home literacy activities, and summer learning opportunities, including but not limited to reading camps where students receive reading intervention services and supports.

(4)(a) Ensure, pursuant to R.S. 17:351.1, that all textbooks and instructional materials used to teach students to read are high-quality, fully aligned to state content standards, and based on literacy strategies that are scientifically researched with proven results in teaching phonological awareness, letter formation, phonics, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

(b) Ensure that no textbooks or instructional materials that employ the three-cueing system model of reading, visual memory as the primary basis for teaching word recognition, or the three-cueing system model of reading based on meaning, structure and syntax, and visual, which is also known as "MSV", are used in reading instruction.

B.(1) Within fifteen days of identifying that a student in kindergarten through third grade is below grade level, based on the results of any of the three literacy screeners administered per school year, the school shall notify the student's parent or legal guardian in writing that the student has been identified as being below grade level and shall provide the student's parent with the following:

(a) Information regarding the importance of being able to read proficiently by the end of the third grade.

(b) Activities that may be used at home to improve literacy proficiency.

(c) Information regarding the specific interventions and supports that the school will provide to improve the literacy proficiency of the student.

(2) Each school shall provide mid-year and end-of-the-year updates to the parent or legal guardian of each student identified as having literacy skills below grade level detailing the student's progress in gaining foundational literacy skills and providing the parent with additional tools to use at home to improve the student's literacy proficiency.

C.(1) Beginning June 1, 2023, and triennially thereafter, each school shall develop, and submit to the department, a foundational literacy skills plan for students in kindergarten through third grade.

(2) Each foundational literacy skills plan shall include:

(a) The amount of time to be devoted daily to foundational literacy skills instruction and a description of how the instructional time will be utilized.

(b) A list of English language arts textbooks and instructional materials adopted by the school.

(c) A description of the interventions and supports available to students identified as having literacy skills below grade level.

(d) A description of the professional development in foundational literacy skills instruction provided to teachers who teach kindergarten through third grade.

D. Each school shall post its foundational literacy skills plan and the latest report on the literacy screener on its website.

E. The results of the early literacy screener shall not be used in determining school and district performance scores prior to the 2023-2024 school year.

F. A student in kindergarten through third grade, within thirty days of being identified as having literacy skills that are below grade level based on the results of the literacy screener, shall receive an individual reading improvement plan. The plan shall be created by the teacher, principal, other pertinent school personnel, and the parent or legal guardian; shall describe the evidence-based reading intervention services that the student will receive; and shall give suggestions for strategies that parents can use at home.

G. (1) A student with dyslexia as defined in R.S. 17:392.11 shall not be required to take the literacy screeners as provided in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section.

(2) Schools shall administer to such students at least once per year a nationally norm-referenced test that assesses phonological skills and oral reading fluency.

H. Each public school shall:

(1) Provide each student in kindergarten through third grade age-appropriate systematic foundational numeracy skills with instruction based on methods proven to provide a strong numeracy foundation.

(2) Within the first thirty days of each school year, administer a numeracy screener; in December, administer a numeracy development progress monitoring tool; and in April, administer an end-of-grade numeracy assessment, all of which shall be developed or selected and provided by the state Department of Education to each student in kindergarten through third grade to measure each student's development of foundational numeracy.

(3) Provide numeracy interventions and supports designed to improve the foundational numeracy skills of any student identified as having numeracy skills below grade level. The supports may include daily targeted small-group interventions, web-based and other individual supports, before- and after-school numeracy intervention provided by a teacher or tutor with specialized numeracy training, at-home numeracy programs that include numeracy workshops for the parents and legal guardians of students and web-based or parent-guided home numeracy activities, and summer learning opportunities.

(4) Ensure, pursuant to R.S. 17:351.1, that all textbooks and instructional materials used to teach mathematics are high-quality; fully aligned to state content standards; and based on numeracy strategies that are researched with proven results in teaching counting strategies, fluency, magnitude comparison, and simple problem solving.

I.(1) Within fifteen days of identifying that a student in kindergarten through third grade has numeracy skills below grade level, based on the results of the numeracy screener, progress monitoring tool, or end-of-grade numeracy assessment, the school shall notify the student's parent or legal guardian in writing that the student has been identified as having numeracy skills below grade level and shall provide the student's parent with the following:

(a) Information regarding the importance of being proficient in certain numeracy concepts by the end of the third grade.

(b) Activities that may be used at home to improve numeracy proficiency.

(c) Information regarding the specific interventions and supports that the school will provide to improve the student's numeracy skills.

(2) Each school shall provide mid-year and end-of-the-year updates to the parent or legal guardian of each student identified as having numeracy skills below grade level detailing the student's progress in gaining numeracy skills and providing the parent with additional tools to use at home to improve the student's numeracy proficiency.

J. A student in kindergarten through third grade, within thirty days of being identified as being below grade level in numeracy based on the results of the numeracy screener, progress monitoring tool, or end-of-grade numeracy assessment, shall receive an individual numeracy improvement plan. The plan shall be created by the teacher, principal, other pertinent school personnel, and the parent or legal guardian; shall describe the evidence-based intervention services that the student will receive; and shall give suggestions for strategies that parents can use at home.

K. The following plans may be consolidated into a single plan for each student, as applicable:

(1) Individual reading improvement plans as provided for in Subsection F of this Section.

(2) Individual numeracy improvement plans as provided for in Subsection J of this Section.

(3) Individual reading plans as provided for in R.S. 17:24.11.

(4) Plans for accelerated instruction as provided for in R.S. 17:100.13(H).

L. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2021, No. 438, §1; Acts 2022, No. 517, §1; Acts 2022, No. 520, §2; Acts 2024, No. 499, §1, eff. June 10, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 650, §1, eff July 1, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3138.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3138.7
Advisory Council on Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Status: in_force

A. The Advisory Council on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) is hereby established under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents for the purpose of focusing on ways to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to provide the highest quality education, increase opportunities for HBCUs to participate in and benefit from state programs, and ensure that Louisiana has the highest proportion of college graduates from HBCUs in the country. In consultation with the Southern University System and Grambling State University, the council shall provide guidance and advice to the commissioner of higher education and the Board of Regents regarding best practices to strengthen the capacity of Louisiana's HBCUs.

B. The council shall be composed of twenty-six members as follows:

(1) The commissioner of higher education, or his designee.

(2) The president of the Southern University System, or his designee.

(3) The president of the University of Louisiana System, or his designee.

(4) The president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, or his designee.

(5) The chancellor of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, or his designee.

(6) The chancellor of Southern University at New Orleans, or his designee.

(7) The chancellor of Southern University at Shreveport, or his designee.

(8) The chancellor of the Southern University Law Center, or his designee.

(9) The chancellor of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, or his designee.

(10) The president of Grambling State University, or his designee.

(11) The president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, or his designee.

(12) The secretary of Louisiana Economic Development, or his designee.

(13) The secretary of Louisiana Works, or his designee.

(14) The president of the Louisiana State Conference of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, or his designee.

(15) The president of the Urban League of Louisiana, or his designee.

(16) The president of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, or his designee.

(17) The president of the Senate, or his designee.

(18) The speaker of the House of Representatives, or his designee.

(19) The chairman of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, or his designee.

(20) A member of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus, appointed by the chairman of the caucus. If the chairman of the caucus is a member of the House of Representatives, the appointed member shall be a member of the Senate. If the chairman of the caucus is a member of the Senate, the appointed member shall be a member of the House of Representatives.

(21) The president of Xavier University of Louisiana, or his designee.

(22) The president of Dillard University, or his designee.

(23) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, or his designee.

(24) The chairman of the House Committee on Education, or his designee.

(25) A student serving as student body president of a public or private HBCU in Louisiana, selected annually by the HBCU student body presidents.

(26) An at-large member appointed by the chairman of the council, who shall serve for no more than two years.

C. Members of the council shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and vacancies shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment.

D.(1) Members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses as provided by the appointing authority.

(2) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the Board of Regents may pay for travel and lodging expenses for attendance at council meetings for the student member.

E.(1) The commissioner of higher education shall call the first meeting of the council no later than September 1, 2018, and a chairman and a vice chairman shall be elected from among the council's membership at this meeting.

(2) The council shall meet upon the call of the chairman, but not less than twice annually.

F. The Board of Regents shall provide staff support to assist the council in performing its duties and responsibilities.

G. The council shall:

(1) Advise the commissioner of higher education regarding methods to enhance the capabilities of HBCUs to serve the needs of their students and the state and methods whereby the state can better serve HBCUs. The council shall also help identify methods to:

(a) Improve the identity, visibility, distinctive capabilities, and overall competitiveness of HBCUs.

(b) Provide the highest quality education to the greatest number of students.

(c) Promote centers of academic research and programmatic excellence.

(d) Strengthen the fiscal stability of HBCUs.

(e) Increase HBCUs' contribution to the state's educational and workforce goals.

(f) Elevate public awareness of the contributions and value of HBCUs.

(g) Encourage public-private investments in HBCUs.

(h) Engage the philanthropic, business, government, and education communities in a dialogue regarding current and future HBCU programs and initiatives.

(i) Foster enduring private-sector initiatives and public-private partnerships.

(j) Inform public policy discussions and practices by improving the availability and dissemination of high-quality information concerning HBCUs to elected officials and the public.

(k) Share best practices regarding administrative and programmatic processes.

(l) Share best practices regarding campus safety.

(2) Strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to participate in federal and state programs by:

(a) Working with state and federal departments, agencies, and offices to:

(i) Identify programs and initiatives in which HBCUs may be either underserved or underused as a resource.

(ii) Encourage HBCUs to participate in state and federal programs and initiatives.

(iii) Establish methods to increase the capacity of HBCUs to effectively compete for grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements.

(b) Encouraging public-sector and private-sector involvement with HBCUs on such initiatives.

(3) Strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to fully participate in Louisiana's workforce and economic development activities by:

(a) Working with Louisiana Economic Development to ensure full participation and inclusion of HBCUs at the inception stage and throughout implementation of economic development activities.

(b) Working with Louisiana Works to help identify educational programs to address workforce gaps.

(c) Requesting Louisiana Economic Development and Louisiana Works to provide periodic updates to the council on their activities and initiatives.

(4) Submit an annual written report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education, not later than sixty days prior to the Regular Session of the Legislature, detailing its findings and recommendations on all aspects of its work pursuant to this Subsection.

Acts 2018, No. 236, §1, eff. May 15, 2018; Acts 2021, No. 417, §1; Acts 2025, No. 10, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3046.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3046.3
Private scholarships
Status: in_force

A. Recognizing the success and growth of the Louisiana GO Grant program and in order to maintain the long-term financial stability of the program, private businesses, industry, foundations, charities, individuals and other groups may request from the division of administration that, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, they may create privately funded scholarship programs to make payments to eligible colleges and universities on behalf of individual students. If the division of administration were to approve a private scholarship program then any scholarship funds received by an eligible college or university from a private scholarship program on behalf of a student shall cause a reduction in the dollar amount of the grant award to the eligible college or university attributable to that student such that the grant award associated with that student shall be an amount that is equal to the dollar amount that the grant would have been if no such private scholarship funds had been received less the amount of private scholarship funds received by the eligible college or university on behalf of that student.

B. This Section shall in no way be interpreted in such a manner that a student could receive less benefits from a combination of the grants from the program and the private scholarship funded on his behalf then he would have received solely from the grant program if there had been no private scholarship funded on his behalf. Therefore, to the extent that any privately funded scholarship funds provided for in this Section made to an eligible college or university on behalf of a qualified student are for an amount less than the amount a given student would have otherwise received as a grant if no such private scholarship funds had been paid under this Section and the criteria established by the Board of Regents, then the eligible college or university shall receive that difference on behalf of the student as the student's grant from the Louisiana GO Grant program.

C. As provided in this Section, when an eligible college or university receives privately funded scholarship funds on behalf of a student, the state funds for the Louisiana GO Grant program shall be reduced by the amount of the private scholarship program funds so received. The commissioner of administration shall determine and specify the amount of the reduction from the source of the funds to provide the maximum benefit to the state from the privately funded scholarship program. The state treasurer shall deposit the amount of the reduction as specified by the commissioner of administration into the Overcollections Fund created in R. S. 39:100.21 and credit the deposit to an account within the fund hereby established and created to be known as the "Program Participation Savings Account".

Acts 2014, No. 778, §1, eff. July 1, 2014.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1989.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1989.4
Director of the program; appointment; term; powers; duties; compensation
Status: in_force

A. The program shall be governed by a director whose appointment, term, powers, duties, and compensation shall be as provided in this Section.

B.(1) The person serving as director on June 30, 1999, shall continue to serve as director through August 30, 2004, absent his resignation or death. The governor may, however, remove the director at an earlier date by certifying in writing, giving reasons satisfactory to the superintendent of education and the president or equivalent official of the university at which the program is located, that the director is physically or mentally unable to carry out his statutory duties or is guilty of serious official or ethical misconduct.

(2) All subsequent directors shall be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. In the selection of subsequent directors, the governor shall give serious consideration to any recommendations of the governing authority of any organization which exists primarily to provide financial support and advisory guidance to the program, including but not limited to the board of directors of the Friends of the Governor's Program for Gifted Children, Inc.

C.(1) The terms of subsequent directors shall expire on the thirtieth of August of each year in which regular elections are held for president of the United States. The terms of all directors shall expire on the prescribed date, irrespective of the date on which the director assumes office.

(2) A director may succeed himself for an indefinite number of terms. If, by the expiration of a director's term, the governor has not appointed a successor, the director shall be deemed to have been appointed and confirmed for an additional term.

(3) A person appointed as director by the governor but not yet confirmed by the legislature may serve as acting director pending his confirmation.

(4) If the governor deems it necessary to fill a vacancy in the office of director on an emergency basis, he may appoint an interim director to serve for a period of no greater than ninety days.

D.(1) The director shall exercise full executive, academic, administrative, functional, and fiscal control over all aspects of the program. Without limitation to the foregoing, he shall be authorized to:

(a) Make all decisions pertaining to admission of students to the program, including without limitation the formulation of admissions criteria and student eligibility guidelines, recruiting students, and ruling on the admission of individual students to the program. The director shall be authorized to waive admissions criteria in individual cases or to exclude individual students who meet admission criteria if the director reasonably believes such action to be in the best interests of the applicant or of the program.

(b) Subject to any applicable civil service rules, make all decisions with regard to employment of faculty, administrative personnel, and staff, including determinations pertaining to compensation, terms of employment, and duties. The director shall have the sole authority to make offers of employment on behalf of the program, to terminate employment, and directly or through supervisory personnel appointed by him to control and direct all activities on behalf of the program.

(c) Formulate and implement a budget for the program, direct the deposit and disbursement of funds, and otherwise control the program's fiscal and financial affairs except as may be otherwise provided by law.

(d) Devise and implement the program's curriculum, set academic standards, and select course materials.

(e) Determine the dates of the program's sessions, provided that there shall be at least one session per year of at least six weeks' duration.

(f) Take any other action, not inconsistent with law, reasonable and necessary to carry out the purposes of the program as provided in this Part.

(2) By the first day of October of each year, the director shall report to the governor and the superintendent of education with respect to the following:

(a) The program's detailed budget.

(b) The number of students enrolled, their ages, and the parishes of their residence.

(c) The number of students graduated.

(d) Any other information which the director may see fit to report concerning the program.

(3) Except where prohibited by this Part or otherwise prohibited by law, the director may delegate any of his powers to faculty, staff, or other persons employed by the program.

E. The director shall be compensated for his services in an amount to be determined annually as a part of the program's regular budget formulation procedure.

Acts 1999, No. 595, §1, eff. June 30, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3124 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3124
Transitional provisions
Status: in_force

A. The Louisiana Coordinating Council for Higher Education created by Section 7 of Article XII of the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 shall continue to have and exercise all power and authority granted to and perform all functions provided for such board by the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 or by law until the first meeting of the Louisiana Board of Regents is held as provided in R.S. 17:3123.

B. On and after the date of the first meeting of the board, the contractual obligations heretofore incurred by the Louisiana Coordinating Council for Higher Education shall be discharged by the Louisiana Board of Regents. All books, papers, records, money and other property heretofore owned, possessed, controlled or used by the Louisiana Coordinating Council for Higher Education in the exercise of its functions and, to the extent practicable and necessary, all employees heretofore engaged in the performance of the functions of the Louisiana Coordinating Council for Higher Education are hereby transferred to the Louisiana Board of Regents effective on the date of the first meeting of the board and subject to all applicable state civil service rules and regulations and those of the applicable employees' retirement systems.

Acts 1974, Ex.Sess. No. 7, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:8.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 8.7
Prohibition against granting an educator credential or teaching authorization to certain persons; appeals
Status: in_force

A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall not grant an educator credential, a teaching authorization, or a certification of any type to a person who has been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to any crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C).

B. The board may, after a successful appeal, issue an educator credential or other teaching authorization to a person who has been convicted of or has pled nolo contendere to a felony offense, except for an offense listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C), who has been found to have submitted fraudulent documentation to the board or the state Department of Education as part of an application for a teaching certificate or other teaching authorization, or who has been found to have facilitated cheating on any state assessment as determined by the board, if all of the following conditions apply:

(1) Five years have passed from the date of receipt of notification from the board of its determination that the person submitted fraudulent documentation or facilitated cheating on a state assessment.

(2) The board has received a request from the person for a formal appeal and has conducted a review of the person's background, and the person has provided letters of recommendation to the board, all in accordance with board policies.

(3) The provisions of Subsection A of this Section shall not apply to any educator with an offense provided for in R.S. 40:966(A), 967(A), 968(A), 969(A), or 970(A) who has already been issued certification after an appeal to the board related to those specific offenses before July 1, 2023, or who has an appeal pending on June 30, 2023.

C. Not later than December thirty-first of each year, the board shall post on its website a report detailing the number of appeals filed with the board for the calendar year, the offense upon which the appeal is based, the disposition of each appeal, and the number of teacher certifications or other authorization to teach issued as the result of all successful appeals. The information in the report shall be reported in aggregate and by individual school and school system.

D. In accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, the board may adopt any rules necessary for the orderly implementation of this Section and may make further provisions not inconsistent with this Section.

Acts 2023, No. 392, §1, eff. June 14, 2023; Acts 2025, No. 409, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2807 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2807
Articles
Status: in_force

A. The articles of incorporation of a cooperative shall recite in the caption that they are executed pursuant to this Chapter. The articles shall be executed by authentic act, signed by each of the incorporators, and shall state:

(1) The name of the cooperative;

(2) The address of its principal office;

(3) The names and addresses of the incorporators;

(4) The names and addresses of the persons who shall constitute its first board of directors;

(5) Its duration; and

(6) Any provisions not inconsistent with this Chapter deemed necessary or advisable for the conduct of its business and affairs.

B. The articles of incorporation shall be submitted to the secretary of state for filing as provided in this Chapter.

C. It shall not be necessary to set forth in the articles of incorporation of a cooperative the purpose for which it is organized or any of the corporate power vested in a cooperative under this Chapter.

Added by Acts 1958, No. 257, §7.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1993 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1993
Implementation of career education by board and department
Status: in_force

To accomplish the goals set forth in R.S. 17:1992, the board in cooperation with other educational institutions and the department shall implement career education by planning, executing, and administering plans for, but not limited to, the following:

(1) The development of professional skills in career education by preservice training of teachers and counselors and by in-service training of teachers, counselors, administrators and supportive service personnel for which the board may utilize personnel and facilities of the institutions of higher learning that are under its jurisdiction, and may participate in cooperative programs for the same purpose with other institutions of higher learning.

(2) Allocation of vocational-technical teachers throughout the various levels and throughout the system of career education.

(3) Writing or revising the handbook for school administration.

(4) Printing of curricula and printing of guidelines therefor.

(5) Higher levels of training for career students at the institutions of higher learning, including one and two-year certificate and associate degree programs in technical and paraprofessional fields of study.

(6)(a) Development of a program and a set of guidelines for assessment and evaluation of the performance of teaching and administrative personnel. The guidelines shall be reviewed by the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education of the Louisiana Legislature. Such guidelines shall include but not be limited to the following:

(i) The establishment of criteria of expected teaching performance in each area of teaching and of techniques for the assessment and evaluation of that performance.

(ii) Assessment and evaluation of competence of teachers as it relates to the established criteria.

(iii) The establishment of criteria and the assessment of the performance of administrative personnel.

(iv) Job descriptions for all teachers and administrators, such job descriptions to include a list of all duties.

(b) The superintendent, under the direction of the board, shall implement the assessment and evaluation program for all teachers and administrative personnel and shall determine the methodology, procedures, documentation, records, right of appeal, and reports required in connection with such program. The office of vocational programs shall provide such assistance for the program as the superintendent shall direct.

(7) Determination of current manpower needs for industry and business in each region as established in R.S. 17:1994 for the purpose of determining curricula for the schools in that region. For the purpose of making such determination, the board shall require each regional director to establish a working relationship with local economic development councils, the State Board of Commerce and Industry, and Louisiana Works to determine local manpower needs on a current basis in the region and to develop curricula and programs to meet those needs. Such determination shall be made on a current basis, and the office of vocational programs shall establish a model for such determination.

(8) Development of a mobile training system for the purpose of providing training in vocational-technical programs and courses in areas with a demonstrated need for such programs and courses. The office of vocational programs shall provide such assistance in the development of the system as the superintendent shall direct.

(9) Studying the feasibility of establishment of additional area and branch schools. Any such study shall include information on manpower needs, the most efficient way of meeting those needs, and information on the availability of training in existing schools and space in state owned buildings or the availability of state owned property for the establishment of such schools.

Added by Acts 1973, No. 208, §3. Acts 1984, No. 504, §1; Acts 1992, No. 447, §4; Acts 2008, No. 743, §7, eff. July 1, 2008.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1970.31 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1970.31
Legislative intent
Status: in_force

A. It is the intent of the legislature to establish a world language immersion school for the express purpose of providing an expansive and challenging educational experience for the students of this state, thereby enabling such students to reach their full potential and be productive citizens.

B. The legislature finds that the development of a world language skills program and cultural expertise are crucial in addressing the economic challenges facing the state and nation in the global marketplace. Professions including but not limited to law, health care, education, tourism, hospitality, agriculture, and oil and gas all require an international dimension that reflects the ever-changing world environment and Louisiana's increasingly diverse population.

C. The legislature recognizes that sustained, intensive, continuous sequences of second language study results in the following benefits:

(1) Increases awareness of and appreciation for other cultures and people.

(2) Develops a high proficiency in a second or third target language other than English.

(3) Enhances problem-solving capabilities.

(4) Improves memory and listening skills, and has a positive effect on intellectual growth.

(5) Enhances understanding of an individual's primary language.

(6) Better prepares students for the twenty-first century job market.

(7) Preserves the heritage language of Acadians and the related economic value of the Cajun Creole culture in Louisiana.

Acts 2012, No. 851, §1, eff. June 14, 2012.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:8.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 8.8
Certification appeals; appeals council; membership; duties; reporting
Status: in_force

A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish an appeals process which provides for the circumstances under which an applicant who has been denied certification may appeal the denial to the Teacher Certification Appeals Council, referred to in this Section as the "council".

B. The council shall consist of nine members recommended by the state superintendent of education and approved by the board as follows:

(1) Three council members shall be college of education faculty members, each of whom shall represent a postsecondary education institution participating in both traditional and alternative certification programs. The Louisiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Louisiana Association of Teacher Educators shall each submit a list of three nominees. The superintendent shall recommend one college of education faculty member from each list.

(2) Three council members shall be classroom teachers. The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana, the Louisiana Association of Educators, and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers shall each submit a list of three nominees. The superintendent shall recommend one classroom teacher from each list.

(3) Three council members shall be certified school or system administrators. The Louisiana Association of School Executives, the Louisiana State Association of School Personnel Administrators, and the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents shall each submit a list of three nominees. The superintendent shall recommend one administrator from each list.

C. Council members shall serve four-year terms.

D. A majority of council members, not including vacancies, shall constitute a quorum. All actions of the council shall be approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting.

E. The council shall evaluate the appeals of persons seeking Louisiana certification, including a review of the documents and transcripts of appellants, and shall submit a written report of its findings to the board. A decision of the council shall be a final decision.

F. The council shall not consider appeals of persons who are nondegreed, lack any examination scores required by the board for initial certification or administrative certification, or lack fifty percent or more of required course work. The council shall not consider requests to waive state or federal statutes pertaining to teacher certification.

G. The board shall establish by rules and regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, all guidelines and procedures for carrying out the provisions of this Section.

H. Upon the notification of the dissolution of any association with nominating authority under this Section, the board shall name a similar association to act as a nominating authority. The association shall submit a list of three nominees to the superintendent. The superintendent shall recommend one person from the list for approval by the board.

Acts 2023, No. 392, §1, eff. June 14, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:90 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 90
Office of parish superintendents, location
Status: in_force

Each parish superintendent of schools shall maintain his office at a point in the parish designated by the parish school board, and shall keep his office open during the usual office hours to receive the reports of teachers and others and to transact the business required of him, except during the time he is visiting schools or attending to his duties elsewhere.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:221.8 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 221.8
Pregnant or parenting students; policies; attendance, breastfeeding, and child care
Status: in_force

A. The governing authority of each public high school shall adopt an attendance policy for pregnant and parenting students that shall:

(1)(a) Excuse absences due to conditions related to pregnancy or parenting, including but not limited to labor, delivery, and recovery; prenatal and postnatal medical appointments and other medically necessary pregnancy-related absences; a child's illness or medical appointment; and legal appointments related to pregnancy or parenting, including but not limited to adoption, custody, and visitation.

(b) Provide at least ten days of excused absences for both a parenting mother and a parenting father after the birth of a child.

(2) At the conclusion of any pregnancy-related or parenting-related period of absence, allow a student to make up missed work in a reasonable amount of time that shall not be less than the number of days the student was absent and choose from various options to make up the work, including retaking a semester, participating in an online course credit recovery program, being granted six weeks to continue at the same pace and finish at a later date, or receiving home-based instruction services.

(3) Provide that for absences or checkouts for reasons provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, a school shall accept either of the following:

(a) Documentation from a physician.

(b) Permission from a parent or legal guardian.

B. The governing authority of each public high school shall adopt a policy relative to breastfeeding that shall:

(1) Provide for reasonable accommodations for a lactating student on a school campus to express breast milk, breastfeed, or address other breastfeeding needs, which shall include, at a minimum:

(a) Access to a private and secure room other than a restroom to express breast milk or breastfeed a child.

(b) Permission to bring a breast pump and any other equipment used to express breast milk to school.

(c) Access to a power source for a breast pump or any other equipment used to express breast milk.

(d) Access to a place to store breast milk safely.

(2) Provide that a lactating student shall be provided a reasonable amount of time to accommodate the need to express breast milk or breastfeed a child while at school.

(3) Provide that a student shall not incur an academic penalty as a result of use, during the school day, of the reasonable accommodations specified in this Subsection and shall be provided the opportunity to make up any work missed due to such use.

C. If a public high school provides access to child care either on campus or off campus, the school's governing authority shall adopt a policy for notifying students of such child care options, which shall be available to both student mothers and student fathers. If a public high school does not provide such child care, its governing authority shall adopt a policy for assisting parenting students in identifying child care providers.

Acts 2022, No. 472, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3042.55 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3042.55
Colleges, universities, and nursing schools; contracts; cancellation
Status: in_force

A. The commission may make inquiry of the colleges, universities, and nursing schools of Louisiana, make such arrangements and enter into such contracts or agreements with institutions of postsecondary education and nursing schools in the state as shall be appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Chapter. Such contracts and agreements shall include such provisions as shall be agreed upon by the commission and the institution or school to provide for the administration by the institution of loans made pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, including applications therefor and repayment thereof.

B. The commission shall have authority to cancel such contracts and agreements, which it may lawfully cancel, made with any of the colleges or universities as herein provided.

Acts 2003, No. 885, §1, eff. July 1, 2003.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:100.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 100.10
Public School Facilities Financing Act
Status: in_force

A. This Section shall hereafter be known as the "Public School Facilities Financing Act".

B. Each city, parish, and other local public school board may create one or more public benefit corporations pursuant to this Section with all of the powers defined in R.S. 41:1215(B) and all of the powers, duties, and limitations defined in R.S. 12:202.1(D) regardless of the population of the school board's district, except that any transaction between the public benefit corporation and a third party shall be subject to the advertisement and bid requirements of R.S. 38:2212. Such public benefit corporations shall be created for the purpose of entering into agreements and engaging in financing arrangements to plan, renovate, construct, lease, sublease, manage, and improve schools and school property within the jurisdiction of each respective school board. Notwithstanding the limitations in R.S. 12:202.1(D) with respect to the right to issue negotiable revenue bonds, any public benefit corporation created pursuant to this Section may issue negotiable revenue bonds in any amount deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes set forth in this Subsection; however, any and all obligations issued as well as any financing arrangements entered into by such public benefit corporation shall be subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission.

C. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary and in order to facilitate the construction of new schools or the renovation of existing schools, or both, each city, parish, and other local public school board may transfer its properties to a public benefit corporation created pursuant to this Section through financing arrangements, including without limitation sales, sale-leasebacks, leases, and lease-leasebacks, and such transfer shall be exempt from the limitations and requirements of R.S. 17:87.6 and R.S. 41:891 and 892; however, no transfer or disposition of schools or school property authorized by this Subsection shall result in such property being used for purposes other than school purposes. The dedication to school purposes of property transferred by a school board pursuant to this Section shall be specifically stated in any transfer or disposition document, and such language also shall specifically provide that the title and control of the property shall automatically and immediately, by operation of law, revert to the school board if the property is used for a purpose other than school purposes.

D. Each city, parish, and other local public school board may make loans and guarantee loans to a public benefit corporation created pursuant to this Section or to other third-party entities in order to facilitate the construction of new schools or the renovation of existing schools, or both. Such loans and loan guarantees shall be subject to the approval of the State Bond Commission.

E. Any public benefit corporation created pursuant to this Section may act alone or in partnership with any private entity in order to leverage additional funds not otherwise available to a city, parish, or other local public school board for the construction or renovation of properties, or both, transferred to such public benefit corporation; however, the use of any funds loaned or made available to a public benefit corporation in partnership or other arrangement with any private entity shall be dedicated only for the construction of new schools or the renovation of existing school properties, or both. Such partnerships or other arrangements shall include language specifically providing that title and control of property transferred to the public benefit corporation by the school board shall automatically and immediately, by operation of law, revert to the school board if the property is used for purposes other than school purposes.

F. For purposes of this Section, "city, parish, and other local public school board" shall include the Recovery School District established by R.S. 17:1990.

G. By March first of each calendar year, the Department of Education shall provide a written report to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget on the utilization of the provisions of this Section based upon information which shall be provided to the department by January first of each calendar year by each school board and public benefit corporation created and utilizing New Market Tax Credits in the manner to be provided for in rules and regulations approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

H.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 42:262, the Recovery School District may contract with outside counsel on a contingency-fee basis for the purpose of obtaining legal services related to the use of tax credits.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 39:1494, outside counsel contracted pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall be selected through the request for proposal process as provided in R.S. 39:1503.

Acts 2008, No. 739, §1, eff. July 6, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 717, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:58.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 58.2
East Baton Rouge Parish School Board; reapportionment; election districts; terms
Status: in_force

A. At the same time as the congressional elections in 1982 and thereafter, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts.

B.(1) On or before December 31, 1981, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, utilizing population figures from the 1980 United States government census. Each member of the board shall be elected at the election for school board members to be held at the congressional election to be held in 1982. The members elected in 1982, and their successors in office, shall serve for four-year concurrent terms.

(2) Copies of the proposed single-member district plan shall be submitted to the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation for approval no later than January 15, 1982. The proposed plan shall be approved if the chairman of the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation files with the secretary of state a notarized statement that the parish delegation has held a public meeting to consider the plan, after due public notice, and a majority of the total membership of the delegation has voted to approve the plan. The notarized statement must be filed no later than April 1, 1982. If the East Baton Rouge Parish legislative delegation does not approve the plan submitted by the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board, the legislature shall develop and enact such a plan no later than June 30, 1982.

C. Prior to final adoption of the apportionment plan required above or any future alteration, change or rearrangement of school board election districts, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan, alteration, change or rearrangement and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

D. Vacancies on the board shall be filled as provided by law.

E.(1) In the event the city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with R.S. 17:72, on or after the congressional primary election in 2002, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the city of Baker, into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, utilizing population figures from the latest decennial federal census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such a new plan, as provided for in Paragraph (E)(1) of this Section, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish of East Baton Rouge, with parishwide circulation, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the city of Baker municipal school system is established in accordance with R.S. 17:72 shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected. If a vacancy occurs during said term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law.

F. At the next congressional primary election following the date of the establishment of the city of Baker municipal school system, on which a regular election for the election of members of parish school board would be held, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with the Paragraphs (E)(1) and (2) of this Section. The members so elected, and their successors in office, shall serve four-year concurrent terms.

G.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the Zachary Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the Zachary community school system, into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent decennial federal census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish of East Baton Rouge, with parishwide circulation, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the Zachary Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected. If a vacancy occurs during said term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for the election of members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date the Zachary Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

H.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the Central Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system in accordance with R.S. 17:66, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the Central community school system, into single-member districts from each of which one member of said board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in a newspaper published within the parish of East Baton Rouge, with parishwide circulation, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the Central Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which elected. If a vacancy occurs during said term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for the election of members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date the Central Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

NOTE: Subsection I eff. until a const. amend. which authorizes the St. George Community School System is effective. See Acts 2025, No. 455.

I.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system in accordance with R.S. 17:67, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School System, into single-member districts from each of which one member of such board shall be elected. Such districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of such plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause to be published in its official journal, at least twenty days prior to the date of such hearing, the time and place thereof, a general summary and map of the proposed plan, and the times and places where copies of the proposed plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board holding office on the date the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which he was elected. If a vacancy occurs during his term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date the Southeast Baton Rouge Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

NOTE: Subsection I eff. upon adoption of a const. amend. which authorizes the St. George Community School System. See Acts 2025, No. 455.

I. Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 455, §2, eff. See Act.

NOTE: Subsection J eff. upon adoption of a const. amend. which authorizes the St. George Community School System. See Acts 2025, No. 455.

J.(1) In addition to any other requirements in this Section, in the event the St. George Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system in accordance with R.S. 17:68.1, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall develop a plan to divide the parish, excluding the geographic area within the boundaries of the St. George Community School System, into single-member districts from each of which one member of the board shall be elected. The districts shall be drawn with as equal population as possible, using population figures from the most recent federal decennial census.

(2) Prior to the final adoption of the reapportionment plan, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall order a public hearing on the proposed plan and shall cause the notice of the public hearing to be published in its official journal, at least twenty days prior to the date of the hearing, and the notice shall include all of the following:

(a) The time and place of the hearing.

(b) A general summary and map of the proposed reapportionment plan.

(c) The times and places where copies of the proposed map and reapportionment plan are available for public inspection.

(3) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, each elected member of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board who is holding office on the date that the St. George Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system shall serve the remainder of the term of office for which the member was elected. If a vacancy occurs during the member's term of office, it shall be filled in accordance with law from districts in effect at the time the office is filled.

(4) At the next date on which a regular election for members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board would be held following the date that the St. George Community School Board begins the actual operation of educating students within its jurisdiction as a separate school system, the members of the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be elected from single-member districts adopted in accordance with this Subsection. The members so elected and their successors in office shall serve four-year concurrent terms. Thereafter, the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board shall be reapportioned as otherwise provided by law.

Added by Acts 1977, No. 122, §1, eff. June 27, 1977. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 285, §2, eff. July 14, 1980; Acts 1995, No. 973, §1, eff. Nov 23, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 1434, §1, eff. July 15, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 1027, §1, eff. Dec. 27, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 895, §1, eff. June 26, 2001; Acts 2006, No. 202, §1, eff. Dec. 11, 2006; Acts 2013, No. 295, §1, eff. when constitutional amendment is adopted; Acts 2025, No. 455, §§ 1, 2, eff. See Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3128.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3128.1
Power to survey, evaluate, and implement incubator facilities on state college and university campuses
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents shall conduct a survey of state colleges and universities for the purpose of establishing incubator facilities as defined in R.S. 51:1122(4) on qualified campuses. In order to complete such study, the board shall establish criteria for evaluation of institutions which shall include, but not be limited to the following information:

(1) Computer capabilities.

(2) Qualified personnel.

(3) Qualified student manpower.

(4) Research laboratories and support facilities.

B. The board shall use the criteria established pursuant to Subsection A in order to evaluate the potential for incubator facilities on campuses and recommend such facilities on qualified campuses.

C. The board shall report criteria established, data developed, and other relevant information and shall make recommendations for implementation of incubator facilities to the governor, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president of the Senate, the chairmen of the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, the chairman of the Small Business Development Corporation, and the secretary of Louisiana Economic Development pursuant to its study no later than January 1, 1987.

Acts 1986, No. 589, §1, eff. July 2, 1986.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:151.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 151.1
Additional grades in secondary schools; establishment by local boards; approval of degrees, diplomas, and certificates
Status: in_force

Any city or parish school board may, with the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and with the approval of the Board of Regents or its successor, extend the curriculum of any high school established within its jurisdiction to include a thirteenth or fourteenth grade, or both, when, by a decision of the local school board, such extension is necessary or desirable for the benefit of school children within its jurisdiction. In such instances, these city and parish school boards shall designate appropriate courses of study to be offered in the additional school grades so established and shall provide the facilities necessary for the effective operation of such an extended school program. The awarding of any degree, diploma, or certificate for successful completion of a course of study offered in the additional school grades shall be subject to approval, disapproval, or modification by the Board of Regents or its successor.

Acts 1990, No. 619, §1, eff. July 19, 1990.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3311 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3311
Sick leave for unclassified; academic personnel
Status: in_force

Each board vested with management and supervision of colleges and universities shall recognize the following sick leave policy for unclassified and academic personnel:

A. Employees, work weeks, and definitions

(1) Appointing authorities shall establish work weeks of forty hours per week for full-time employees. The purpose of establishing the forty hour week is merely to provide appointing authorities a system of accounting for and the taking of sick leave. Nothing contained in this Act or in any other provision of the Revised Statutes shall be construed as requiring academic teaching personnel, whether employed on a twelve month basis or on a basis other than twelve months, to be physically present in their classrooms, laboratories, offices, or any other place where their employment duties are performed, for the period of forty hours per week.

(2) Appointing authorities shall establish work weeks proportionate to Paragraph (1) for part-time employees.

(3) Daily attendance and leave records must be maintained for unclassified employees under the jurisdiction of each board. Each board may, in the exercise of its discretion, adopt an attendance form which is designed merely to indicate that academic teaching personnel were either present or absent from their usual duty posts during the usual working day of such personnel. The attendance record shall be signed by the employee and reported monthly to the personnel office.

(4) Definition of sick leave: Sick leave is leave with pay granted an employee for use in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:3312.

B. Earning of sick leave for twelve-month employees

(1) Sick leave shall be earned by each employee who has a regular tour of duty.

(2) The earning of such leave shall be based on the equivalent of years of full-time state service and shall be creditable at the end of each calendar month in accordance with the following general schedule:

(a) Less than three years of service: at the rate of one day of sick leave per month, or the equivalent thereof in hours.

(b) Three years but less than five years of service: at the rate of one and one-fourth days of sick leave per month, or the equivalent thereof in hours.

(c) Five years but less than ten years of service: at the rate of one and one-half days of sick leave per month, or the equivalent thereof in hours.

(d) Ten years but less than fifteen years of service: at the rate of one and three-fourth days of sick leave per month, or the equivalent thereof in hours.

(e) Fifteen or more years of service: at the rate of two days of sick leave per month, or the equivalent thereof in hours.

(3) No twelve-month unclassified employee shall be credited with sick leave for any calendar month:

(a) until he has completed the calendar month in which he was employed;

(b) during which he has been on leave without pay for ten or more working days;

(c) while serving in the military.

C. Earning of sick leave for employees employed on basis other than twelve months

(1) Sick leave shall be earned by each employee who has a regular tour of duty.

(2) The earning of such leave shall be based on the equivalent of years of full-time service and shall be creditable at the end of each calendar month as follows:

(a) Service Service Service

Service 3 but 5 but 10 but Service

Length Summer Less less less less 15 and

of Con- Session than than 5 than 10 than 15 over

tract Worked 3 yrs. Years Years Years yrs.

9 mos. 12 wks. 12 15 18 21 24

9 mos. 9 wks. 11 1/4 14 17 1/4 19 3/4 22 1/2

9 mos. 6 wks. 10 1/2 13 15 3/4 18 1/2 21

9 mos. None 9 11 1/4 13 1/2 15 3/4 18

(b) For contract periods less than twelve months but different from nine months a proportionate rate should be used.

(3) No unclassified employee employed on a basis less than twelve months shall be credited with sick leave for the reason cited in Subparagraphs (a), (b) and (c) of Paragraph (3) of Subsection B of this Section.

D. Accrued unused sick leave earned by an employee shall be carried forward to the succeeding years without limitation.

E. Transfer of sick leave.

When an employee changes his position from one state agency to another his accumulated sick leave shall be forwarded to the new agency and shall be credited to him.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 313, §2, eff. July 17, 1975; Acts 2020, No. 241, §1, eff. June 11, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:109 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 109
Appearance of attorney general; costs
Status: in_force

The board before whom any objection or proceeding with respect to the placement of pupils is pending may, upon authorization in writing of a majority of the board, request the attorney general of Louisiana to appear in such proceedings as amicus curiae to assist the board in the performance of its judicial functions and to represent the public interest. Expenses of court reporters, subpoenas, witness fees and other costs of such proceedings approved by the board shall be the obligation of the city or parish involved, and shall be paid from the public school funds of such city or parish.

Acts 1960, No. 492, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3165 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3165
Common core curriculum; general education courses; common prerequisites; other degree requirements
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents, in collaboration with the postsecondary education management boards and institutions, shall:

(1) Identify the degree programs offered by public colleges and universities and the postsecondary career and technical education programs offered by community colleges, technical colleges, and city, parish, and other local public school boards.

(2) Identify those courses that meet general education requirements within each major area of study, which shall be identified by their statewide course number. All public postsecondary educational institutions shall accept such general education courses.

(3) Identify all courses offered by colleges and universities and accepted for credit toward a degree and appropriately identify them in the statewide numbering system as either general education or required as a prerequisite for a degree.

(4)(a) Identify common degree program prerequisite courses and course substitutions for degree programs across all postsecondary education institutions. Common degree program prerequisites shall be offered and accepted by all postsecondary institutions, except in cases approved by the Board of Regents.

(b) Develop a centralized database containing the list of courses and course substitutions that meet the prerequisite requirements for each postsecondary certificate, industry-based certification, and associate and baccalaureate degree program.

B. The postsecondary education management boards shall identify their core curricula. The public postsecondary institutions shall work with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and public schools and school districts to assure that high school curricula align with the core curricula to prepare students for postsecondary study.

C. The core curricula for associate in arts and associate in science degree programs approved by the council for transfer to four-year postsecondary educational institutions shall be approved and adopted by the Board of Regents.

D.(1) The Board of Regents shall monitor and regulate the number of credits required to complete each baccalaureate degree program and shall establish a standard number of credits required to complete associate degree programs approved by the council for transfer to a four-year postsecondary educational institution.

(2) A baccalaureate degree program shall not require more than one hundred twenty semester hours of college credit for degree completion without approval from the board, except for degree programs which require additional credit hours to meet certification or accreditation requirements.

(3) An associate in arts and an associate in science degree shall require no more than sixty semester hours of college credit, including thirty-nine hours of general education coursework and twenty-one hours of coursework that constitute prerequisites for a baccalaureate degree.

E. The commissioner of higher education shall appoint faculty committees representing community and technical colleges and public high school faculties to recommend criteria, including a standard program length, for each postsecondary career certificate program, diploma, and degree offered by a technical college or a community college.

Acts 2009, No. 356, §1, eff. July 6, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 861, §8; Acts 2012, No. 622, §1; Acts 2022, No. 308, §1, eff. June 10, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2234 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2234
Prohibition on appropriating or allocating of funds for paying public school funds
Status: in_force

No funds of the state shall be appropriated to or be allocated for the use of any parish or city school board for the purpose of paying any deficit arising out of the operations of its public school system, unless at the time that such appropriation or allocation of funds is proposed to be made it is determined by the Division of Administration that the parish or city school board has levied and is collecting the full five mill tax authorized to be levied by Article XII, Section 15 FIRST of the Constitution 1 and also five mills of the seven mill tax authorized to be levied by Article XII, Section 15 FOURTH of the Constitution, 2 or unless at the time that such appropriation or allocation of funds is proposed to be made it is determined by the Division of Administration that the parish or city school board has levied and is collecting a one cent sales tax in lieu of the five mills of the seven mill tax authorized to be levied by Article XII, Section 15 FOURTH of the Constitution and that the sales tax so levied shall equal or exceed the said five mills tax, and also has levied and is collecting at least five mills of the twelve mills of ad valorem taxes authorized by the constitutional provisions hereinabove referred to.

Added by Acts 1961, No. 61, §1. Amended by Acts 1962, No. 249, §1; Acts 1963, No. 62, §1.

1 LSA-Const.1921, Art. 12, §15 FIRST (see, now, LSA-Const. Art. 8, §13(C) First).

2 LSA-Const.1921, Art. 12, §15 FOURTH (see, now, LSA-Const. Art. 8, §13(C) Third).
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:223.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 223.1
In-school suspension pilot projects
Status: in_force

A. Prior to the beginning of the 1985-1986 school year, the Department of Education, hereafter referred to as "the department", shall invite each public school system in the state to submit to the department a proposal for a pilot project for in-school suspension of students in the public elementary and secondary schools operated by those school systems.

B. The department shall consider and evaluate each proposal and recommend for approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, hereafter referred to as the board, from among those submitted and deemed eligible pursuant to Subsection C of this Section, the maximum number of projects which can be funded by monies appropriated for this purpose. The board shall approve the projects to be funded. In making recommendations to the board for approval of projects for funding, the department shall evaluate each proposal on each of the following elements:

(1) The probable educational value. For evaluation of this element, project applicants shall submit and the department shall review the statistical history of out-of-school suspensions from the schools in which the program is proposed to be piloted for the 1985-1986 school year.

(2) The probable effectiveness of the project as an alternative to suspensions from school.

(3) The probable cost effectiveness of the use of the funds.

(4) The potential for improving the attendance of students and the education provided to students if the project were to be implemented on a statewide basis.

C. To be eligible for selection for funding as provided in this Section, any project proposal shall contain at a minimum:

(1) A statement of the needs the project intends to address.

(2) A statement of anticipated results and the basis upon which results are expected.

(3) A specific outline of implemental steps.

(4) A detailed plan for staff usage.

(5) A detailed budget for expending the monies granted.

(6) A detailed explanation of and plan for evaluation of the project results.

(7) A parental involvement component which requires the principal or his designee to personally contact the parents prior to in-school or out-of-school suspension or expulsion of a child unless the child presents imminent danger to the school environment. This component shall also require the principal, after contacting parents or parent, to conduct a conference with the parent, the teacher if the teacher's presence is deemed necessary by the principal, and student when a child is suspended for any of the following: fighting students or faculty, disrespect for authority, disturbance in classroom or campus, cutting class, leaving campus, excess tardiness and absence, habitual violation of school rules, profane or obscene language, smoking, threatening students, stealing, possession of weapon, possession of drugs, vandalism, possession of or shooting of fireworks, or gambling.

D. Any school system whose pilot project is selected for funding shall receive, through the department from monies appropriated for the purpose, the funds requested in the proposal to implement the project during the 1985-1986 school year.

E. Each school system awarded monies under this Section shall implement its project during the 1985-1986 school year. The pilot program may be implemented in no more than one school per selected school system; which school system may expend a maximum of thirty-five thousand dollars on the project. Before July 1st, 1986, the school system shall provide to the department a thorough written review of the project, including documentation of how the monies awarded under this Section were spent, the results of the project, and the recommendations of the school system with regard to the project. Each school system shall return to the department any of the money awarded pursuant to this Section that is unexpended and shall reimburse the department for any undocumented expenditure of funds received under this Section.

Acts 1985, No. 874, §1, eff. July 23, 1985.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1985, NO. 874, §3.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3140.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3140.7
Revocation of license; causes; appeal; injunction; subpoena power
Status: in_force

A. The board, upon the recommendation of the commissioner of higher education or the commission, may suspend, revoke, or cancel any license issued by it or place certain specified conditions upon the continued operation of the school.

B. A decision to suspend, revoke, or cancel any license or to place certain specified conditions upon the continued operation of a school shall require a favorable vote by at least two-thirds of the total membership of the board.

C. A school with a suspended license may continue to provide instruction to students already enrolled in a course but shall not enroll new students. The suspension shall remain in effect until the deficiency causing the suspension has been remedied.

D. The commission may recommend to the board that the license of a school be suspended, revoked, cancelled, or restricted for any of the following reasons:

(1) Signing of a license application or holding of a solicitor permit by a person who has pleaded guilty to a felony or has been found guilty of a felony.

(2) Failure to comply with a commitment made in an application for a license.

(3) Failure to comply with the provisions of this Chapter.

(4) Failure to maintain sufficient financial resources as evidenced by applicable financial information or letter of credit reflecting solvency.

(5) Acceptance or use by the owner of any school of the services of a solicitor who does not hold a permit required by this Chapter.

(6) Failure to comply with any rule or regulation adopted by the board.

(7) Use by an employee, solicitor, or representative of a school, with the knowledge of the owner, of fraud or misrepresentation in procuring the enrollment of a student or if an incident is called to the attention of the owner, failure by the owner to take remedial steps including restitution of fees collected and expenses incurred by the prospective student.

(8) Failure on the part of the school to comply with every contract and agreement made and entered into by it or by its representative with a student.

(9) Use by a school or any school representative of deceptive or fraudulent advertising in any form.

(10) Violation of a provision of this Chapter by a school owner.

(11) Filing of false information with the commission, the commissioner of higher education, or the board by an owner of a school or by any holder of a license or a permit issued pursuant to this Chapter.

(12) Failure of the owner of the school to notify the commission in writing of the withdrawal of accreditation or approval.

(13) Failure to provide facilities or equipment for offering courses of instruction in a safe and sanitary condition.

(14) Failure to provide the equipment described in the application.

(15) Offering an unapproved program.

E. The commission shall hold a hearing prior to making a recommendation to the board for the revocation of a license.

F. The board shall notify a licensee of its decision to suspend, revoke, or cancel a license. At any time within thirty days prior to the revocation or conditioning of a license, the board shall afford the holder an opportunity to be heard in person or by counsel. Strict rules of evidence shall not apply.

G. Within thirty days prior to the date set for a hearing on suspension, revocation, or restriction, the board shall notify the licensee in writing of the date and purpose of the hearing and the grounds for the action contemplated.

H. The board shall suspend the license of any school that:

(1) Fails to pay required fees or annually submit updated information on changes in staff and school programs, not less than thirty days prior to the expiration date of its license.

(2) Is no longer covered by a surety bond or certificate of deposit.

I. Any final decision or determination of the board may be appealed to the district court for the parish in which the applicant resides within ninety days after receipt of written notice from the board of the final determination. Written notice of the appeal shall be served on the presiding officer of the board, stating the reasons therefor.

Acts 2019, No. 437, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:4002.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 4002.1
Course providers; short title
Status: in_force

This Part shall be known as the "Course Choice Program".

Acts 2012, No. 2, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3023.4.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3023.4.1
Additional loans to assist students; The Louisiana PLUS Program
Status: in_force

A. In addition to student loans authorized in Section 3023.4, parents of dependent undergraduate and vocational students, and graduate students shall be eligible to borrow funds under this Section. No loan under this Section shall exceed three thousand dollars to a parent for any one dependent or to a graduate student for the fiscal year, nor shall the total outstanding loans under this Section to a parent for one dependent or to a graduate student exceed fifteen thousand dollars at any time.

B. Independent undergraduate and vocational students shall also be eligible to borrow funds under this Section.

C. The provisions of this Section shall be implemented in accordance with the terms and provisions of and within the amounts established by 20 U.S.C. §1078-2.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 378, §2, eff. July 17, 1981. Amended by Acts 1982, No. 835, §1, eff. Aug. 4, 1982.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:184 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 184
Uniform grading scale
Status: in_force

A. Each public school governing authority shall use the following ten-point grading scale for students enrolled in any grade for which letter grades are used:

(1) One hundred points through ninety points is an A.

(2) Eighty-nine points through eighty points is a B.

(3) Seventy-nine points through seventy points is a C.

(4) Sixty-nine points through sixty points is a D.

(5) Fifty-nine points through zero points is an F.

B. The provisions of Subsection A of this Section do not apply to any school that is operated by the United States Department of Defense and that is located on a federal military installation.

Acts 2024, No. 428, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3801.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3801.1
Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund; history
Status: in_force

A. The late Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. served as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1972 to 1988. During that time, Representative Reilly was chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations for fourteen years of his sixteen-year tenure in the House of Representatives.

B. In 1985, as a member of the House of Representatives, Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. promoted and provided key leadership in the formation of the Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, also known as the "8(g) Fund" or the "8(g) Trust Fund". This trust fund earmarks certain oil and natural gas royalties for elementary, secondary, and higher education funding purposes. The initial trust fund balance was five hundred forty-one million dollars.

C. In 2013, the Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, has a current balance of one billion one hundred fifty million dollars, of which forty-two million four hundred thousand dollars is forecast to be available for allocation to elementary, secondary, and higher education funding purposes in Fiscal Year 2012-2013. Since inception, the trust fund has provided in excess of one billion four hundred thirty million dollars to a variety of education enhancements and opportunities for Louisiana students at every level of education, which is an increase of one hundred twelve percent over the life of the fund.

Acts 2013, No. 56, §1, eff. May 29, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3223.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3223.2
Louisiana Technical College--Teche Area Campus; transfer to Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges; conditions
Status: in_force

If not merged with South Louisiana Community College as provided for by R.S. 17:3223.1(C), effective July 1, 1999, the funds, property, obligations, programs, and functions of the Louisiana Technical College--Teche Area Campus are transferred from the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities to and hereby are vested in the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges. Effective July 1, 1999, and thereafter, the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall supervise and manage the affairs of the technical college.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:426 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 426
Free and unhampered passage on the Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge; teachers, school bus operators, and other school employees
Status: in_force

A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, every teacher, school bus operator, and other school employee employed by Grand Isle School System under the jurisdiction of the Jefferson Parish School Board shall have free and unhampered passage crossing the Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge, also known as the Tomey J. Doucet Bridge, when traveling to and from their workplace on a scheduled work day, as prescribed by the school board, not to exceed two toll-free crossings in one day.

B. The Department of Transportation and Development shall adopt rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this Section in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

Acts 2021, No. 392, §2, see Act; Acts 2022, No. 383, §1, see Act.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3126 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3126
Power to disapprove; approve; or modify; service regions, establishment
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents shall have the power to approve, disapprove, or modify a proposed degree program, department of instruction, division or similar subdivision.

B. No college or university may institute a new degree program or department of instruction, division, or similar subdivision without the final approval of the Board of Regents.

C.(1) In exercising its power pursuant to this Section regarding program approval of institutions under the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, the Board of Regents shall include in any such consideration the need for broad citizen access to the education and training services provided by such institutions and shall endeavor to expand such access through use of all available resources, including programs which are provided through electronic transmission.

(2) The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall determine the feasibility of establishing a means of awarding associate degrees and certificates below the rank of baccalaureate by using the instructional resources of existing institutions. The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges may award such degrees, provided that the board and the Board of Regents agree that such awards are feasible and advantageous to the citizens of Louisiana and that sufficient appropriations are available for this purpose.

(3) The provision of any program subject to the supervision and management of and offered at any institution under the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges which is not a degree program shall require no approval beyond that of the Board of Community and Technical Colleges.

(4) The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, with the approval of the Board of Regents, may enter into agreements or contract with the board having supervision and management of any public institution of higher education for the provision by any such institution of courses and services leading to an associate degree offered by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges.

D.(1) The Board of Regents shall formulate and establish geographic regions of the state in order to maximize the use of the instructional and physical resources of existing state postsecondary educational institutions and regionally accredited independent postsecondary educational institutions and to provide broad citizen access to the education and training services provided by such institutions. The board shall establish the regions such that at least one public institution of higher education which awards baccalaureate degrees shall be within the geographic boundaries of or shall be assigned by the Board of Regents to each region.

(2)(a) The Board of Regents shall evaluate the instructional and physical resources of such existing institutions within each region, including the resources of existing higher education institutions, and shall assure maximum use thereof before recommending the creation of any new postsecondary institution within the region. The Board of Regents may provide for the use within a region of existing resources from outside the region before recommending the creation of any new postsecondary institution within the region.

(b) Such evaluation shall also be used by the board to create efficiencies, increase student access, enhance academic quality, further the goals established by the master plan for postsecondary education, and for any other purpose that will serve to advance postsecondary education in each region and the state as a whole.

(c) With the exception of those matters enumerated in Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana that require legislative approval, the Board of Regents shall adopt such policies and take such actions deemed appropriate and necessary to maximize the use of all resources available to support and promote postsecondary education in the state.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 313, §1, eff. July 17, 1975; Acts 1997, No. 1360, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2010, No. 447, §1, eff. June 22, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:5029 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 5029
Alternative initial eligibility requirements
Status: in_force

A. A student who graduates from an out-of-state high school shall be eligible to receive an award pursuant to this Chapter if each of the following conditions is met:

(1) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have met one of the following criteria:

(a) The student graduated during the 1996-1997 school year or thereafter from an out-of-state high school that has been approved by the appropriate state educational agency in the state in which the school is located.

(b) The student graduated from an out-of-state high school that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and that meets the standards adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of nonpublic schools in Louisiana.

(c) The student graduated during the 2002-2003 school year or thereafter from an out-of-state high school that is accredited by an institutional accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and that meets the standards adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of nonpublic schools in Louisiana.

(d) The student graduated from a high school that has been approved by the United States Department of Defense.

(e) The student graduated during the 2009-2010 school year or thereafter with an International Baccalaureate Diploma from an out-of-state high school approved by the International Baccalaureate Organization to issue such a diploma.

(2) The student meets the requirements of R.S. 17:5022, 5023, 5027, and 5028.

(3) The student has a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least three points higher than that required by R.S. 17:5024(B) for the particular award or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

B. A student who completes a home study program shall be eligible to receive an award pursuant to this Chapter if each of the following conditions is met:

(1)(a) The student has been certified by a parent or court-ordered custodian to have successfully completed at the twelfth grade level a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(b)(i) Any such student who has previously attended a Louisiana public high school or nonpublic high school that has been approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall have begun his studies in the approved home study program no later than the conclusion of the tenth grade year.

(ii) Any such student who has previously attended a Louisiana public high school, a Louisiana nonpublic high school, or an out-of-state high school shall be required to provide certification from the principal, headmaster, or other appropriate person at the high school previously attended that the student was in good standing at the time the student last attended such school.

(2) The student meets the requirements of R.S. 17:5022, 5023, 5024(B)(1), 5027, and 5028.

(3)(a) For a student qualifying for an initial program award prior to the 2005-2006 award year, the student has a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least three points higher than that required by R.S. 17:5024(B) for the particular award or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(b)(i) For a student qualifying for an initial program award for the 2005-2006 through the 2007-2008 award year pursuant to this Subsection, the student shall have a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least two points higher than that required by R.S. 17:5024(B) for the particular award or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(ii) For a student qualifying for an initial TOPS-Tech or Opportunity Award for the 2008-2009 award year through the 2024-2025 award year pursuant to this Subsection, the student shall have a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least two points higher than that required by R.S. 17:5024(B) for the particular award or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

(iii) For a student qualifying for an initial Performance or Honors Award for the 2008-2009 award year through the 2024-2025 award year pursuant to this Subsection, the student shall have a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least one point higher than that required by R.S. 17:5024(B) for the particular award or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

C. A student who graduates from an out-of-country high school shall be eligible to receive an Opportunity or TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter if each of the following conditions is met:

(1) The student meets one of the following criteria:

(a) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have graduated during the 2000-2001 school year or thereafter from a high school located outside of the United States and its territories which meets the standards adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of nonpublic schools in Louisiana and which is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.

(b)(i) The student has been certified by a parent or court-ordered custodian to have successfully completed at the twelfth grade level a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education conducted outside the United States and its territories.

(ii) Any such student who has previously attended a Louisiana public high school, a Louisiana nonpublic high school, or an out-of-state high school shall be required to provide certification from the principal, headmaster, or other appropriate person at the high school previously attended that the student was in good standing at the time the student last attended such school.

(c) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have graduated during the 2009-2010 school year or thereafter with an International Baccalaureate Diploma from a high school located outside of the United States and its territories and approved by the International Baccalaureate Organization to issue such a diploma.

(2) The student meets the requirements of R.S. 17:5022, 5023, 5027, and 5028.

(3) The student has a composite score on the 1990 version of the ACT which is at least three points higher than that required by R.S. 17:5024(B) for the particular award or an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.

D.(1) Beginning with the 2004-2005 award year, a student who does not graduate from high school or complete a home study program shall be eligible to receive an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant to this Chapter and a student who does not graduate from high school or complete a home study program shall be eligible to receive an Excellence Award pursuant to this Chapter if each of the following conditions is met:

(a) As certified by a psychologist or psychiatrist licensed to practice in Louisiana, the student has a score that is at least in the superior range on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Third Edition, or revised version of such instrument or, if provided for by the administering agency by rule, has an equivalent score on a comparable diagnostic instrument.

(b) As certified by a psychologist or psychiatrist licensed to practice in Louisiana, the student has a composite score that is at least at the ninetieth percentile at the twelfth grade level in the reading, mathematics, and written language portions of the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, Second Edition, or revised version of such test or, if provided for by the administering agency by rule, has an equivalent score on a comparable test.

(c) Prior to enrolling for the first time in an eligible college or university, the student meets the requirements of R.S. 17:5024(B) otherwise applicable to a student who graduates from an eligible Louisiana high school relative to the student having at least the minimum composite score on the ACT or having an equivalent score on the SAT as specified for the respective awards.

(d) The student enrolls in an eligible college or university and after successful completion of twelve hours of credit the student is enrolled in such a college or university on a full-time basis no later than his nineteenth birthday to pursue an academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level. A student's award pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph shall be effective upon such enrollment on a full-time basis.

(e) The student meets the requirements of R.S. 17:5022, 5023, 5027, and 5028.

(2) State payments on behalf of a student eligible for an award pursuant to this Subsection shall be in the same amounts as otherwise provided for by this Chapter for such award. The awards provided by this Subsection shall be for no more than eight semesters or an equivalent number of units in a college or university which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters unless an extension is granted by the administering agency in accordance with its rules.

E.(1) Notwithstanding the initial eligibility requirements established by this Chapter, effective for the 2020-2021, 2021-2022, and 2022-2023 academic years, an individual who was honorably discharged from a branch of the United States Armed Forces from a military installation in Louisiana shall be eligible to receive a TOPS-Tech Award, provided he meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Had at least three years of military service prior to discharge.

(b) Is a citizen of the United States.

(c) Established Louisiana domicile within one year after discharge from military service, provided domicile was established on or after January 1, 2020.

(d) Earned a 17 or higher score on the ACT or an equivalent concordant value on the SAT, or attained a silver level score or higher on the ACT WorkKeys system of assessments.

(e) Enrolls in an eligible college or university within one year after notification of eligibility for the award.

(2) An individual who is determined eligible for and receives a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Subsection shall be subject to all other provisions of this Chapter relative to the award and the rules and regulations adopted by the administering agency.

F. A student participating in the LA GATOR Scholarship Program as provided in Chapter 43-C of this Title shall be eligible to receive an award pursuant to this Chapter if the student qualifies as follows:

(1) The participating student has graduated from a public or approved nonpublic high school as provided in R.S. 17:5021 and has met all requirements of this Chapter applicable to such graduates.

(2) Any other participating student has been certified by a parent, legal guardian, or custodian to have successfully completed at the twelfth grade level an educational program provided through the LA GATOR Scholarship Program and the student has met the following criteria:

(a) The student became a participant in the LA GATOR Scholarship Program no later than the conclusion of his tenth grade year.

(b) The student meets the requirements of Paragraphs (B)(2) and (3) of this Section.

Acts 2015, No. 227, §1; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1; Acts 2020, No. 225, §1, eff. June 11, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 95, §1, eff. June 4, 2021; Acts 2024, No. 1, §1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2025, No. 347, §1; Acts 2025, No. 359, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:10.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 10.3
School and district accountability; prohibited testing; exceptions
Status: in_force

A. A student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B), who is not deemed gifted and talented and who is not pursuing a regular diploma shall not be administered any test pursuant to R.S. 17:24.4 or the state's school and district accountability system, including the American College Test, unless the student's parent or other legal guardian requests, in writing, that the student be administered the test or the student's Individualized Education Program indicates that the test is an appropriate assessment instrument for the student.

B.(1) The nonparticipation of a student with an exceptionality as provided in Subsection A of this Section in the administration of any test shall not, in any manner, be factored into the calculation of any performance score or performance letter grade assigned to any school or school system in which the student is enrolled, provided that such exclusion does not violate any federal law or requirement, including the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

(2) A student who is not administered a test pursuant to this Section shall not be penalized for failure to take the test. For purposes of this Subsection, prohibited penalties include but are not limited to:

(a) Withholding of credits toward graduation or denying a student the ability to graduate.

(b) Denying a student the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular activity.

(c) Denying a student the ability to advance to the subsequent grade level.

Acts 2013, No. 291, §1, eff. June 14, 2013; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:10.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 10.9
Accountability; office of juvenile justice schools
Status: in_force

A. The state school and district accountability program shall include all office of juvenile justice schools. For the purposes of this Section, "office of juvenile justice schools" shall mean all schools and programs providing educational services to students in secure care facilities operated by, or contracted under, the authority of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, youth services, office of juvenile justice.

B. Not later than July 1, 2016, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall convene a mutual accountability team as an ad hoc subcommittee of the Accountability Commission. No later than March 1, 2017, the mutual accountability team shall recommend to the board a specialized accountability program for the office of juvenile justice schools. The specialized accountability program for office of juvenile justice schools shall be consistent with the accountability program mandated for all schools in Louisiana and contain appropriate considerations for schools in secure juvenile justice facilities. The mutual accountability team shall consist of:

(1) One member of the Accountability Commission to be designated by the chair of the commission. This member shall serve as chair of the mutual accountability team.

(2) One person designated by the deputy secretary for youth services.

(3) One person who is an expert on education in custodial settings, designated by the chairperson of the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission, after consultation with the Council of State Governments.

(4) One person representing the interests of students and families, designated by the executive director of the Louisiana Advocacy Center.

(5) One person who is an expert in alternative education in community settings, designated by the director of the Institute for Public Health and Justice at Louisiana State University.

C. Not later than March 1, 2017, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to establish a specialized accountability program for office of juvenile justice schools based on recommendations of the mutual accountability team. The specialized accountability program shall include:

(1) A specialized school report card for use in assessment of student achievement in office of juvenile justice schools. The report cards shall be consistent with other accountability systems as required by law and must articulate additional criteria tailored to measuring the progress of students in office of juvenile justice schools and the performance of those schools. In articulating these criteria, the mutual accountability team and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall consider but are not limited to:

(a) Student growth in reading and math as measured through an appropriate assessment instrument. The assessment instrument shall be administered to all students in office of juvenile justice schools upon entry, upon release, or at other appropriate intervals during the students' term of custody. The mutual accountability team shall recommend selection criteria for assessment instruction, recommend benchmark standards around participation, and recommend student growth targets.

(b) Credit accumulation. The mutual accountability team shall recommend a mechanism through which the office of juvenile justice and the state Department of Education shall track students' credit accumulation and recommend a benchmark standard for credit accumulation.

(c) Modified graduation rates and recognized high school equivalent passage rates.

(i) The mutual accountability team shall recommend a uniform assessment protocol for identifying students entering office of juvenile justice schools with a high likelihood of graduating from high school while in the care of the office of juvenile justice. For these students, the team shall recommend a benchmark graduation rate metric against which student and school progress can be measured.

(ii) The mutual accountability team shall recommend a uniform assessment protocol to assess the readiness of students to take a high school equivalency test. For students who demonstrate readiness, the team shall recommend a benchmark passage rate against which student and school progress can be measured.

(d) School attendance, defined as the percentage of students who are physically present in classrooms for school and educational programs.

(e) The percentage of students pursuing a high school diploma; an industry-based certification approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; a recognized high school diploma equivalent; credits for advanced courses, including but not limited to advanced placement courses and courses in which students are dually enrolled in postsecondary education institutions; and postsecondary education programs.

(f) Performance in educating youth with exceptionalities, including identifying special education needs, developing best-practices Individualized Education Programs, and providing services and supports mandated by Individualized Education Programs.

(g) Re-enrollment in school or other educational or vocational training programs after leaving office of juvenile justice custody.

(h) Success in post-release high school, postsecondary education, or job-training programs.

(2) A program of regular, in-person monitoring of office of juvenile justice schools on no less than an annual basis. The mutual accountability team shall study and recommend to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education the monitoring program, which may include but not be limited to external accreditation and monitoring visits by teams of experts in special education and correctional education. The program shall be implemented no later than July 1, 2017.

(3) A set of supports, interventions, and remedies to be implemented when an office of juvenile justice school is deemed to be academically unacceptable and a definition of "academically unacceptable status" that is appropriate for the office of juvenile justice schools. The intensiveness of the interventions and remedies developed must escalate for every year that a school is deemed to be in academically unacceptable status, and must include the following:

(a) Mandating intervention by the state Department of Education if any office of juvenile justice school is found to be academically unacceptable in any year.

(b) Mandating, at a minimum, the production by the state Department of Education of annual written reports detailing any supports, interventions, and remedies implemented when any office of juvenile justice school is deemed academically unacceptable. Such reports shall be presented annually to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission and the chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education and be available on the websites of the state Department of Education and the office of juvenile justice.

D. The specialized office of juvenile justice school report cards developed pursuant to Subsection C of this Section shall be assembled and calculated by the state Department of Education annually. With the results of the 2017-2018 school year, the report cards and performance scores shall be published annually on the websites of the state Department of Education and the office of juvenile justice. Additionally, the state Department of Education and the office of juvenile justice shall jointly prepare an annual written report on educational progress and quality in office of juvenile justice schools, a copy of which shall be made available on the websites of both agencies, and shall jointly appear before the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission to present the report.

E. Not later than July 1, 2017, the mutual accountability team and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop and adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, governing educational assessment and counseling of students in office of juvenile justice schools. Such rules shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Provisions for ensuring that students are appropriately assigned to educational programs and schools including high school diploma programs, industry-based certifications approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and recognized high school diploma equivalent programs.

(2) Provisions for ensuring that the student's parents or legal guardians are consulted and consent to a student's being removed from a program leading to a high school diploma as part of a student's individual learning plan.

(3) Provisions for ensuring that the expressed interests of students and their parents or legal guardians are taken into account in assigning youth to, and transferring youth among, educational programs and schools.

F. Not later than July 1, 2017, the mutual accountability team shall recommend to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education a policy mandating which records, information, and other documentation that must be maintained within the cumulative file of any student in an office of juvenile justice school. The policy shall also articulate expectations for the expedient development of cumulative student files upon a student's entry into office of juvenile justice custody, and for expedient transfer of cumulative student files among programs and schools as students transition out of office of juvenile justice schools. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall consider the mutual accountability team's recommendations in promulgating into law a policy that may include but not be limited to the considerations provided in this Subsection.

G. Not later than December 1, 2016, the mutual accountability team shall recommend the capabilities, functions, and other selection criteria for a comprehensive computerized student information system to be used in collecting, storing, and reporting data in office of juvenile justice schools. The office of juvenile justice shall ensure the implementation and deployment of the student information system in all office of juvenile justice schools no later than July 1, 2017. The student information system must meet all specifications articulated by the Louisiana Department of Education, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the office of technology services of the division of administration. In recommending the capabilities of the student information system, the mutual accountability team shall consider the following:

(1) Student information systems with the capability to communicate and share data with the office of juvenile justice case management software, local school districts, and the state Department of Education.

(2) Student information systems that can serve as the single point of entry for all data used in report cards required by this Section, progress profiles prepared pursuant to R.S. 17:3912, and required federal reporting.

H. Not later than January 1, 2017, the state superintendent of education shall designate a program manager for juvenile justice education programs to supervise all monitoring, oversight, support, and intervention in office of juvenile justice schools and to ensure compliance with applicable federal requirements.

I. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the office of juvenile justice shall be considered a parish school board for purposes of development and submission of pupil progression plans pursuant to R.S. 17:24.4.

Acts 2016, No. 500, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1757 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1757
Donations to loan fund from private sources
Status: in_force

Each parish school loan fund may be augmented by donations by private individuals, companies, corporations, or from any other source, and, such donations, when made, shall be used and accounted for in the same manner as will be the moneys made available and appropriated by the governing authority of the parish.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1923 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1923
Governing board; membership
Status: in_force

A. The governance board of the center shall exercise all powers, rights, and duties conferred upon the center by this Chapter or other provisions of law. The board shall consist of the senior vice president for health sciences of Tulane University Health Sciences Center, a senior Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center representative appointed by the president of the Louisiana State University System, a member appointed by the senior vice president for health sciences of Tulane University Health Sciences Center, a member appointed by the president of the Louisiana State University System from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, the secretary of Louisiana Economic Development or his designee, the chairman of the Louisiana Board of Regents or his designee, and such other persons as may be appointed by the unanimous consent of the board. The appointed members of the governance board shall serve for terms of four years each. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the board shall be made for the unexpired term of the member whose death, resignation, or removal created such vacancy.

B. The members of the board shall not receive compensation by reason of their membership on the board or attendance at the meetings of the board. Members of the board shall receive a per diem allowance to be established by the board in an amount not to exceed the amount of per diem authorized for members of the legislature. All members may be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. The travel expense reimbursement shall be fixed by the center in an amount not to exceed those authorized under state travel regulations.

C. The senior vice president for health sciences of Tulane University Health Sciences Center and the senior Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center representative appointed by the president of the Louisiana State University System shall serve as the chairperson and vice chairperson on an alternating annual basis according to the bylaws. The board shall elect on an annual basis a secretary-treasurer of the board and such other officers as the members determine necessary. The chairperson shall sign and execute all vouchers and other orders for the disbursement of funds belonging to the center upon authorization by the board. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the center. Meetings of the board shall be held at a time and place as determined by and at the call of the chairperson or when requested by a majority of the members.

D. Members of the board while acting within the scope of their duties and responsibilities as board members shall not be subject to any personal liability resulting from carrying out the powers and duties conferred on them as members of the board, and shall have the indemnification rights provided in R.S. 13:5108.1, et seq., with respect to such actions.

Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 41, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1523 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1523
Administration
Status: in_force

The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College shall administer the college.

Added by Acts 1964, No. 74, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:5021 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 5021
Louisiana high school graduation
Status: in_force

A.(1) Except as otherwise provided by Subsection B of this Section, to be eligible for an award pursuant to this Chapter, a student shall be certified as provided in this Chapter to have graduated from a public high school or a nonpublic high school which has been approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(2)(a) For a student graduating from a Louisiana nonpublic high school to be eligible for an award under this Chapter, beginning with applicants who graduate from a nonpublic high school during the 1999-2000 school year, the nonpublic high school from which the student graduates shall be approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:11 and, in addition, shall meet the standards required by the board for the students in such school to be eligible to receive from the state the benefit of appropriations for such items as transportation, textbooks, and administrative cost reimbursement.

(b) Notwithstanding the requirements of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, those nonpublic high schools that, not later than May 15, 2000, were approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:11 and applied for and had their application forwarded by the state Department of Education seeking the approval necessary for the students in such schools to be eligible to receive from the state the benefits of appropriations for such items as transportation, textbooks, and administrative cost reimbursement shall have until the 2003-2004 school year to meet the latter requirement in order for the graduates from such high schools to be eligible for an award under this Chapter.

B. Students funded through the Louisiana minimum foundation program and who are attending any high school in an adjoining state pursuant to an agreement in effect as of June 4, 1994, between the parish school system and the local governing authority of the school in the adjoining state shall be considered as having graduated from a state-approved nonpublic high school.

Acts 2015, No. 227, §1; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:24.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 24.6
Writing courses for students in grades seven through twelve; pilot projects
Status: in_force

A. Prior to the beginning of the 1984-1985 school year, the Department of Education shall invite each public school in the state which includes grades seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, or twelve to submit to the department a proposal for a pilot project relative to students in those grades.

B. The department shall consider and evaluate each proposal and recommend for approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from among those submitted and deemed eligible pursuant to Subsection D of this Section the maximum number of projects which can be funded from monies appropriated for this purpose. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall approve the projects to be funded. In making recommendations to the board for approval of projects for funding, the department shall evaluate each proposal on each of the following elements:

(1) The probable education value. In evaluating for this element, the department shall seek the opinion of at least three persons who are expert in the field of writing or English education. The opinion of these experts shall be controlling with regard to this element unless there is no agreement among them. In such a case, the department shall make an independent judgment.

(2) The probable cost effectiveness of the use of money.

(3) The potential for improving the quality of written expression among students in grades seven through twelve if the project were to be implemented on a statewide basis.

C. The schools which submit proposals which are selected for funding shall each receive, through the department from monies appropriated for the purpose, the amount of money requested in their project proposal to implement the pilot project during the 1984-1985 school year.

D. The proposals for projects to be eligible for selection for funding as provided in this Section shall contain at a minimum:

(1) A statement of the needs the project is intended to address.

(2) A statement of anticipated results and the basis upon which such results are expected.

(3) A specific outline of implemental steps.

(4) A detailed plan for staff usage.

(5) A detailed budget for expending the monies granted.

(6) A detailed explanation of and plan for evaluation of the project results.

E. Each school awarded monies under this Section shall implement its project during the 1984-1985 school year and provide to the department a thorough written review of the project including documentation of how the money awarded under this Section was spent, its results, and the recommendations of the school with regard to the project prior to July 1, 1985. Each school shall return to the department any of the money awarded pursuant to this Section that is unspent or reimburse the department for any money the expenditure of which is undocumented.

Acts 1984, No. 285, §1, eff. July 1, 1984.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3328 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3328
Person granted sabbatical leave; return to service
Status: in_force

Each person granted sabbatical leave shall sign an agreement or contract with his employing institution stipulating that as a condition of his sabbatical leave and in order to be eligible for compensation during such leave, he will return to his employing institution for at least one year of further service after the leave is completed.

Acts 1991, No. 858, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1970.26 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1970.26
Administration, faculty, staff; classification status; benefits
Status: in_force

A.(1) All center administrators, faculty members, and other professional employees of the board shall be nonclassified employees of the state. All such nonclassified employees shall be members of the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana.

(2)(a) All clerical, security, and other nonprofessional employees of the board shall be classified employees of the state.

(b) Any classified employee who was an employee of the Orleans Parish School Board at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts prior to July 1, 2000, who continues as an employee of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts beginning July 1, 2000, may, by not later than October 1, 2000, elect to continue as a member of the retirement system of which he was a member prior to July 1, 2000. Such election shall be in writing and a copy shall be provided to both the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System and the system in which he is electing to continue as a member. If no such election is made, the employee shall be a member of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System.

B.(1) Every employee of the board shall be eligible for health insurance and other benefits accorded to state employees as provided by law.

(2) Any employee of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts as established in this Part who was employed by the Orleans Parish School Board at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts prior to July 1, 2000, shall be permitted, at the recommendation of the primary center administrator, to transfer to the employment of the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts.

C.(1) The following laws may be made applicable to any nonclassified employee and shall be applicable to each nonclassified employee of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts who was employed by the Orleans Parish School Board at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts prior to July 1, 2000, to the same degree as such provisions apply generally and subject to revision by law:

(a) Tenure (R.S. 17:461 through 463).

(b) Sabbatical leave, both professional and medical (R.S. 17:1170 through 1187).

(c) Sick leave (R.S. 17:1201 through 1202).

(d) Personal leave (R.S. 17:1208).

(e) Leave for jury duty (R.S. 17:1210).

(f) Maternity and adoptive leave (R.S. 17:1211).

(g) Military leave (R.S. 17:1215).

(h) Provisions relative to service credit (R.S. 17:424, 424.1, 424.2, and 424.3).

(i) Provisions relative to compensation for extended school days (R.S. 17:154.2).

(j) Provisions relative to the minimum number of work days (R.S. 17:154.3).

(k) Provisions prohibiting the reduction of salary below that of the previous year (R.S. 17:421.3(E)).

(l) Provisions prohibiting certain persons from influencing a student's grade (R.S. 17:414.2).

(m) Provisions relative to school employee personnel files (R.S. 17:1231 through 1238).

(n) Provisions relative to school personnel evaluation (R.S. 17:3901 through 3904).

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraphs (b) through (g) of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, policies and provisions regarding leave for center administrators shall be determined by the board, including the annual calendar.

Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 60, §2, eff. July 1, 2000; Acts 2010, No. 525, §2, eff. June 24, 2010; Acts 2018, No. 631, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1751 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1751
Creation of parish school loan funds; purpose
Status: in_force

There is created in every parish of this state a parish school loan fund under the name and style "(Name of Parish) Parish School Loan Fund." This fund has for its object and purpose to advance money or loans to worthy high school graduates of each parish in order to enable them to continue their education in any state endowed university, college or institution of this state or in any business school or college which meets with the approval of the Parish School Loan Fund Committee created in R.S. 17:1752.

Amended by Acts 1956, No. 398, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3138 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3138
Louisiana common application; development; implementation
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) The Board of Regents, in collaboration with the public postsecondary education management boards, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Education or his designee, and the chairman of the House Committee on Education or his designee, shall provide for the development and implementation of a common application whereby Louisiana residents and nonresidents may apply to any public college and university in the state. Except as provided in R.S. 17:3152, such application shall not include questions pertaining to an applicant's criminal history.

(b) When developing the implementation plan for the common application, consideration shall be given to best practices for successful implementation, implementation costs, development and maintenance of a website to facilitate the common application process, and the duties and responsibilities of the Board of Regents and the postsecondary education systems and institutions.

(2) Regionally accredited independent colleges and universities that are members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities may also utilize the Louisiana common application.

B. Each public college and university shall accept the Louisiana common application, which a student may complete one time and submit to as many institutions as he wishes to apply. Applications may be submitted electronically or in a paper format, as specified by the individual postsecondary institution.

C. Each public college and university may impose such application fees as authorized by law and may separately collect such supplemental documentation and information as it deems necessary to properly evaluate the student's application.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection B of this Section, if a student chooses to utilize the "Common Application" developed and administered by the not-for-profit membership organization, The Common Application, Inc., a public college or university may accept such application in lieu of the Louisiana common application required by this Section. If a public college or university accepts such application, it shall not consider any criminal history information provided on the application at any point during the admissions process except as provided in R.S. 17:3152.

E. The Louisiana common application shall be fully implemented and available to students applying for admission for the 2016-2017 academic year.

F. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to graduate or professional schools or degree programs.

Acts 2014, No. 732, §1, eff. June 19, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 276, §1.