La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3982 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3982
Local school boards; duties; Orleans Parish School Board; immovable property; sale or lease
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a)(i) Local school boards shall comply with R.S. 17:3983 and shall review and formally act upon each charter proposal received within time lines established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that are consistent with national best practices in charter school authorizing. Such time lines shall require, at a minimum, an annual charter application process in which local school boards are afforded at least ninety days to evaluate such applications. In conducting such review, the local school board shall determine whether each proposed charter complies with the law and rules, whether the proposal is valid, complete, financially well-structured, and educationally sound, whether it provides for a master plan for improving behavior and discipline in accordance with R.S. 17:252, whether it provides a plan for collecting data in accordance with R.S. 17:3911, and whether it offers potential for fulfilling the purposes of this Chapter. The local board shall engage in a transparent application review process that complies with the latest Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing, as promulgated by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, and shall provide for an independent evaluation of the charter proposal by a third party with educational, organizational, legal, and financial expertise. The local board shall send to the charter applicant, either by electronic means or hand delivery, the final evaluation and recommendations, if any, of the third-party evaluator. Such information shall be sent no later than five business days prior to the meeting at which the local board will take action on the charter proposal. Each local board shall use a common charter application developed by the state Department of Education and approved by the state board, but may request additional information from applicants as needed.

(ii) A local school board may accept charter proposals and notify charter applicants of its final decision pursuant to time lines approved by the state board. Notifications of charter proposals denied shall include written explanation of the reasons for such denial.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, school boards which govern a local system that has been declared to be in academic crisis, as defined in R.S. 17:10.6, shall not consider, review, or act upon charter applications for a Type 1 charter school and shall notify the proponents of any pending Type 1 charter proposal or any newly submitted Type 1 charter proposal that the board is ineligible to act on such applications and that each such application may, therefore, be submitted to the state board as a Type 2 proposal pursuant to R.S. 17:3983(A)(2)(a)(ii).

(2) The local school board shall make public through its website, and in printed form upon request, the guidelines for submitting a charter proposal, all forms required for submission of a charter proposal, the time lines established for accepting and reviewing charter proposals in accordance with Item (1)(a)(ii) of this Subsection, the process that will be used to review charter proposals submitted to the board, and the name and contact information for a primary point of contact for charter proposals.

(3) If a charter applicant believes that a local school board has not complied with Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection in its evaluation of an application, the charter applicant may submit its proposal to the state board for its review and approval as a Type 2 charter. If the state board determines that the school board failed to comply with Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Subsection, it shall notify the school board of that determination and may proceed with its own review of the charter application. The state board shall review each proposal according to the process set forth in R.S. 17:3981(4) and shall provide written notification of its final decision to the charter applicant pursuant to time lines established by the state board.

B.(1)(a) Local school boards shall make available to chartering groups any vacant school facilities or any facility slated to be vacant for lease or purchase up to fair market value. In the case of a Type 2 charter school created as a result of a conversion, the facility and all property within the existing school shall be made available to that chartering group. In return for the use of the facility and its contents, the chartering group shall pay a proportionate share of the local school board's bonded indebtedness to be calculated in the same manner as set forth in R.S. 17:1990(C)(2)(a)(i). If such facilities were constructed at no cost to the local school board, then such facilities including all equipment, books, instructional materials, and furniture within such facilities shall be provided to the charter school at no cost.

(b) If the nongovernmental owner of a charter school facility that was financed, in whole or in part, through tax exempt bonds that have been paid in full wishes to dispose of the facility, he shall offer the facility, inclusive of all buildings and land, as follows:

(i) The owner shall, in accordance with applicable law, first offer to transfer title to the facility, at no cost, to the charter operator operating a school within the facility.

(ii) If the charter operator declines the offer, the owner of the facility shall next offer to transfer title to the facility, at no cost, to the school's chartering authority. If the chartering authority is the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the following requirements shall apply:

(aa) If the state board declines the offer, the owner shall next offer to transfer title to the facility, at no cost, to the local school board of the school system within whose geographic boundaries the facility is located.

(bb) If the state board accepts the offer and later wishes to dispose of the facility, it shall first offer to transfer title to the facility, at no cost, to the local school board of the school system within whose geographic boundaries the facility is located.

(iii) If the charter operator accepts the offer, the transfer agreement shall stipulate that if the charter operator acquires ownership of the facility pursuant to Item (i) of this Subparagraph and at any time ceases to operate a public school in the facility, the charter operator shall transfer title to the facility, inclusive of all buildings and land, at no cost, to the school's chartering authority.

(iv) An offer by the owner of a charter school facility to transfer title to the facility pursuant to this Subparagraph shall extend for a period of not less than sixty days from the date the offer was made.

(2)(a) The Orleans Parish School Board shall make available to chartering groups, for lease or purchase up to fair market value, any school facility or other immovable property, whether improved or unimproved, that is owned by the school board and that is vacant or slated to be vacant. In the case of a Type 2 charter school created as a result of a conversion, the immovable property, including any unimproved property, and all other school board property within the existing school shall be made available to that chartering group. In return for the use of the facility and its contents, the chartering group shall pay a proportionate share of the local school board's bonded indebtedness to be calculated in the same manner as set forth in R.S. 17:1990(C)(2)(a)(i). If such facilities were constructed at no cost to the local school board, then such facilities including all equipment, books, instructional materials, and furniture within such facilities shall be provided to the charter school at no cost.

(b) If a chartering group determines that a facility or property that was purchased from the Orleans Parish School Board pursuant to Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph is no longer needed for an educational purpose, the group shall first offer to sell the facility or property back to the Orleans Parish School Board for an amount up to the previously paid purchase price, plus an amount up to the fair market value of improvements paid by the chartering group from nonpublic funds prior to seeking to dispose of it to any other person or entity.

Acts 1995, No. 192, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 447, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 14, §1; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §1, eff. Nov. 30, 2005; Acts 2009, No. 123, §1, eff. June 26, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 334, §1; Acts 2010, No. 722, §1; Acts 2010, No. 756, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2012, No. 708, §1; Acts 2015, No. 351, §1; Acts 2016, No. 497, §1, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 207, §1; Acts 2019, No. 431, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:13.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 13.1
Crime Prevention in Schools Act
Status: in_force

A. The state Department of Education shall develop and implement, with the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, minimum guidelines for a program on the prevention of crime and disruptive behavior in public schools by the 1993-94 school year. In order to decrease the epidemic level of crime in and around public elementary and secondary schools, the department shall coordinate the instruction, development, and training of teachers in the crime prevention in schools program, provide for the preparation and distribution of instructional materials, and develop program guidelines.

B. In developing the program guidelines, the department, at a minimum, shall:

(1) Assess the problem of disruptive behavior and crime in local school systems in order to provide data on a statewide basis and to define the specific needs of the students.

(2) Define the goals for alleviating disruptive and criminal behavior in schools.

(3) Provide continued training of personnel within the department and within local school systems to enhance the development and training of personnel relative to the prevention of crime and disruptive behavior.

(4) Provide for community programs to educate members of the community concerning crime and disruptive behavior in schools and to involve the community in contributing to the solution to these problems.

(5) Provide for continuing research to define further needs to accomplish the ultimate goal of decreasing crime and disruptive behavior in schools and to refine any programs developed to meet these needs.

(6) Provide for the coordination of school safety programs and any other existing programs addressing drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, and gang violence.

(7) Review available materials and programs established and funded by the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program for incorporation into any program guidelines.

(8) Consider any other existing programs within the state which may be utilized or modified in order to deliver the program to the city and parish schools in the state.

C. The program shall be funded by the state and the department may enrich the program using monies available from other sources.

D. Each city and parish school board shall submit a program for approval to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education by the 1994-1995 school year. Any such program shall be developed in accordance with the minimum guidelines established by the state Department of Education. Each city and parish school board shall also submit a budget and a method of evaluation of the local program to the board for approval prior to implementation.

Added by Acts 1978, No. 689, §1; Acts 1992, No. 912, §1, eff. July 9, 1992.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2054 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2054
College and university athletics; NCAA and NAIA infractions, sanctions
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall adopt and implement policies, procedures, and rules to provide for the dismissal of any employee found by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to have committed a deliberate and serious infraction of its rules when such infraction results in sanctions by the association.

B. Each higher education management board shall also adopt and implement policies, procedures, and rules to prohibit the hiring of any person found by the National Collegiate Athletic Association or the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics to have committed a deliberate and serious infraction of its rules when such infraction results in imposition of sanctions by the association, at any school under its respective jurisdiction for a period of five years.

Acts 1987, No. 718, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1987; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2013, No. 220, §6, eff. June 11, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3215 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3215
Louisiana State University system
Status: in_force

The Louisiana State University system is composed of the institutions under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College as follows:

(1) Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, located at Baton Rouge and designated as the premier flagship university for the state.

(2) Repealed by Acts 2011, No. 419, §2, eff. July 12, 2011.

(3) Louisiana State University at Alexandria, located at Chambers.

(4) Louisiana State University at Eunice.

(5) Louisiana State University at Shreveport.

(6) Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at New Orleans, which shall include medical and related health schools and programs located in New Orleans including those state's medical centers transferred to the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College as provided in Subpart C-2 of Part II of Chapter 4 of this Title, subject to provisions of R.S. 17:1519 et seq.

(7) Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, which shall include the medical school and related schools at Shreveport, Louisiana State University Hospital at Shreveport, E. A. Conway Medical Center at Monroe, and Huey P. Long Medical Center in Pineville.

(8) The Center for Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, generally known as the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, which administers the agricultural extension and research programs of the board throughout the state. The center shall also be responsible for conducting river water research and agricultural youth development and education programs, including FFA and 4-H.

(9) The University of New Orleans.

(10) Any other college, university, school, institution, or program now or hereafter under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College.

Acts 1975, No. 313, §2, eff. July 17, 1975; Acts 1976, No. 385, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1976; Acts 1991, No. 987, §1; Acts 1995, No. 45, §1, eff. June 8, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 634, §1, eff. June 20, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 3, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 802, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 872, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2005, No. 145, §1, eff. July 1, 2005; Acts 2007, No. 220, §1, eff. July 2, 2007; Acts 2011, No. 419, §2, eff. July 12, 2011; Acts 2023, No. 93, §1; Acts 2025, No. 447, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:416.14 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 416.14
Bullying; definition; prohibition; notice; reporting; accountability
Status: in_force

A. For the purposes of this Title, "bullying" shall mean:

(1) A pattern of any one or more of the following:

(a) Gestures, including but not limited to obscene gestures.

(b) Written, electronic, or verbal communications, including but not limited to calling names, threatening harm, taunting, malicious teasing, or spreading untrue rumors. Electronic communication includes but is not limited to a communication or image transmitted by email, instant message, text message, blog, or social networking website through the use of a telephone, mobile phone, pager, computer, or other electronic device.

(c) Physical acts, including but not limited to hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, choking, damaging personal property, or unauthorized use of personal property.

(d) Repeatedly and purposefully shunning from activities.

(2)(a) Where the pattern of behavior as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection is exhibited toward a student, more than once, by another student or group of students and occurs, or is received by, a student while on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related function or activity, at any designated school bus stop, in any school bus or any other school or private vehicle used to transport students to and from school or any school-sponsored activity or event.

(b) The pattern of behavior as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall have the effect of physically harming a student, placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm, damaging a student's property, placing the student in reasonable fear of damage to the student's property, or shall be sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough to either create an intimidating or threatening educational environment, have the effect of substantially interfering with a student's performance in school, or have the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

B. Each elementary and secondary school shall institute a program to prohibit and prevent bullying. The program shall:

(1) Define bullying as provided in Subsection A of this Section.

(2) Ensure each student, each student's parent or legal guardian, and each school administrator, teacher, counselor, bus operator, school employee, and volunteer is aware of his duties and responsibilities relative to preventing and stopping bullying.

(3) Provide for a process for reporting and investigating alleged incidents of bullying.

(4) Provide for appropriate discipline of a student found guilty of bullying.

(5) Provide for appropriate remedies for a student found to have been bullied.

(6) Provide for procedures for investigating and reporting each school administrator, teacher, counselor, bus operator, and school employee for failure to act as provided in Subsection I of this Section.

C. The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall:

(1) Conduct a review of the student code of conduct required by R.S. 17:416.13 and amend the code as may be necessary to assure that the policy prohibiting the bullying of a student by another student specifically addresses the behavior constituting bullying, the effect the behavior has on others, including bystanders, and the disciplinary and criminal consequences and includes the definition of bullying as provided in Subsection A of this Section.

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

D. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the state Department of Education, shall develop and adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Section relative to the procedures and processes to be used to report and investigate bullying and which shall include but not be limited to:

(1) Notice to students and parents. The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall inform each student, orally and in writing at the orientation required under R.S. 17:416.20, of the prohibition against bullying of a student by another student, the nature and consequences of such actions, including the potential criminal consequences and loss of driver's license as provided in R.S. 17:416.1, and the proper process and procedure for reporting any incidents involving such prohibited actions. A copy of the written notice shall also be delivered to each student's parent or legal guardian.

(2) Reporting. (a) The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall develop a procedure for the reporting of incidents of bullying. This shall include a form for the purposes of bullying reports. The form shall include an affirmation of truth of statement. Any bullying report submitted regardless of recipient shall use this form, but additional information may be provided. The form shall be available on the state Department of Education's website and the website of each public elementary and secondary school.

(b) Students and parents. Any student who believes that he has been, or is currently, the victim of bullying, or any student, or any parent or legal guardian, who witnesses bullying or has good reason to believe bullying is taking place, may report the situation to a school official. A student, or parent or legal guardian, may also report concerns regarding bullying to a teacher, counselor, other school employee, or to any chaperone supervising a school function or activity. Any report of bullying shall remain confidential.

(c) School personnel. Any teacher, counselor, bus operator, or other school employee, whether full- or part-time, and any chaperone supervising a school function or activity, who witnesses bullying or who learns of bullying pursuant to Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, shall report the incident to a school official. A verbal report shall be submitted by the school employee or the parent on the same day as the employee or parent witnessed or otherwise learned of the bullying incident, and a written report shall be filed no later than two days thereafter.

(d) Retaliation. Retaliation against any person who reports bullying in good faith, who is thought to have reported bullying, who files a complaint, or who otherwise participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of bullying is prohibited conduct and subject to discipline. School and district resources shall not be used to prohibit or dissuade any person who meets the specifications of this Subparagraph.

(e) False reports. Intentionally making false reports about bullying to school officials is prohibited conduct and will result in the appropriate disciplinary measures as determined by the governing authority of the school in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(3) Investigation procedure. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall develop and adopt a procedure for the investigation of reports of bullying of a student by another student. The procedure shall include the following:

(a) Scope of investigation. An investigation shall include an interview of the reporter, the alleged victim, the alleged bully, and any witnesses and shall include obtaining copies or photographs of any audio-visual evidence.

(b) Timing. The school shall begin an investigation of any complaint that is properly reported and that alleges conduct prohibited in this Section the next business day during which school is in session after the report is received by the school official. The investigation shall be completed not later than ten school days after the date the written report of the incident is submitted to the appropriate school official. If additional information is received after the end of the ten-day period, the school principal or his designee shall amend all documents and reports required by this Section to reflect such information.

(c) Appeal. (i) If the school official does not take timely and effective action pursuant to this Section, the student, parent or legal guardian, or school employee may report the bullying incident to the local school governing authority. The governing authority shall begin an investigation of any complaint that is properly reported and that alleges conduct prohibited in this Section the next business day during which school is in session after the report is received by the governing authority official.

(ii) If the local school governing authority does not take timely and effective action, the student, parent or legal guardian, or other school employee may report the bullying incident to the state Department of Education. The department shall track the number of reports, shall notify in writing the superintendent and the president of the school's governing authority, and shall publish the number of reports by school district or governing authority on its website. The department shall provide both the number of actual reports received and the number of reports received by affected student.

(iii) For the purposes of this Section, a report means a written document that meets the requirements of Subparagraph (2)(a) of this Subsection.

(d) Parental notification. (i) Upon receiving a report of bullying, the school official shall notify the parent or legal guardian of each involved student according to the definition of notice created by the state Department of Education.

(ii) Under no circumstances shall the delivery of the notice to the parent or legal guardian, which is required by this Subsection, be the responsibility of an involved student. Delivery of the notice by an involved student shall not constitute notice as is required pursuant to this Subsection.

(iii) Before any student under the age of eighteen is interviewed, his parent or legal guardian shall be notified by the school official of the allegations made and shall have the opportunity to attend any interviews with his child conducted as part of the investigation. If, after three attempts in a forty-eight-hour period, the parents or legal guardians of a student cannot be reached or do not respond, the student may be interviewed.

(iv) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the state Department of Education, shall develop a procedure for meetings with the parent or legal guardian of the alleged victim and the parent or legal guardian of the alleged perpetrator. This procedure shall include:

(aa) Separate meetings with the parents or legal guardians of the alleged victim and the parents or legal guardians of the alleged perpetrator.

(bb) Notification of parents or legal guardians of the alleged victim and of the alleged perpetrator of the available potential consequences, penalties, and counseling options.

(cc) In any case where a teacher, principal, or other school employee is authorized in this Section to require the parent or legal guardian of a student who is under the age of eighteen and not judicially emancipated or emancipated by marriage to attend a conference or meeting regarding the student's behavior and, after notice, the parent or legal guardian willfully refuses to attend, that the principal or his designee shall file a complaint with a court exercising juvenile jurisdiction, pursuant to Children's Code Articles 730(8) and 731. The principal may file a complaint pursuant to Children's Code Article 730(1) or any other applicable ground when, in his judgment, doing so is in the best interests of the student.

(e) Disciplinary action. If the school has received a report of bullying, has determined that an act of bullying has occurred, and after meeting with the parent or legal guardian of the students involved, the school official shall:

(i) Take prompt and appropriate disciplinary action against the student that the school official determines has engaged in conduct which constitutes bullying, if appropriate.

(ii) Report criminal conduct to law enforcement, if appropriate.

(f) Parental relief. (i) If a parent, legal guardian, teacher, or other school official has made four or more reports of separate instances of bullying, as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, and no investigation pursuant to Paragraph (3) of this Subsection has occurred, the parent or legal guardian with responsibility for decisions regarding the education of the alleged victim about whom the report or reports have been made may exercise an option to have the student enroll in or attend another school operated by the governing authority of the public elementary or secondary school in which the student was enrolled on the dates when at least three of the reports were submitted.

(ii) The parent or legal guardian shall file a request with the local school superintendent for the transfer of the student to another school under the governing authority's jurisdiction.

(iii) The governing authority of the public elementary or secondary school in which the student is enrolled shall make a seat available at another public elementary or secondary school under its jurisdiction within ten school days of the parent or legal guardian's request for a transfer. If the governing authority has no other school under its jurisdiction serving the grade level of the alleged victim, within fifteen school days of receiving the request, the superintendent or director of the governing authority shall:

(aa) Inform the student and his parent or legal guardian and facilitate the student's enrollment in a statewide virtual school.

(bb) Offer the student a placement in a full-time virtual program or virtual school under the jurisdiction of the school's governing authority.

(cc) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the superintendent or director of another governing authority to secure a placement and provide for the transfer of the student to a school serving the grade level of the alleged victim under the jurisdiction of the cooperating governing authority, pursuant to R.S. 17:105 and 105.1.

(iv) If no seat or other placement pursuant to Item (iii) of this Subparagraph is made available within thirty calendar days of the receipt by the local school superintendent of the request, the parent or legal guardian may request a hearing with the school's governing authority, which shall be public or private at the option of the parent or legal guardian. The school's governing authority shall grant the hearing at the next scheduled meeting or within sixty calendar days, whichever is sooner.

(v) At the end of any school year, the parent or legal guardian may make a request to the governing authority of the school at which the student was enrolled when at least three of the reports were filed to transfer the student back to the school. The governing authority shall make a seat available at the school at which the student was originally enrolled. No other schools shall qualify for transfer under this Subparagraph.

(g) Documentation. (i) The state Department of Education shall develop a behavior incidence checklist that the governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall use to document the details of each reported incident of bullying.

(ii) The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall report all such documented incidences of bullying to the state Department of Education as prescribed in rules adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and documented incidents in reports received by the local superintendent of schools pursuant to R.S. 17:415.

(iii) After the investigation and meeting with the parents or legal guardians of each involved student, pursuant to this Section, a school or local school governing authority shall:

(aa) Compose a written document containing the findings of the investigation, including input from the involved students' parents or legal guardian, and the decision by the school or school system official. The document shall be placed in the school records of each involved student.

(bb) Promptly notify the complainant of the findings of the investigation and that remedial action has been taken, if such release of information does not violate the law.

(cc) Keep complaints and investigative reports confidential, except as provided in this Section and where disclosure is required to be made pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 1232g or by other applicable federal laws, rules, or regulations or by state law.

(dd) Maintain complaints and investigative reports for three years in the event that disclosure is warranted by law enforcement officials.

(ee) As applicable, provide a copy of any reports and investigative documents to the governing authority of the school.

(ff) As applicable, provide a copy of any reports and investigative documents to the state Department of Education. Upon receipt, the department shall remove any reports related to the investigative documents from notation on the department's website but shall maintain a record of those reports for three years.

(gg) As applicable, provide a copy of any reports and investigative documents to the appropriate law enforcement officials.

E. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to interfere with the authority and the responsibility that a parent or legal guardian has for the student at all times, but particularly when the student is not on the school premises, is not engaged in a school-sponsored function or school-sponsored activity, and is not being transported by school-sponsored means of transportation.

F. This Section shall not be interpreted to conflict with or supercede the provisions requiring mandatory reporting pursuant to Children's Code Article 609 and as enforced through R.S. 14:403.

G.(1) This Section shall not be interpreted to prevent a victim of bullying, or his parent or legal guardian, from seeking redress under any other available law, either civil or criminal.

(2) Nothing in this Section is intended to infringe upon the right of a school employee or student to exercise their right of free speech.

H. All students subject to the provisions of this Section shall be protected equally and without regard to the subject matter or the motivating animus of the bullying.

I. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules to require all approved nonpublic schools to implement bullying policies to those required of public schools.

J.(1) Any teacher, counselor, bus operator, administrator, or other school employee, whether full- or part-time, who witnesses bullying or who receives a report of bullying from an alleged victim and who fails to report the incident to a school official shall be investigated by the school governing authority. Upon finding a reasonable expectation that the individual failed to act, the school governing authority shall suspend the individual without pay. The length of the suspension shall be determined by the school's governing authority based on the severity of the bullying inflicted on the victim. The school governing authority shall report each finding of a failure to report and the length of suspension issued to each employee who failed to report to the state Department of Education.

(2) Any school administrator or official who fails to notify a parent or legal guardian of a report of bullying, timely investigate a report of bullying, take prompt and appropriate disciplinary action against a student that was determined to have engaged in bullying, or report criminal conduct to the appropriate law enforcement official shall be investigated by the school governing authority. Upon finding a reasonable expectation that the individual failed to act, the school governing authority shall suspend the individual without pay. The length of the suspension shall be determined by the school's governing authority based on the severity of the bullying inflicted on the victim. The school governing authority shall report each finding of a failure to report bullying and the length of suspension issued to the employee who failed to report to the department. The report shall be submitted by August first annually.

(3) The department shall provide a report to the state board on the number of reports of failures to report bullying received by the department from school governing authorities. The report shall be submitted by September first annually.

Acts 2022, No. 697, §1, eff. June 18, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 686, §2, eff. June 19, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1826.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1826.1
Short title
Status: in_force

This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Higher Education Foreign Security Act of 2022".

Acts 2022, No. 767, §1, eff. July 1, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1948 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1948
Cameras in certain classrooms; definitions; required policies; confidentiality; authorization of funding
Status: in_force

A.(1) Each public school governing authority shall adopt policies relative to the installation and operation of cameras that record both video and audio in a classroom.

(2) Each public school governing authority shall install a camera in each classroom and verify periodically that the camera remains in operation.

(3) Should a camera be out of operation for more than two consecutive school days, the school shall provide notice to parents of students in the affected classroom via normal school communication channels.

(4) Each governing authority shall submit a copy of the policies adopted pursuant to this Section to the state Department of Education. Within ten days of any revision of the policies, each governing authority shall submit a copy of the policies to the department.

B. For purposes of this Section, "classroom" shall mean a self-contained classroom or other special education setting in which a majority of students in regular attendance are provided special education and related services and are assigned to one or more self-contained classrooms or other special education settings for at least fifty percent of the instructional day. "Classroom" shall not mean special education classrooms and other special education settings where the only students with exceptionalities receiving special education and related services are those who have been deemed to be gifted or talented and have not been identified as also having a disability.

C. The policies shall include provisions for the following:

(1) The location and placement of cameras, including a prohibition against the recording of the interior of a restroom or any area designated for students to change or remove clothing.

(2) Written notice of the placement of the cameras to be provided to persons who enter a classroom where a camera is installed, including teachers and other school employees, students in the classroom, the students' parents and legal guardians, and authorized visitors.

(3) Training concerning the provisions of this Section for any teacher or other school employee who provides services in a classroom where cameras are installed.

(4) The retention, storage, and disposal of the video and audio data recorded, including a requirement that the recordings be retained for at least one month from the recording date.

(5) Protecting student privacy and for determining to whom and under what circumstances the recordings may be disclosed including:

(a) Limiting viewing of the recordings to the superintendent or his designee and the parent or legal guardian of a recorded student upon request.

(b) Requiring any person who views a recording and who suspects the recordings show a violation of state or federal law to report the suspected violation to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

(6) Requiring each camera installed to be in compliance with the National Fire Protection Association's Life Safety Code.

(7) Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 479, §3, eff. Fe. 1, 2026.

(8) Procedures regarding how a parent or legal guardian may request to review a recording, under what circumstances a request may be made, and any limitations to a request.

(9) Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 479, §3, eff. Feb. 1, 2026.

D.(1) Recordings made pursuant to this Section shall be confidential and shall not be public record. However, a recording may be viewed by the superintendent or his designee, the parent or legal guardian of a recorded student, or by law enforcement officials as provided in the policies required by Paragraph (C)(5) of this Section.

(2) The recordings shall not be considered "personally identifiable information" as defined in R.S. 17:3914.

E.(1) The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school is authorized to accept, administer, and make use of federal, state, and local funds, any public and private grants and donations, and, when considered appropriate and feasible, to accept nonmonetary resources in the form of services or equipment for use in connection with the installation and operation of cameras pursuant to this Section.

(2) Upon receipt of such funds, grants, donations, or nonmonetary resources, the governing authority shall install and operate the cameras according to the policies adopted pursuant to this Section.

F. The state Department of Education shall assist public school governing authorities in identifying state and federal funds that may be used for the installation and operation of cameras pursuant to this Section.

G. Repealed by Acts 2025, No. 479, §3, eff. Feb. 1, 2026.

Acts 2021, No. 456, §1, eff. June 23, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 588, §§1, 2, eff. June 17, 2022; Acts 2024, No. 198, §1; Acts 2025, No. 479, §§2, 3, eff. Feb. 1, 2026.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2181 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2181
Board of supervisors authorized to borrow money
Status: in_force

The Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College (hereinafter referred to as the "Board of Supervisors"), or any legal successor thereto, shall have full authority to borrow money from any agency of the United States, or any other person, firm or corporation, or any governmental agency, now in existence or hereafter created, in sums sufficient to provide funds necessary to accomplish or execute any purpose, power, or authority, now or hereafter vested in the board of supervisors by the constitution and laws of Louisiana.

Acts 1968, No. 331, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:192.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 192.2
Imported seafood; prohibition
Status: in_force

A.(1) No public school governing authority shall serve seafood that originated outside of the United States to students in schools under its jurisdiction.

(2) No nonpublic school that receives state funds shall serve seafood that originated outside of the United States to its students.

(3) The provisions of this Subsection apply to breakfasts and lunches served as part of a school food program and foods other than school breakfast and lunch.

(4) The provisions of this Subsection shall apply to the Louisiana State Capitol cafeteria.

B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules as necessary for the implementation of this Section.

Acts 2024, No. 561, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3883 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3883
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; powers and duties
Status: in_force

A. The board shall:

(1) Establish the components of effective teaching, including measures of effectiveness, which shall be periodically reviewed and revised as necessary.

(2) Develop, adopt, and promulgate, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act, all rules necessary for the implementation of this Part.

(3) Set standards to use in determining whether the teacher has successfully met the evaluation qualifications for retaining or acquiring regular teacher certification.

(4) Conduct training and regular staff development in evaluation skills as needed.

(5) Develop and adopt grievance procedure requirements for any teacher or administrator aggrieved by any rating by a local board which results from the implementation of this Part. Such requirements shall contain, at a minimum, provisions for the following:

(a) That the teacher or administrator be provided a copy of the evaluation and the evaluators' data recording forms and any documentation related thereto and be entitled to respond as provided in R.S. 17:3884.

(b) That the teacher or administrator be assured of due process, including representation, in all aspects of the evaluation grievance procedures.

(c) That the local board shall administer the evaluation in a fair, objective, and consistent manner and shall comply with all rules and regulations adopted by the board and that the failure to do so shall be a grievable matter.

(6)(a) Require the Accountability Commission established by the board to convene an advisory subcommittee of the commission to report on and make recommendations regarding the overall effectiveness of the evaluation program, including but not limited to any recommendations for changes to board policy or state law with respect to the following: the value-added assessment model as determined by the board pursuant to R.S. 17:3902(B)(5), measures of student growth for grades and subjects for which value-added data are not available and for personnel for whom value-added data are not available as established by the board pursuant to R.S. 17:3902(B)(5), and elements of evaluation and standards for effectiveness as defined by the board pursuant to R.S. 17:3902(B)(introductory paragraph). The subcommittee shall have the following members:

(i) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.

(ii) One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.

(iii) At least six members who are public school teachers. The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president of the Senate shall each appoint three teachers and shall collaborate in making their appointments to ensure that the following requirements are met:

(aa) Two of the teachers shall teach students in grades three, four, or five; two shall teach students in grades six, seven, or eight; and two shall teach students in grades nine, ten, eleven, or twelve.

(bb) All of the teachers shall teach subjects for which value-added data are available.

(cc) One teacher shall be appointed from each congressional district of the state.

(iv) Each member of the Accountability Commission.

(b) The legislature finds that as of March of 2015, several of the advisory subcommittee's recommendations have been implemented by the board and have improved the evaluation program. In addition to its authority to make such recommendations, the advisory subcommittee may also consider and advise the board regarding whether adjustments to regulations proposed by the department and referred to the subcommittee by the board should be adopted, rejected, or modified.

(c) The members of the subcommittee shall serve without compensation. The initial meeting of the subcommittee shall be held not later than September 30, 2014.

(d) The subcommittee shall submit its initial report and recommendations to the board and the Senate and House committees on education by not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana and shall submit a subsequent report and further recommendations by not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2016 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.

(7) Submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education not later than sixty days prior to the 2011 and the 2012 regular sessions of the legislature regarding the status of the development of the value-added assessment model as specified in R.S. 17:3902(B)(5) and the methodology used in such development. The committees may meet separately or jointly and may disapprove the assessment model so presented upon majority vote of each committee, if the committees determine that the methodology is arbitrary or not evidence-based.

(8) Beginning in 2013 and thereafter, submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education, not later than March first of each year, and at such other times as requested by the committees, regarding the implementation, results, and effectiveness of the value-added assessment model as provided in this Part.

B. The board may:

(1) Make recommendations to the legislature regarding any changes needed to this Part.

(2) Establish state review teams, as needed, to review the school personnel evaluation plans for compliance with all applicable laws and regulations to implement such evaluation plans and to provide for the exchange of information regarding them.

(3) Continue to develop, test, and improve the process and content of professional evaluation with input from appropriate educator groups.

(4) Continue to expand opportunities for the growth and development of professional employees.

(5)(a) Request that the department monitor evaluation programs as necessary. The method to be used in monitoring such programs shall be established by the department with the approval of the board and shall be sufficient to determine the extent to which any programs have been implemented, and whether such programs comply with the provisions of this Part. The department shall submit a report to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education which contains the details of any monitoring methods developed pursuant to this Subparagraph.

(b) If, in conducting such monitoring, the department determines that a school system has failed to implement its evaluation program or has otherwise failed to comply with the provisions of this Part, the department shall notify the local board of such failure, and the school system shall correct such failure within sixty calendar days after receiving such notification. The department also shall notify the board of such failure, by the school system.

(c) If the failure is not corrected within the prescribed sixty calendar days, the department shall notify the board of such continued failure and shall recommend to the board whatever sanctions against such school system the department deems appropriate which may include withholding funds distributed pursuant to the minimum foundation program formula until the corrections are made. The board shall act upon such recommendation within sixty calendar days after its receipt of the notification.

Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. June 22, 1994; Acts 1997, No. 838, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1998; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 38, §§1, 2, eff. April 14, 2000; Acts 2010, No. 54, §1, eff. May 27, 2010; Acts 2014, No. 240, §1; Acts 2015, No. 70, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3121.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3121.1
Student membership on the board
Status: in_force

A. There shall be one student member of the Board of Regents. The student member shall be elected to the board by and from the membership of a council composed of the student body presidents-elect of the colleges and universities under the jurisdiction of the board. The board shall establish procedures for the election of the student member by the newly elected council of student body presidents to assure representation from each management system under the board's jurisdiction within a reasonable number of years to be established by the board. The newly elected council of student body presidents shall meet upon the call of the incumbent student member. Such meeting shall occur after the spring election of all student body presidents of the member colleges and universities and before May thirty-first of each year.

B. The student member shall be elected for a one-year term beginning on June first of each year, except that the student member elected for a term beginning on September 1, 2001, shall serve only until May 31, 2002. A student member shall be elected in the manner provided in Subsection A of this Section and as otherwise provided by the board for a one-year term beginning September 1, 2001; thereafter, a student member shall be elected for a one-year term beginning on June first of each year. The student member shall serve until his successor takes office.

C. The student member shall have all the privileges and rights of other board members and shall receive the same per diem, travel, and other expenses as other members of the board.

D. A vacancy in the office of the student member shall be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the manner provided in Subsection A herein and as otherwise provided by the board.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 275, §1, eff. July 13, 1981; Acts 1987, No. 357, §1; Acts 2001, No. 93, §1, eff. May 24, 2001.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 21
Superintendent of education for public elementary and secondary education; general functions; appointment qualifications; vacancies; compensation
Status: in_force

A. There shall be a superintendent of education for public elementary and secondary education, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the superintendent, who shall execute and implement those educational policies and programs which are under the supervision and control of the board.

B.(1) The superintendent shall administer and implement policies and programs adopted by the board and shall serve as the administrative head of the Department of Education. In addition, he shall have such other powers, functions, duties, and responsibilities as may be provided by law.

(2)(a) The superintendent, at a minimum, shall possess at the time of appointment, such qualifications as are adopted by rule by the board for the position of superintendent of a city, parish, or other local public school board. Except by a favorable vote of at least two-thirds of the authorized board membership, the board shall have no authority to waive for the position of state superintendent any qualification established by the board for the position of superintendent of a city, parish, or other local public school board.

(b) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, by rule, may establish additional qualifications applicable to the state superintendent.

C. The superintendent shall be appointed by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The board shall enter into a contract with the appointed superintendent. The length of the contract shall be determined by the board but may not extend past the end of the term of office of the board members making the appointment, except that the contract may provide that the superintendent may serve until the succeeding board has made an appointment. Any vacancy in the office of the appointed superintendent which occurs prior to the expiration of the term of his contract shall be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term by the method of appointment as provided in this Subsection.

D. The salary of the superintendent shall be set by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education subject to the approval of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

E. If the office of state superintendent of education is made appointive pursuant to Article IV, Section 20 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the appointment, notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Acts 1975, No. 274, §1. Amended by Acts 1979, No. 236, §3, eff. Sept. 1, 1979; Acts 1980, No. 376, §2, eff. Sept. 1, 1980; Acts 1981, No. 636, §5, eff. Sept. 1, 1981; Acts 1985, No. 444, §1, eff. July 9, 1985; Acts 1985, No. 857, §1, eff. July 23, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 112, §1; Acts 1986, No. 984, §1; Acts 2010, No. 323, §1, eff. June 18, 2010.

{{NOTE: SEE ACTS 1985, NO. 444, §2.}}

{{NOTE: REGARDING EFFECTIVE DATE, SEE ACTS 1986, NOS. 112, §2 AND 984, §2.}}
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3973 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3973
Definitions
Status: in_force

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

(1) "Autonomy" means that unless mutually agreed upon by the chartering authority and charter school, or otherwise required or prohibited by law, the charter school shall have independent operational decisionmaking authority in the areas including but not limited to:

(a) School programming, instruction, curriculum, materials, texts, calendars, and schedules.

(b) Personnel, employment, salaries and benefits, educator certification and evaluation, performance management, participation in retirement planning, and collective bargaining.

(c) Budgeting, purchasing, procurement, contracts, food service, and management of transportation.

(2)(a) "Charter school" means an independent public school that provides a program of elementary or secondary education, or both, established pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter to provide a learning environment that will improve pupil achievement. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit a Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, Type 3B, or Type 4 charter school from having a residential component.

(b) Charter schools shall be one of the following types:

(i) Type 1, which means a new school operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between the nonprofit corporation created to operate the school and a local school board. Within such Type 1 charter schools, only pupils who would be eligible to attend a public school operated by the local school board within the same city or parish will be eligible to attend as provided in the charter.

(ii) Type 2, which means a new school or a preexisting public school converted and operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between the nonprofit corporation created to operate the school and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to the creation of such a charter to convert a preexisting school, it shall be approved by the professional faculty and staff of the preexisting school and by the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school as provided in R.S. 17:3983(C). Within such Type 2 charter schools, pupils who reside within the state will be eligible to attend as provided in the charter. Creation of a Type 2 charter school shall comply with the provisions of R.S. 17:3983(A)(2)(a)(i).

(iii) Type 3, which means a preexisting public school converted and operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a nonprofit corporation and the local school board. Prior to the creation of such a charter, the local school board may require approval of a proposal to create such a charter by the members of the faculty and staff of the preexisting school who are certified by the state board and by the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school as provided in R.S. 17:3983(C). Within such Type 3 schools, only pupils who would be eligible to attend a public school operated by the local school board granting the charter, or pupils from the same area as those permitted to attend the preexisting school will be eligible to attend as provided in the charter.

(iv) Type 4, which means a preexisting public school converted and operated or a new school operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a local school board and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to the creation of such a charter to convert a preexisting school, the state board may require approval of a proposal to create such a charter by the professional faculty and staff of the preexisting school and by the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school as provided in R.S. 17:3983(C). Within such Type 4 schools, unless an agreement with another city, parish, or other local public school board is reached to allow students to attend the charter school, only pupils who would be eligible to attend a public school operated by the local school board or pupils from the same areas as those permitted to attend the preexisting school will be eligible to attend as provided in the charter.

(v)(aa) Type 5, which means a preexisting public school transferred to the Recovery School District as a school determined to be failing pursuant to R.S. 17:10.5 or 10.7 and operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a nonprofit corporation and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The chartering authority shall review each Type 5 charter proposal in compliance with the Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School Authorizing as promulgated by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers. Except as otherwise provided in R.S. 17:10.7 or 1990, within such Type 5 charter school, only pupils who would have been eligible to enroll in or attend the preexisting school under the jurisdiction of the city, parish, or other local public school board or other public school entity prior to its transfer to the Recovery School District may attend. However, all such pupils shall be eligible to attend notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary.

(bb) In addition to pupils who are eligible to enroll pursuant to the provisions of Subitem (aa) of this Item, any student who is eligible to participate in a school choice program established by the prior system shall be permitted to enroll in a Type 5 charter which has capacity for another student in the appropriate grade. Maximum capacity by grade shall be provided in the charter agreement.

(cc)(I) No member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall be a member of the governing or management board of any Type 5 charter school. No member of any city, parish, or other local public school board shall be a member of the governing or management board of any Type 5 charter school within the jurisdictional area of such city, parish, or other local public school board.

(II) No member of a governing or management board of any Type 5 charter school shall be an elected official as defined by R.S. 42:1102(9). No member of such a board shall have been an elected official for a period of at least one year prior to appointment to such board.

(dd) A Type 5 charter school that is transferred from the Recovery School District to the administration and management of the transferring local school system pursuant to R.S. 17:10.5 or 10.7 and rules adopted by the state board shall no longer be determined to be failing and shall be converted to a Type 3B charter school.

(vi) Repealed by Acts 2016, No. 497, §2, eff. June 14, 2016.

(vii) Type 3B, which means a former Type 5 charter school transferred from the Recovery School District to the administration and management of the transferring local school system pursuant to R.S. 17:10.5 or 10.7 and rules adopted by the state board. The local school board shall permit a Type 3B charter school to remain in the facility in which it was located at the time of transfer or shall provide the Type 3B charter school with another facility for use. Pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the state board, the state board may require a Type 3B charter school to participate in unified processes common to other public schools located in the same parish or school district boundaries that are critical to providing equity and access to students and families, such as processes for student enrollment, expulsion, and transportation.

(3) "Chartering authority" means either a local school board or the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(4) "Economically disadvantaged" means any one of the following characteristics of a student:

(a) Is eligible for Louisiana's food assistance program for low-income families.

(b) Is eligible for Louisiana's disaster food assistance program.

(c) Is eligible for Louisiana's program for assistance to needy families with children to assist parents in becoming self-sufficient.

(d) Is eligible for Louisiana's healthcare program for families and individuals with limited financial resources.

(e) Is eligible for reduced price meals based on the latest available data.

(f) Is an English Language Learner.

(g) Is identified as homeless or migrant pursuant to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act and the Migrant Education Program within the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

(h) Is incarcerated with the office of juvenile justice or in an adult facility.

(i) Has been placed into the custody of the state.

(5) "Local school board" means any city, parish, or other local public school board.

(6) "Public service organization" means any community-based group of fifty or more persons incorporated under the laws of this state that meets all of the following requirements:

(a) Has a charitable, eleemosynary, or philanthropic purpose.

(b) Is qualified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c) of the United States Internal Revenue Code and is organized for a public purpose.

(7) "State board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Acts 1995, No. 192, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 14, §1; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 1210, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1339, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 9, §1, eff. Nov. 6, 2003; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §1, eff. Nov. 30, 2005; Acts 2009, No. 278, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 324, §1, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 181, §1; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §5, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 330, §1; Acts 2016, No. 497, §§1, 2, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 136, §§1, 2; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1; Acts 2024, No. 334, §1, eff. May 28, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 659, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:471 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 471
Teacher defined; probationary term; tenure; discipline and removal from office
Status: in_force

A. The word "teacher", as used herein, shall mean any employee of the Department of Corrections who holds a teacher's certificate issued by the Department of Education of the state of Louisiana pursuant to the laws of the state of Louisiana and to the rules and regulations adopted by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and whose contract with the Department of Corrections requires instruction of persons confined in any institution under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections. All teachers employed by the Department of Corrections shall be subject to the employee rules and regulations of the Department of Corrections and the penalties provided therein for violations.

B. The probationary term of each teacher shall be for a period of three years, commencing on the date of the first contract of employment at an institution. A probationary teacher may be dismissed, or otherwise disciplined by the Department of Corrections, upon written recommendation, accompanied by valid reasons therefor, of the secretary of corrections. However, all teachers who have attained permanent status on or before the effective date of this Section shall maintain their permanent status and teachers on probation before the effective date of this Section will not have their probationary terms lengthened solely because of passage of this Section.

C. Any teacher found unsatisfactory by the Department of Corrections at the expiration of the probationary term shall be notified in writing that their employment contract will not be renewed. In absence of such notice a probationary teacher shall become a regular and permanent teacher employed by the Department of Corrections.

D. A permanent teacher employed by the Department of Corrections shall not be disciplined or removed from office except upon written and signed charges of wilful neglect of duty, incompetence, dishonesty, or violation of the rules and regulations governing employees of the department, and then only if found guilty of such charges after a hearing by the Department of Corrections. All hearings conducted pursuant to this Section shall be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 13 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 relative to adjudication. Judicial review of a decision of the board shall also be in accordance with Chapter 13 of Title 49 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 588, §1. Amended by Acts 1980, No. 610, §1, eff. July 23, 1980.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3165.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3165.2
College credit for military service; spouses of veterans
Status: in_force

A.(1) Each articulation and transfer agreement developed and implemented in accordance with this Chapter shall maximize the number of academic or workforce education credits awarded to veterans of the United States Armed Forces for their military education, training, or experience and provide for their seamless transfer from military service to enrollment in any Louisiana public postsecondary education institution and from one public postsecondary education institution to another.

(2) The council shall use nationally recognized standards for evaluating educational experiences in the United States Armed Forces to govern the award of academic or workforce credit for military education, training, or experience.

B. Each public postsecondary education institution shall assist veterans of the United States Armed Forces and their spouses in pursuing their educational goals by providing expedited transcript analysis, prior learning assessment, portfolio analysis, advising, and testing. Upon the disclosure of military status on the application for enrollment or at the request of an entering student who is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, each public postsecondary education institution shall evaluate any transcript of prior earned postsecondary academic or workforce credit and accept the transfer of any credit earned from a regionally accredited postsecondary education institution, or military education, training, or experience provided that the credit aligns with the course and program requirements of the receiving institution.

C.(1) The Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council shall coordinate and oversee the development of a military articulation and transfer process that shall be adhered to by all public postsecondary education institutions and that shall:

(a) Recognize and align military education, training, or experience with the appropriate postsecondary academic or workforce coursework.

(b) Provide for the transfer of academic and workforce credit hours earned by a veteran or the spouse of a veteran from a postsecondary education institution that offers academic coursework to military personnel and their spouses, provided such institution is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting body and the credit to be transferred is aligned with the course and program requirements of the receiving institution.

(2) In developing the military articulation and transfer process, the council shall give proper consideration to the admission standards and role, scope, and mission of each public postsecondary education institution.

D. Each public postsecondary education management board shall ensure that any policy adopted pursuant to R.S. 17:3351(E) conforms to the provisions of this Section.

E. For the purposes of this Section, "veteran" shall have the meaning as provided in R.S. 13:5364.

F. This Section shall not apply to a former member of the United States Armed Forces who received a dishonorable discharge from military service but shall apply to such a person's spouse.

Acts 2015, No. 233, §1, eff. June 26, 2015; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1; Acts 2021, No. 429, §1, eff. June 21, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3991.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3991.1
Corporate partners; enrollment preferences and board membership
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds and declares that:

(1) The economic vitality of the state is dependent upon the education of its people, including its current and future workforce.

(2) The performance of Louisiana's public education system is critical in providing every Louisiana child with the ability to graduate equipped to enter college or the workplace, obtain a rewarding and self-sustaining career, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.

(3) High-quality educational options are essential to the academic growth of Louisiana's students and the ability of the state to attract businesses, a highly talented workforce, and expand existing businesses.

(4) Partnerships between businesses and the state's public education system can result in positive outcomes for children, providing much needed resources for schools and rich experiences for students to help prepare them to be effective employees and productive citizens.

(5) Encouraging and enhancing partnerships between the state's public education system and state and federal government partners that provide for public health and safety, defense, and critical infrastructure benefits the state and its students.

B.(1) Notwithstanding geographic or other requirements for enrollment contained in this Chapter, a charter agreement may provide, initially or by amendment, for the enrollment of and an enrollment preference for dependent children of permanent employees of a corporate partner as defined by Subsection C of this Section. Up to fifty percent of the school's maximum enrollment may be reserved for the enrollment of such children. The charter agreement shall specify both the school's maximum enrollment and the maximum proportion set aside for implementation of this enrollment preference.

(2) A charter agreement may provide, initially or by amendment, for a corporate partner to have representation on its governing or management board; however, such representation may not constitute a majority of the board. Such membership is subject to all other provisions of law except any contrary provision in this Chapter.

C. For purposes of this Section, a corporate partner is any legal entity except for a corporation identified in R.S. 18:1505.2(L)(3), whether for profit or not for profit, registered with the secretary of state, a regional airport, or any federal or state entity or agency, including a public postsecondary education institution, that has, acting individually or as part of a consortium of corporations, donated or provided one or more of the following to the school:

(1) The land on which the school is built.

(2) The school building or the space the school occupies. If the corporate partner is leasing the building or space to the school, the enrollment preference or board membership may only be provided in the charter agreement if the lease provides that the building or space is made available without cost and if the term of the lease is not less than the duration of the charter agreement.

(3) Major renovations to the existing school building or other capital improvements including major investments in technology. For purposes of this Paragraph, a major renovation to the existing school building means changes that provide significant opportunities for substantial improvement including but not limited to a structural change to the foundation, roof, floor, or interior or exterior walls or extension of an existing facility to increase its floor area; or an extensive alteration of an existing facility, such as a change in its function or purpose, even if such renovation does not include any structural change to the facility. A major investment in technology includes but is not limited to a donation of hardware, software, Internet access, Internet hardware, enterprise systems, software licenses, smart board technology, or audiovisual equipment. The value of a major renovation or of an investment of technology shall be equal to at least fifty percent of the per pupil allocation of state funds by the minimum foundation program formula for that year for the parish in which the school is located multiplied by the school's enrollment as defined in the charter agreement.

D. For the duration of the enrollment preference specified in Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section, the corporate partner shall enter annually into a memorandum of understanding with the charter school with which it has entered into a partnership which memorandum shall specify the methods by which the corporate partner shall support the charter school, including but not limited to internships for students, career counseling, academic tutoring, or enrichment activities.

E.(1) An enrollment preference pursuant to Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section shall not be implemented in a way that displaces children enrolled at the school at the time the charter agreement or amendment providing for the preference is authorized.

(2) Enrollment at the school shall otherwise be as provided by this Chapter.

Acts 2011, No. 417, §1, eff. July 12, 2011; Acts 2024, No. 364, §1; Acts 2024, No. 659, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3390 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3390
Private nonprofit corporations which support public higher education institutions; findings; status; private funds
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds that private support enhances the programs, facilities, and research and educational opportunities offered by public institutions of higher education in Louisiana. Therefore, each higher education management board and institution is hereby encouraged to promote the activities of alumni associations, foundations, and other private, nonprofit organizations that raise private funds for the support of public institutions of higher education. Further, it is recognized that private, nonprofit organizations under the direction and control of private individuals who support institutions of higher education are effective in obtaining private support for those institutions.

B. A nonprofit corporation, whose principal purpose is to support one or more programs, facilities, or research or educational opportunities offered by public institutions of higher education, including but not limited to any nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to finance the design, construction, renovation, or equipping of facilities to be leased to such public institutions of higher learning, shall be a private entity that shall not be deemed to be a public or quasi public corporation or an administrative unit, public servant, employee, or agent of any institution of higher education for any purpose whatsoever if it meets all of the following criteria:

(1) The majority of the voting members of the corporation's board of directors are not members or employees of a higher education management board.

(2) The corporation is under the management and control of a board of directors elected by the members or shareholders of the corporation.

(3) The corporation reimburses, either directly or through in-kind services, the cost of housing, personnel, which personnel shall remain public servants for all purposes, and other support furnished to the corporation by any institution of higher education, if any such support is furnished.

C. The receipt, investment, or expenditure of public funds shall not affect the private status of any corporation meeting the criteria set forth in Subsection B of this Section; however, books and records of any such corporation, to the extent that such books and records directly pertain to the receipt, investment, or expenditure of public funds, shall be subject to R.S. 44:1 et seq. No other books and records of any such corporation shall be subject to R.S. 44:1 et seq.

D.(1) Alumni associations, alumni foundations, and other private, nonprofit alumni organizations that raise private funds for the support of public institutions of higher education, and nonprofit corporations whose primary purpose is to finance the design, construction, renovation, or equipping of facilities to be leased to such public institutions of higher education, shall have a financial accounting system established pursuant to customary and current accepted accounting standards. Except as provided in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection, the financial affairs of the organizations shall be audited annually in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by an independent professional auditor who shall furnish to the legislative auditor copies of his annual audit.

(2) With regard to an audit received by the legislative auditor from any nonprofit corporation, the primary purpose of which is to design, construct, renovate, or equip a facility to be leased to a public institution of higher learning which is under the management of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, the legislative auditor may recommend to the Legislative Audit Advisory Council that an audit be conducted by the legislative auditor pursuant to and in the manner provided in R.S. 24:513. Upon such recommendation, the Legislative Audit Advisory Council may direct that such an audit be conducted.

(3)(a) Any alumni association, alumni foundation, or other private, nonprofit alumni organization that raises private funds for the support of a public institution of higher education which receives seventy-five thousand dollars or less in funds in a fiscal year shall not be required to have an audit. However, the organization shall execute a certification indicating that it received seventy-five thousand dollars or less in funds in the fiscal year and shall prepare a sworn financial statement.

(b) The sworn financial statement required by this Paragraph shall be prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and include the disclosures required by state and federal regulations. The sworn financial statement shall include a recital that it presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the organization; that the organization has maintained a system of internal control structure sufficient to safeguard assets and comply with laws and regulations; and that the organization has complied with all laws and regulations or shall acknowledge exceptions thereto.

(c) Copies of the certification and sworn financial statement shall be furnished to the legislative auditor.

E.(1) Any institution of higher education may permit a private, nonprofit corporation to purchase tickets to any event sponsored by the institution not to exceed twelve percent of the tickets available for the event.

(2) In addition to any tickets purchased pursuant to the authorization in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and only with the prior approval of the appropriate higher education management board, any institution of higher education may permit a private, nonprofit corporation to purchase tickets to any athletic event sponsored by the institution when the event is held in a facility owned by the institution and the tickets provide access to seats or seating areas located in an addition to the facility which is constructed by the corporation.

(3) If the corporation pays the full price of admission for which such tickets are sold to other members of the public, then any funds received by the corporation from the resale of the tickets shall not be public funds for any purpose.

F. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section or of other law to the contrary, any request for payments of over one thousand dollars for any single transaction to, or on behalf of, or to reimburse the expense of a public employee of a public higher education institution or a public employee or officer of a management board of a public higher education institution by a nonprofit organization shall be approved in writing by the appropriate public higher education management board in accordance with written policies and procedures. All requests, approvals, and documents provided to a higher education institution or management board in connection with such requests or approvals, shall be retained by the public higher education institution or public higher education management board and shall be subject to inspection, examination, copying, and reproduction in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 44:1 et seq.

Acts 1992, No. 1055, §1; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 125, §1, eff. May 5, 1998; Acts 2004, No. 533, §1, eff. June 25, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 710, §1; Acts 2008, No. 505, §1, eff. June 25, 2008.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3001 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3001
Declaration of policy
Status: in_force

It is hereby declared that the welfare of the people of the state of Louisiana and future progress of our nation requires that the talents of its youth be developed to their fullest possible extent and that the waste of any student's talent, no matter what its nature, is not in the best interests of the present or future welfare of the citizens of our state.

Added by Acts 1962, No. 319, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:280.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 280.3
Computer science; required instruction
Status: in_force

A.(1) Each public high school shall provide computer science instruction to its students. Each public high school student shall successfully complete a one-credit Computer Science course as a requirement for high school graduation.

(2) Each public school with students in grades six through eight shall provide instruction in exploratory computer science to its students.

(3) Each public elementary school shall provide instruction in the basics of computer science and computational thinking.

B. The state Department of Education shall approve the computer science courses required by this Section.

C. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2024, No. 211, §4; Acts 2025, No. 268, §2.

NOTE: See Acts 2025, No. 268, §4, relative to applicability and implementation.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:237 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 237
Authority to suspend
Status: in_force

Pursuant to the authority contained in Article XIX, Section 5, of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Governor is hereby authorized to suspend the provisions of Sections 221, 230 and 233 of this Title, or any of them, for no longer than one calendar year, in any parish or parishes designated by him, in the event of disaster, flood, disorder, riot, violence, or any other emergency deemed sufficient by him.

Acts 1964, No. 109, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3995 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3995
Charter school funding
Status: in_force

A.(1) For the purpose of funding, a Type 1, Type 3, Type 3B not acting as its own local education agency, and Type 4 charter school shall be considered an approved public school of the local school board entering into the charter agreement. Type 2 charter schools and a Type 3B charter school acting as its own local education agency shall receive a per pupil amount each year authorized by the state board each year as provided in the approved minimum foundation program formula. The per pupil amount provided to a Type 1, 2, 3, 3B, or 4 charter school shall be computed annually and shall be equal to the per pupil amount provided through the minimum foundation program formula, determined by the allocation weights in the formula based upon student characteristics or needs, received by the school district in which the student resides from the following sources based on the district's membership count used in the minimum foundation program formula:

(a) The state-funded per pupil allocation, based upon the weighted student membership count, received by the district pursuant to the most recent legislatively approved minimum foundation program formula, including all levels and allocation weights based upon student characteristics or needs as provided in the formula except any supplementary allocations for specific purposes. Supplementary allocations for specific purposes shall be provided to charter schools based solely on the funds generated by the charter school within each specific allocation.

(b)(i) Local revenues received during the prior year by the school district from the following sources:

(aa) Sales and use taxes, less any tax collection fee paid by the school district.

(bb) Ad valorem taxes, less any tax collection fee paid by the school district.

(cc) Earnings from sixteenth section lands owned by the school district.

(ii) For the purposes of this Subparagraph, local revenues shall exclude any portion which has been specifically dedicated by the legislature or by voter approval to capital outlay or debt service.

(iii) For the purposes of this Subparagraph, local revenues of the Orleans Parish School Board also shall exclude the amounts set forth in R.S. 17:1990(C)(2)(a)(iii) until such provisions relative to the specified amounts expire.

(iv) For the purposes of this Subparagraph, local revenues of a school board also shall exclude the amount deposited into the fund created by R.S. 17:100.12(B).

(c) The provisions of this Paragraph permitting the calculation of the per pupil amount to be provided to a Type 1, 2, 3, 3B, or 4 charter school to exclude any portion of local revenues specifically dedicated by the legislature or by voter approval to capital outlay or debt service, shall be applicable only to a charter school housed in a facility or facilities provided by the district in which the charter school is located.

(2)(a) Initial allocation of the per pupil amount required in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be based on estimates provided by the state Department of Education using the most recent projected prior year local revenue data and projected pupil counts available. Allocations shall be adjusted during the year to reflect actual pupil counts and actual prior year local revenue collections.

(b) In order to provide for adjustments in allocations made to Type 2 charter schools as a result of changes in enrollment, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education may provide annually for a February fifteenth pupil membership count to reflect any changes in pupil enrollment that may occur after October first of each year. Any allocation adjustment made pursuant to this Subparagraph shall not be retroactive and shall be applicable for the period from March first through the end of the school year. The provisions of this Subparagraph relative to an allocation adjustment shall not be applicable to any Type 2 charter school that has had an increase or decrease in student enrollment of five percent or less in any school year for which the February fifteenth membership count occurs.

(3) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and unless otherwise provided for in the approved minimum foundation program formula:

(a) Beginning July 1, 2016, for a district with one or more Type 3B charter schools in a parish that contains a municipality with a population of three hundred thousand or more persons according to the latest federal decennial census, the total amount of minimum foundation program formula funds allocated to the local school board and to Type 1, 3, 3B, 4, and 5 charter schools that are located within the district shall be allocated using a district-level computation based on student characteristics or needs as determined by the state board. The state Department of Education shall facilitate a collaborative process that includes representatives from the Recovery School District, the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, any affected local school board and any organization representing its authorized charter schools, and advocates for students with disabilities in the development of the district-level allocation policy that shall take effect on July 1, 2016.

(b) The local school board shall adopt a policy that establishes a process to determine the district-level funding allocation to be effective beginning July 1, 2017, and as revised in subsequent years as appropriate, based upon student characteristics or needs to distribute the total amount of minimum foundation program formula funds allocated to the local school board and to Type 1, 3, 3B, 4, and 5 charter schools that are located within the geographic boundaries of the local school system.

(4)(a)(i) The state board and a local school board may annually charge each charter school they authorize a fee in an amount equal to two percent of the total per pupil amount as defined by this Subsection that is received by a charter school for administrative overhead costs incurred by the chartering authority for considering the charter application and any amendment thereto, providing monitoring and oversight of the school, collecting and analyzing data of the school, and for reporting on school performance. Such fee amount shall be withheld from the per pupil amount in monthly increments and shall not be applicable to any federal money or grants received by the charter school. Administrative overhead costs shall not include any cost incurred by the chartering authority to provide purchased services to the charter school. As provided by Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, a chartering authority or the Recovery School District, if applicable, may provide other services for a charter school and charge the actual cost of providing such services, but no such arrangement shall be required as a condition for authorizing the charter school.

(ii) The state Department of Education may withhold and retain from state funds otherwise allocated to a local public school system through the minimum foundation program formula an amount equal to one quarter of one percent of the fee amount charged to a Type 3B charter school acting as its own local education agency pursuant to Item (i) of this Subparagraph, or a Type 1, 3, or 4 charter school acting as its own education agency pursuant to R.S. 17:10.7.1, for administrative costs incurred by the department for providing financial oversight and monitoring of such charter schools.

(b) A charter school may contract with the chartering authority, or with the Recovery School District for a Type 5 charter school, for the direct purchase of specific services in addition to those included in administrative overhead costs, including but not limited to food services, special education services, transportation services, custodial and maintenance services, media services, technology services, library services, health services, and health benefits for active and retired employees. Such services shall be provided to the charter school at the actual costs incurred by the chartering authority or the Recovery School District as applicable. The amount paid by a charter school for such purchased services shall be in accordance with a written agreement entered into for this purpose by the charter school and the chartering authority or the Recovery School District as applicable. Such agreement shall be negotiated and executed prior to the beginning of each school year. Absent such an agreement as provided by this Subparagraph, the chartering authority or, if applicable, the Recovery School District shall have no authority to withhold from the charter school any funds relative to providing such services.

(c) At least thirty days prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, each charter school shall be provided by its chartering authority with a projected budget detailing anticipated administrative overhead costs and planned uses for fees charged for such costs. By not later than ninety days following the end of each fiscal year, each charter school shall be provided by its chartering authority an itemized accounting of all administrative overhead costs. Additionally, by not later than ninety days following the end of each fiscal year, each charter school shall be provided by its chartering authority or the Recovery School District, if applicable, an itemized accounting of the actual cost of each purchased service provided to the charter school.

(5) Within fifteen days of the receipt of any state, local, or other funding to which the charter school is entitled or which came as a result of students enrolled in the charter school, the chartering authority shall ensure that those funds are available for use by such charter schools.

(6)(a) A Type 2 school which has been renewed as provided in R.S. 17:3992(A) annually shall be funded in the full amount calculated as provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Such full funding shall be provided as a priority prior to the allocation of state funding to any other charter school funded by the state.

(b) The full funding required in this Subsection shall include in any calculation all pupils enrolled pursuant to any authority of a renewed Type 2 charter to increase the enrollment of such school whether caused by increasing the number of pupils in authorized grades or by adding sequential grades pursuant to the school's charter or other authority granted by the state board.

B. For each pupil enrolled in a charter school who is entitled to special education services, any state special education funding beyond that provided in the minimum foundation program and any federal funds for special education for that pupil that would have been allocated for that pupil shall be allocated to the charter school which the pupil attends.

C. Any approved charter school shall be eligible for any other federal, restricted state, and unrestricted state funding for which the school or its pupils qualify. Each charter school shall receive at a minimum their per pupil share for any state or federal grant program such as any funding provided for technology, teacher supplies, kindergarten through third grade reading and mathematics, summer school, and other remediation funding, as well as any other state or federal grant program where funding is distributed on a per pupil basis and a charter school is eligible to receive the funding under the terms of the grant. The charter school shall comply with the terms of the grant. The chartering authority shall ensure that such funds are made available for use by any charter school no less than fifteen days after the chartering authority receives such funding from the state or the federal government, provided the chartering authority applied for such funding directly. A charter school may apply for and receive funding directly from the state or federal government.

D. Any approved charter school may solicit, accept, and administer donations or any other financial assistance in the form of money, grants, property, loans, or personal services for educational purposes from any public or private person, corporation, or agency and comply with rules and regulations governing grants from the federal government or from any other person or agency, which are not in contravention of the constitution and any other law.

E. If any charter school fails to open and serve pupils or closes for any reason, the charter school shall refund all equipment and cash on hand which can be attributed to state or local funding to the state or to the local school district as appropriate.

F. Every pupil enrolled in a charter school shall be counted in the school's total pupil count for purposes of funding including each pupil who is pursuing a high school diploma or participating in a pre-general education development skills program as defined by policy adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. No child enrolled in a prekindergarten program offered by a charter school shall be counted for purposes of funding pursuant to the provisions of Subsection A of this Section unless such funding is specifically provided for such purpose. However, such school shall be eligible for any other funding that may become available pursuant to the provisions of Subsection C of this Section for children enrolled in prekindergarten programs.

G. In addition to any other funds received, each charter school created as a new school rather than as a conversion school shall receive for each student based on average daily membership in the charter school for the first five years of its existence an amount equaling the average per student budgeted amount for each of those five years by the district in which the charter school is located for facility acquisition and construction services. The provisions of this Subsection shall apply only if and to the extent that funds are appropriated therefor by the legislature.

H. Any Type 2 or 5 charter school shall be considered the local education agency for funding purposes and statutory definitions pursuant to rules adopted by the state board.

I. The local school board shall remain the local education agency for any Type 1, 3, or 4 charter school, unless the charter school is authorized to act as its own local education agency, pursuant to R.S. 17:10.7.1.

J. A Type 5 charter school shall have the option to remain its own local education agency for funding purposes and statutory definitions upon conversion to a Type 3B charter school pursuant to rules adopted by the state board. Pursuant to this Subsection, the state board shall adopt rules for a Type 3B charter school considered its own local education agency and such rules shall:

(1) Provide for the delineation of financial and programmatic obligations of the charter school related to the receipt of funds as a local education agency.

(2) Authorize the state superintendent of education to rescind the local education agency status of a charter school should the charter school fail to meet the financial and programmatic obligations approved by the state board pursuant to this Subsection.

K. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act regarding a charter school acting as its own local education agency, pursuant to R.S. 17:10.7.1. Such rules shall:

(1) Delineate the financial and programmatic obligations of the charter school as related to the receipt of public funds.

(2) Authorize the state superintendent of education to rescind a charter school's authority to act as its own local education agency if the school fails to meet the financial and programmatic obligations established by the board.

Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 1210, §1; Acts 2001, No. 988, §1, eff. June 27, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 991, §1, eff. June 27, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 1076, §1, eff. June 28, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 260, §1; Acts 2004, No. 735, §1; Acts 2005, No. 305, §1; Acts 2008, No. 202, §1, eff. June 13, 2008; Acts 2008, No. 744, §1, eff. July 6, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 292, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 370, §§1, 2, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 861, §8; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §5, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 330, §1; Acts 2015, No. 467, §1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2016, No. 91, §1, eff. May 12, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 497, §1, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1; Acts 2019, No. 430, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:4044 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 4044
Terms and conditions of waivers for low-performing schools
Status: in_force

A. The board shall require any low-performing school covered by a waiver to meet certain terms and conditions aimed at improving teacher effectiveness, quality of instruction, and student academic achievement. The governing authority of such school shall:

(1) Ensure the effectiveness of the school's teachers pursuant to Part II of Chapter 39 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

(2) Ensure the improvement of quality of instruction and student academic achievement by implementing one of the following four intervention options at each low-performing school covered by the waiver:

(a) Turnaround: Put in place new leadership and a majority of new staff, new governance, and improved instructional programs, and provide the school with sufficient operational flexibility such as the ability to select staff, control its budget as approved by the school's governing authority, and increase learning time.

(b) Restart: Convert the school to a charter school. However, every teacher employed in such school prior to its conversion to a charter school, who has been determined to be effective in accordance with the provisions of Part II of Chapter 39 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, shall be given the option to remain at the school or to be reassigned by the governing authority to another school under its jurisdiction.

(c) School Closure: Close the school and place its students in a high-performing school within the district.

(d) Transformation: Hire a new principal and implement a suite of best practices including comprehensive instructional management reform and measures of effective teaching. The board shall not grant a waiver to a district that proposes to use this option for more than fifty percent of the low-performing schools covered by the waiver.

(3) A district that has implemented one or more of the interventions described in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection for its low-performing schools in the two academic years immediately preceding the waiver application is not eligible to receive a waiver for such schools unless both of the following apply:

(a) The school has met its statewide accountability growth target or surpassed the statewide growth average during such two-year period of implementation.

(b) The district agrees to implement any remaining conditions of school intervention as required by the board.

B. A school implementing any of the intervention options prescribed in Paragraph (A)(2) of this Section shall not be subject to transfer to the Recovery School District for the duration of the waiver period. Upon termination of the waiver, a school that has not met its growth targets as established by the school and district accountability system shall be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District or the governing authority of such school shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Recovery School District which shall govern the operation of the school.

C. A school that entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Recovery School District prior to receipt of a waiver, and which upon expiration of the memorandum of understanding or termination of the waiver has not met its growth targets as established by the school and district accountability system, shall be transferred to the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District.

D. A school under the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District which has been granted a waiver, and upon termination of the waiver has not met its growth targets as established by the school and district accountability system, shall be subject to one of the following actions as determined by the board:

(1) A school that is directly operated by the Recovery School District shall be converted to a charter school. If the school is a charter school, the Recovery School District shall terminate the school's charter and enter into a contract with a new chartering group for the operation of the school. Such schools shall remain under the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District.

(2) The school shall be closed and its students transferred to a higher performing school within the Recovery School District.

Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3042.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3042.2
Amount; requirements
Status: in_force

A.(1) A loan may be made by the commission pursuant to this Chapter for not in excess of four thousand dollars per undergraduate year for up to eight semesters or the equivalent of eight semesters at schools operating on a different schedule for any approved applicant who intends to acquire a degree in education from a program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as provided in R.S. 17:3042.1(C), provided such loan is used to defray the tuition and other expenses of any such applicant at a public or commission-approved independent college or university in Louisiana.

(2) A loan may be made by the commission pursuant to this Chapter for not in excess of six thousand dollars per undergraduate year for up to eight semesters or the equivalent of eight semesters at schools operating on a different schedule for any approved applicant who intends to acquire a degree in either the area of mathematics or chemistry and who intends to pursue an alternative program which leads to regular certification as a teacher as provided in R.S. 17:3042.1(C), provided such loan is used to defray the tuition and other expenses of any such applicant at a public or commission-approved independent college or university in Louisiana.

B. A loan made under the provisions of this Chapter to any applicant shall not exceed the amount provided in this Chapter, and shall be under such terms and conditions as may be provided under rules and regulations of the commission.

C. A student for whom a loan is made by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall be required to repay the full amount of the loan and interest thereon to the commission. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the commission shall forgive such a loan to the applicant in return for services rendered by the applicant by practicing his or her profession as a classroom teacher in the elementary or secondary schools of the state. One year's funding of the loan together with the interest thereon shall be forgiven by the commission for the applicant for each year of practicing his profession in any elementary or secondary school in Louisiana.

Added by Acts 1981, No. 934, §1, eff. Aug. 2, 1981. Amended by Acts 1983, No. 354, §1; Acts 1984, No. 282, §1, eff. July 1, 1984; Acts 1986, No. 583, §1, eff. July 2, 1986; Acts 1988, No. 116, §1; Acts 1991, No. 817, §1, eff. July 23, 1991; Acts 1997, No. 476, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2049.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2049.2
Evaluation program; professional development and enhancement; certification
Status: in_force

The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall:

(1) Develop and implement an employee evaluation system, which system shall, at a minimum, include a competency examination as a prerequisite for employment pursuant to board policy and provide for annual evaluations of all employees. The board shall select the examination instrument to be used for such evaluations and the level of achievement required for successful completion.

(2) Develop and implement a system of professional development and enhancement activities for which qualification points may be earned by employees. Such a system shall be designed to provide an equitable opportunity for all employees to improve their qualification and competency. The system shall include a mechanism for crediting earned qualification points as well as a mechanism for verifying the accuracy of earned points as provided by board policy.

(3) Develop a program for the enhancement of any employee whose competency level is found inadequate. Such a program shall include activities for which qualification points may be earned.

(4) Develop and implement policies for the renewal of certification for employees.

Acts 1991, No. 612, §1, eff. July 17, 1991; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:416.13 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 416.13
Student code of conduct; requirement
Status: in_force

A. The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall adopt a student code of conduct for the students in the schools under its jurisdiction. The code of conduct shall be in compliance with all existing rules, regulations, and policies of the local school governing authority and of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and all state laws relative to student discipline and shall include any necessary disciplinary action to be taken against any student who violates the code of conduct.

B. The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall adopt, and incorporate into the student code of conduct, a policy prohibiting the bullying of a student by another student, which includes the definition of bullying as provided in R.S. 17:416.14. This policy shall be implemented in a manner that is ongoing throughout the school year and integrated with a school's curriculum, a school's discipline policies, and other violence prevention efforts.

Acts 1999, No. 969, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 230, §1, eff. June 1, 2001; Acts 2010, No. 755, §1, eff. June 29, 2010; Acts 2012, No. 861, §1, eff. June 14, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 329, §1; Acts 2017, No. 335, §1; Acts 2022, No. 697, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:407.41 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 407.41
Child safety and welfare minimum standards
Status: in_force

A. In addition to regulations promulgated by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:407.40, all early learning centers and prekindergarten programs shall meet the following minimum standards to ensure the safety and welfare of children:

(1) There shall be a minimum of two staff members present at any facility when more than four children are present, except under an extenuating circumstance that temporarily prevents compliance with this Paragraph.

(2) The child-to-staff ratios shall not exceed the following:

(a) Infants and under one year - 5 to 1

(b) One year - 7 to 1

(c) Two years - 10 to 1

(d) Three years - 13 to 1

(e) Four years - 15 to 1

(f) Five years - 19 to 1

(3) An average of the child-to-staff ratios may be applied to mixed age groups of children only for groups that include no children under the age of two.

(4) When a mixed age group includes children younger than age two, the age of the youngest child determines the child-to-staff ratio for the group.

(5) When the nature of a child with special healthcare needs or the number of children with special healthcare needs warrants added care, the center shall add sufficient staff as necessary.

(6) Only staff members directly providing care, supervision, or guidance to children shall be counted in the child-to-staff ratio. The same staff members shall not be used to meet the ratio requirements for two different groups of children at the same time.

(7) Sufficient staffing needed to satisfy child-to-staff ratios shall be present on the premises during rest time and available to assist as needed. Children ages one and older may be grouped together at rest time with one staff member in each room supervising the resting children.

(8) Information regarding required child-to-staff ratios and a phone number to file complaints regarding supervision with the Department of Education shall be posted in each classroom in a location that is visible to parents.

(9) Children shall be supervised at all times including on the playground, on field trips, and on nonvehicular excursions.

(10)(a) Children shall not be left alone in any room, outdoors, or in vehicles, even momentarily, without staff present.

(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to restroom use as provided in this Section, if a child is being provided services by therapeutic professionals, or if a child is in the custody of a parent or legal guardian.

(11) A staff person shall be assigned to supervise specific children whose names and whereabouts that the staff person shall know and with whom the staff person shall be physically present. Staff shall be able to state how many children are in their care at all times.

(12)(a) A child who is developmentally able may be permitted to use the restroom independently if a staff member is in proximity to and can see the child to ensure immediate intervention to safeguard a child from harm or to assist with an accident while in the restroom.

(b) An individual who is not a staff member may not enter the restroom area while in use by any child other than his own child.

(13) A child age five and older may be permitted to go to and return from the restroom without staff.

(14) If a prekindergarten program or early learning center is part of a school with children in kindergarten or older, staff shall ensure that the children enrolled in the prekindergarten program or early learning center are not unsupervised in the restroom at the same time as any older children who are using the restroom. For any facility constructed after January 1, 2026, there shall be designated separate restrooms for the children enrolled in the prekindergarten program or early learning center.

(15) Children shall be changed and cleaned immediately following a toileting accident.

B.(1) The state Department of Education shall develop an informational document that contains all of the following:

(a) The child safety and welfare minimum standards provided for in this Section.

(b) A phone number to file complaints with the state Department of Education regarding violations of the standards.

(c) A statement notifying parents and legal guardians that the document is being distributed pursuant to "Charlie's Law".

(2) The state Department of Education shall provide the document to each early learning center and prekindergarten program no later than August first of each year.

(3) Each early learning center and public school with a prekindergarten program shall distribute the document to the parents and legal guardians of all children enrolled in an early learning center or prekindergarten program.

(4) The document shall be distributed at the beginning of each school year and may be distributed electronically.

C. The state Department of Education shall provide written notification to the superintendent of a school district for any complaint received by the department regarding a prekindergarten program in the district pursuant to this Section.

Acts 2025, No. 409, §3.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1960 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1960
The Deaf Child's Bill of Rights; legislative recognition
Status: in_force

A. The Louisiana Association of the Deaf and the United States Congress recognize that children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind who utilize one or more modes of communication have the same rights and potential to become independent and self-actualizing as children who are not deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Therefore the legislature recognizes the Deaf Child's Bill of Rights as follows:

(1) Public schools and all publicly funded early intervention programs shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind appropriate screening and assessment of hearing and vision capabilities and communication and language needs at the earliest possible age and the continuation of screening services throughout the educational experience.

(2) Public schools and all publicly funded early intervention programs shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind with individualized and appropriate early intervention to support the acquisition of solid language bases developed at the earliest possible age.

(3) Public schools shall inform the parents or guardians of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind of all State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education policies and regulations relative to placement considerations and options available to children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind and provide opportunities for parents and guardians to fully participate in the development and implementation of their child's education plan.

(4) Public schools shall strive to provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind opportunities to meet and associate with adult role models who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind to learn advocacy skills, including self advocacy.

(5) Public schools shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind opportunities to meet and associate with their peers in the school environment and during school sponsored activities.

(6) Public schools shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind access to qualified teachers, interpreters, and resource personnel who communicate effectively with each child in that child's mode of communication.

(7) Public schools shall include a communication plan in the Individualized Education Program of every student with an exceptionality who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Where appropriate, public schools shall include a communication plan in the Individual Accommodation Plan for a student who is deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

(8) Public schools shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind placement that is best suited to each child's individual needs, including but not limited to social, emotional, and cultural needs, with consideration for the child's age, degree and type of hearing loss, academic level, mode of communication, style of learning, motivational level, and amount of family support.

(9) Public schools shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind individual considerations for free, appropriate education across a full spectrum of educational programs.

(10) Public schools shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind full support services provided by qualified professionals in their educational settings. The state Department of Education shall work with local education agencies to ensure technical assistance is available to support public school governing authorities in meeting the needs of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

(11) Public schools shall provide children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind full access to all programs in their educational settings.

(12) Deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children are entitled to have the public fully informed concerning medical, cultural, and linguistic issues of individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

(13) Public schools, where possible, shall have deaf and hard of hearing adults directly involved in determining the extent, content, and purpose of all programs that affect the education of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

B.(1) Public school governing authorities shall comply with the provisions of this Section, in accordance with applicable state and federal law, policy, and regulation.

(2) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to create a right of action that is not currently provided for in state or federal law or regulation on behalf of an individual student or a class of students for the failure of a particular public school or public school governing authority to comply with any provision of this Section, or to prevent the parent or legal guardian of a student from filing a complaint as provided in applicable state or federal law or regulation.

Acts 1993, No. 292, §1; Acts 2015, No. 250, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:5025.7 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 5025.7
High school core curriculum requirements; Opportunity, Performance, and Honors Awards; students graduating 2027-2028 through 2029-2030 school years
Status: in_force

To be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant to this Chapter, a student who graduated during or after the 2027-2028 school year but not later than the 2029-2030 school year shall have successfully completed a core curriculum which consists of twenty units of high school course work as follows:

(1) English - Four Units

(a) English I.

(b) English II.

(c) One unit chosen from the following: English III, AP English Language Arts and Composition, or English III IB (Language A or Literature and Performance).

(d) One unit chosen from the following: English IV, AP English Literature and Composition, or English IV IB (Language A or Literature and Performance).

(2) Mathematics - Four Units

(a) Algebra I (one unit), Geometry (one unit), and Algebra II (one unit). Integrated Mathematics I, Integrated Mathematics II, and Integrated Mathematics III may be substituted for the Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II sequence.

(b) One unit chosen from the following: Algebra III; Advanced Math Functions and Statistics, Advanced Math-Pre-Calculus, Pre-Calculus, or Math Methods I IB (Mathematical Studies SL); Calculus, AP Calculus AB, or Math Methods II IB (Mathematics SL); AP Calculus BC; Probability and Statistics or AP Statistics; IB Further Mathematics HL; IB Mathematics HL.

(3) Science - Four Units

(a) Biology I.

(b) Chemistry I.

(c) Two units chosen from the following: Earth Science; Environmental Science; Physical Science; Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one unit combined); Chemistry II, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry II; AP Environmental Science, or IB Environmental Systems; Physics I, AP Physics I, AP Physics B, or IB Physics I; AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, IB Physics II, or AP Physics II; Biology II, AP Biology, or IB Biology II.

(4) Social Studies - Four Units

(a) One unit chosen from the following: U.S. History, AP US History, or IB US History.

(b) One unit chosen from the following: Civics, Government, AP US Government and Politics: Comparative, AP US Government and Politics: United States.

(c) Two units chosen from the following: Western Civilization, European History, or AP European History; World Geography, AP Human Geography, or IB Geography; World History, AP World History, or World History IB; History of Religion; IB Economics, Economics, AP Macroeconomics, or AP Microeconomics; African American History.

(5) Foreign Language or Computer Science - Two Units

(a) Foreign Language - the two units shall be in the same language, which may include the following: AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP French Language and Culture, AP German Language and Culture, AP Italian Language and Culture, AP Japanese Language and Culture, AP Latin, AP Spanish Language and Culture, French IV IB, French V IB, Spanish IV IB, and Spanish V IB.

(b) Computer Science - the two units shall be in principles, coding, and programming, which may include the following: Computer Science I; Computer Science II; Fundamentals of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (Level 1); Advanced JavaScript, Functional Programming, and Web Development (Level 2); AP Computer Science A; AP Computer Science Principles; Computer Science Year One IB; and Computer Science Year Two IB.

(6) Art - one unit chosen from the following: Performance course in Music, Dance, or Theatre; Fine Arts Survey; Art I, II, III, and IV; Talented Art I, II, III, and IV; Talented Music I, II, III, and IV; Talented Theater Arts I, II, III, and IV; Speech III and Speech IV (one unit combined); AP Art History; AP Studio Art: 2-D Design; AP Studio Art: 3-D Design; AP Studio Art: Drawing; AP Music Theory; Film Study I IB; Film Study II IB; Music I IB; Music II IB; Art Design III IB; Art Design IV IB; Theatre I IB; or Drafting.

(7) Financial Literacy - one unit.

(8) For the purposes of this Section, any core curriculum course that is taken by a student who has been identified as gifted pursuant to State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education policy and that is taken in fulfillment of the student's Individualized Education Program shall be considered a gifted course and shall fulfill the core curriculum requirement in its given subject area.

Acts 2024, No. 211, §2; Acts 2025, No. 268, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3100.10 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3100.10
Effectiveness
Status: in_force

The authority shall undertake operation of the program created by this Chapter upon receipt of an appropriation or an award or donation from any other source sufficient to fund the authority's initial start-up and operational expenses. Funds appropriated, awarded, or donated to the authority for this purpose shall be carried forward from year to year and may be expended by the authority as appropriated. Appropriations to the authority from the Tuition and Savings Fund which remain at the end of each fiscal year shall not be returned to the general fund but shall be deposited in the Tuition and Savings Fund.

Acts 2018, No. 687, §2, eff. May 30, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3129.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3129.6
Higher Education Initiatives Fund
Status: in_force

A. The "Higher Education Initiatives Fund", hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "fund", is hereby created within the state treasury for the purpose of improvement of Louisiana's higher education institutions, including but not limited to improvement of university-based teaching training programs and development of innovative teaching strategies, development of additional distance learning university classrooms, including infrastructure connections and purchase of equipment, and enhancement of library and scientific equipment.

B. The sources of monies deposited into the fund shall be legislative appropriation and grants, gifts, and donations received by the state for the purposes of this Section. Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature and shall be available exclusively for higher education institutions or for the Board of Regents, hereinafter referred to in this Section as the "board". The board shall develop regulations and guidelines for the distribution and allocation of monies appropriated to the board which shall be subject to approval by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. A portion of such funds shall be allocated to support dual enrollment programs. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Such monies shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as the monies in the state general fund, and all interest earned shall be credited to the fund following compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

C. Repealed by Acts 2001, No. 1182, §10, eff. July 1, 2001.

Acts 1997, No. 482, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 2001, No. 1182, §§3 and 10, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2004, No. 585, §1, eff. July 1, 2004; Acts 2020, No. 204, §1, eff. June 11, 2020.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:221 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 221
School attendance; compulsory ages; duty of parents; excessive absences; condition for driving privileges
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) For the 2021-2022 school year, the parent or legal guardian of a child who is age seven through eighteen and residing within the state of Louisiana shall send the child to a public or nonpublic school, unless the child graduates from high school prior to his eighteenth birthday. A child below the age of seven who legally enrolls in school shall also be subject to the provisions of this Subpart.

(b) Beginning with the 2022-2023 school year, the parent or legal guardian of a child who resides in Louisiana and who is age five, by September thirtieth of the calendar year in which the school year begins, through eighteen shall send the child to a public or nonpublic school, as defined by R.S. 17:236, unless the child's parent or legal guardian opted to defer enrollment of his child in kindergarten pursuant to R.S. 17:151.3(D) or the child graduates from high school prior to his eighteenth birthday. A child below the age of five who legally enrolls in school shall also be subject to the provisions of this Subpart.

(c) The parent or legal guardian of the child shall also assure the attendance of the child in regularly assigned classes during regular school hours established by the school board and shall assure that the child is not habitually tardy from school pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:233.

(2) Whoever violates the provisions of this Subsection shall be fined not more than two hundred and fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. The court shall impose a minimum condition of probation which may include that the parent, tutor, or other person having control or charge of the child participate in forty hours of school or community service activities, or a combination of forty hours of school or community service and attendance in parenting classes or family counseling sessions or programs approved by the court having jurisdiction, as applicable, or the suspension of any state-issued recreational license.

(3) Whoever violates any other provision of this Subpart or any other provision of law which provides for the penalty provided for in this Section shall be fined not more than fifteen dollars, and, for such violations, each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.

(4) Visiting teachers or supervisors of child welfare and attendance, with the approval of the parish or city superintendents of schools, shall file proceedings in court to enforce the provisions of this Subpart.

B.(1) A city, parish, or other local public school board shall grant admission or readmission to school to any person who meets all of the following criteria:

(a) Resides within the geographic boundaries of the school system.

(b) Meets the eligibility requirements for school entrance pursuant to this Section.

(c) Is nineteen years of age or younger on September thirtieth of the calendar year in which the school year begins or is twenty years of age on September thirtieth of the calendar year in which the school year begins and has sufficient course credits that he will be able to graduate within one school year of admission or readmission.

(d) Has not received a high school diploma or its equivalent.

(e) Is otherwise eligible for enrollment in a public school pursuant to state law and the policies of the local school board and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(2) If a person meets all of the criteria in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, no city, parish, or other local public school board may deny him admission or readmission based on any of the following characteristics:

(a) The person voluntarily withdrew from school.

(b) The person is pregnant.

(c) The person is a parent.

(d) The person is married.

(3) The admission or readmission of a person who will be twenty years of age on September thirtieth of the calendar year in which the school year begins shall be limited to grade twelve.

(4) The admission or readmission of any person who has been suspended or expelled from a Louisiana public school is subject to all laws and policies applicable to such disciplinary actions.

(5) The admission or readmission of a person with an exceptionality is subject to federal and state law governing the age of eligibility for services for students with exceptionalities.

C. Each of the school boards shall:

(1) Develop and submit to the state superintendent of education a detailed written program plan designed to improve school attendance, based on local needs and resources.

(2) Give priority in selecting pilot schools within the local school districts to those with the highest percentage of nonattendance.

(3) Focus the program in a manner designed to remedy the underlying problems causing poor school attendance.

D. Each school shall develop and implement a system whereby the school shall attempt to provide verbal notification and, if such verbal notification cannot be provided, then shall provide written notification to a child's parent, tutor, or legal guardian when that child has been absent from school for five school days in schools operating on a semester basis, and for ten days in schools not operating on a semester basis.

E.(1)(a) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to prohibit a child from enrolling in an approved home study program or a nonpublic school not seeking state approval. The parent or legal guardian responsible for the school attendance of such a child, who is between the ages of five and eighteen, shall report the attendance of the child to the state Department of Education within thirty days of the start of the school term as provided in R.S. 17:232(C).

(b) For each child enrolled in an approved home study program, the department shall:

(i) Within thirty days of initial approval or denial of an application for an approved home study program and the failure to receive an annual renewal application for a previously approved home study program, provide notification to the city, parish, or other local school system in which the child was most recently enrolled, and if different, the school system in which the child resides. The notification shall include the child's legal name, date of birth, and physical residential address.

(ii) Not record the child as a dropout attributable to the public school in which the child was most recently enrolled or the public school which the child would otherwise attend.

(2) A parent or legal guardian responsible for the school attendance of a child who is between the ages of five and eighteen and who is enrolled in an approved home study program pursuant to R.S. 17:236.1 shall be considered in compliance with the school attendance provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section.

(3) No city, parish, or other local public school system shall be responsible for collecting and maintaining school attendance data for any child who is enrolled in an approved home study program, unless and until the parent subsequently enrolls the child in a public school under the authority of the public school system.

F. The parent, tutor, or other person responsible for the school attendance of a child who is under age eighteen and who is enrolled in school beyond his sixteenth birthday may request that the student be allowed to attend an alternative education program or a vocational-technical education program. In the case of a child who has no parent, tutor, or other person responsible for his school attendance, the superintendent of the city, parish, or other local public school system may act on behalf of the student in making such a request. Upon such request, the superintendent of the city, parish, or other local school system in which the student is enrolled shall be responsible for determining whether the student remains in the regular school setting or attends an alternative education program or a vocational-technical education program and for developing and implementing an individualized plan of education for such student.

G. The provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section shall not be applicable to any child who is under the age of seventeen and is attending or is seeking admission to a National Guard Youth Challenge Program in this state, and the parent, tutor, or legal guardian of any such child shall not be considered in violation of the provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section.

H. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit any child from attending or seeking admission to a National Guard Youth Challenge Program in this state.

I. Nothing in this Section shall prohibit a child who is at least sixteen years of age, who meets criteria established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for enrolling in an effective adult education program, from enrolling in and attending such a program. A parent, tutor, or other person responsible for the school attendance of a child who is at least sixteen years of age but under age eighteen and who is enrolled in and is fulfilling the attendance requirements of an adult education program shall be considered to be in compliance with the school attendance provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section. As used in this Subsection, an "effective adult education program" means an approved program that has demonstrated a proven record of student progress in the attainment of basic skills and essential competencies as determined by quality indicators and performance-based criteria developed and adopted by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges in accordance with R.S. 17:3217.1(D)(2).

J. Pursuant to a policy adopted by a school board as defined by and in compliance with R.S. 32:431.1, the driving privileges of a child under eighteen years of age may be denied or suspended if the child withdraws from school prior to graduation or has been determined to be habitually absent or tardy as provided in R.S. 17:233.

K. A child who is at least seventeen years of age and who, after successfully completing a program established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, has been issued a Louisiana high school equivalency diploma in accordance with criteria established by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall be considered exited from high school and shall not be subject to the provisions of this Subpart.

Acts 1964, No. 109, §1; Amended by Acts 1966, No. 521, §1; Acts 1976, No. 425, §1; Acts 1979, No. 383, §1; Acts 1981, No. 873, §2, eff. Sept. 11, 1981; Acts 1986, No. 126, §1; Acts 1987, No. 504, §1, eff. July 9, 1987; Acts 1991, No. 757, §1; Acts 1995, No. 79, §1, eff. June 12, 1995; Acts 2001, No. 1151, §1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 59, §1, eff. July 1, 2002 (Subsection F) and April 18, 2002 (Subsection I); Acts 2008, No. 688, §1, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 224, §6, eff. June 1, 2009; Acts 2009, No. 305, §1; Acts 2010, No. 132, §1, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 699, §1, eff. June 29, 1010; Acts 2010, No. 732, §1, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2010, No. 927, §1; Acts 2011, No. 166, §1; Acts 2014, No. 411, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1; Acts 2021, No. 386, §1, eff. June 16, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1; Acts 2022, No. 677, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1518 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1518
E.A. Conway Medical Center; merger with Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport
Status: in_force

A.(1) The E.A. Conway Medical Center at Monroe, hereinafter referred to as the "medical center", is hereby merged with and shall become a part of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, hereinafter referred to as the "health sciences center".

(2) The medical center shall be operated primarily for the medical care of the uninsured and medically indigent residents of the state and others in need of medical care and as a teaching institution. "Medically indigent" means any person below two hundred percent of the Federal Poverty Level and uninsured.

B. Management of the medical center shall be the responsibility of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, office of the chancellor, which shall have authority to exercise all power to direct, control, supervise, and manage the medical center. As part of the health sciences center, the medical center shall be maintained and operated in the same manner as those components of the health sciences center which provide medical care. The medical center shall have access to all new health care initiatives and enjoy the benefits of technology and equipment acquired for the maintenance or enhancement of the delivery of medical care by organizations comprising the health sciences center.

C. All employees engaged in the performance of duties relating to the functions of the medical center shall become employees of the health sciences center and shall continue to perform their duties and maintain their rights, privileges, and benefits in accordance with all laws, rules, and regulations applicable to civil service employees and employees of the health sciences center. Medical center employees shall be eligible for the same benefits and professional development opportunities as similarly situated employees of the health sciences center.

D. All books, papers, records, money, accounts receivable, actions, and all property of every kind, movable and immovable, real and personal, heretofore possessed, controlled, or used by the medical center are hereby transferred to the health sciences center. For accounting purposes all liabilities, expenses, obligations, accounts receivable, revenues, and similar items shall be deemed to have been transferred to the health sciences center to the same extent as if originally made.

E.(1) The medical center shall be an organizational unit within the health sciences center and shall be a separate line item within the appropriation schedule.

(2) In the event of a budget deficit or fiscal emergency, neither funds nor personnel shall be reduced from either the medical center or the health sciences center to offset or compensate for such deficit or emergency in the other center.

F. Neither the medical center nor the emergency room shall be closed without legislative approval. The health sciences center shall not authorize the medical center to reduce health care services provided by the facility in any manner that causes annual expenditures for the facility to be reduced on an annualized basis by greater than thirty-five percent of the previous year actual spending level. Funding may be provided by any local, regional, state, federal, or private sources to augment existing funding or to restore reduced funding. Legislative approval may be granted by either concurrent resolution or appropriate action in the General Appropriation Act.

G. The medical center shall continue its commitment to collaborate with and support rural physicians and rural hospitals in the northeast Louisiana area by sponsoring continuing medical education, furnishing medical consultation to and with physicians, and rendering other support as may be appropriate, within available resources.

H. The E.A. Conway Medical Center Advisory Council is hereby established. The council shall consist of fourteen members who shall serve without compensation. Each legislator representing the parishes of Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, or West Carroll shall appoint one member to serve on the advisory council. One member shall be appointed by the hospital administrator. One member shall by appointed by the hospital employee union. Each member of the council shall hold office until the appointment and qualification of his successor. Members shall be appointed for a term of four years. Members may serve two successive terms only. The council shall meet at least once in each quarter of each calendar year or upon call of the secretary or chairman. Seven members shall constitute a quorum. The council shall elect from its members a chairman, a vice chairman, and secretary, and such committees as it deems necessary to carry out its duties, each for a term or one year. All meetings of the council shall be public, and except as otherwise provided by law, all records of the council shall be open to inspection. Within thirty days after their appointment, the members of the council shall take an oath, before any person authorized to administer oaths, to faithfully and impartially perform their duties. Such oaths shall be filed with the secretary of state. The domicile of the council shall be in the city of Monroe. The council shall inquire into the needs of the employment service industry, the administration of this Section, the matter of the policies thereof, and make such recommendations with respect thereto as may be deemed important and necessary for the welfare of the state, the health of the public, and the welfare and progress of the hospital industry, and confer and advise with the secretary as to how the council may best serve the E.A. Conway Medical Center.

I.(1) This merger shall become effective on July 1, 2003; however, no changes at the medical center, either administrative or fiscal, shall take place prior to such date without the written consent of the chancellor of the health sciences center.

(2) The Health Care Services Division of the Louisiana State University Medical Center shall work with the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, office of the chancellor, to effectuate a complete and timely transition of the management of the medical center to the health sciences center, including but not limited to the electronic transfer of data or the sale of computerized services by the Health Care Services Division, or both.

Acts 2003, No. 872, §1, eff. July 1, 2003.

NOTE: See Acts 2003, No. 872, §3, relative to provisions of Acts 2003, No. 906, superceding Act 872.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:407.67 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 407.67
Revocation or refusal to renew registration; written notice
Status: in_force

The department shall have the authority to deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a registration of a registered family child care provider or in-home provider if an applicant has failed to comply with the provisions of this Part, any applicable published rule or regulation relating to registered family child care providers or in-home providers, or any other state, federal, or local rule or regulation. If a registration is denied, revoked, or withdrawn, the action shall be effective when made and the family child care provider or in-home provider shall be notified in writing. This notice shall give the reason for denial, revocation, or withdrawal of the registration.

Acts 2014, No. 868, §3, eff. Feb. 1, 2015; Acts 2015, No. 354, §2, eff. July 1, 2015.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1812 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1812
Small business development and management institute; Northwestern State University at Natchitoches; authority to operate
Status: in_force

A. Northwestern State University at Natchitoches is hereby authorized to establish and operate a small business development and management institute which may aid and assist small businesses in solving problems inherent in such enterprises. The establishment and operation of the institute shall be subject to the constitutional authority of the Board of Regents and the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

B. Northwestern University at Natchitoches is further authorized to utilize all of its colleges or departments in operating the institute and providing needed services.

C. The administration of Northwestern State University at Natchitoches shall develop criteria to be used in determining what businesses are small businesses for purposes of qualification for aid and services.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 143, §1; Acts 2013, No. 220, §6, eff. June 11, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1174 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1174
Notification of grant or rejection of application
Status: in_force

Every applicant shall be notified by the superintendent in writing within sixty days after the final day for the filing of the application whether the application has been granted or rejected; when the application is for medical leave from sickness the superintendent shall notify the applicant within thirty days from the date of the filing of the application whether the application has been granted or rejected. If the application has been rejected, the reasons for such rejection shall be specified.

Acts 1999, No. 1342, §1.

NOTE: See Acts 1999, No. 1342, §2 relative to sabbaticals already granted and §3 relative to increases in teacher compensation.

NOTE: See also Acts 2001, No. 338, §2 relative to increases in teacher compensation (amends Acts 1999, No. 1342, §3).

NOTE: See also Acts 2004, No. 778, §2, relative to increases in teacher compensation and §3 relative to a required report by BESE (amends Acts 1999, No. 1342, §3, as amended by Acts 2001, No. 338, §2).
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3802 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3802
Appropriations; procedure; limitation; administration
Status: in_force

A.(1) Consistent with the provisions of the Constitution of Louisiana, the legislature shall appropriate the total amount of the funds in the Louisiana Quality Education Support Fund, hereinafter referred to as the "support fund", intended for higher educational purposes to the Board of Regents and the total amount intended for elementary and secondary educational purposes to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education itemized by program or other recipient purpose. Such itemization shall occur in both the executive budget and in the general appropriation bill and, except as otherwise provided by the constitution, budget and appropriation functions shall be conducted as provided by law. Passage of the general appropriation bill shall constitute legislative approval of the programs or purposes to which money is appropriated.

(2) Appropriations shall be allocated to the recipients and warranted from the treasury by the respective boards, as needed and in amounts, the total of which in any fiscal year, do not exceed the total appropriation for the item. Each board shall act as a fiscal manager for the disbursement of support fund monies, as provided in this Section and the constitution.

B. All monies appropriated, as provided in this Section, which remain unallocated or for which no bona fide liability exists, pursuant to R.S. 39:136.1, shall remain to the credit of the respective board to which the money was originally appropriated to be added to the support fund sum for appropriation in the year succeeding the determination of the actual amount of such balance. In addition, any revenues or interest earnings which are deposited in the support fund in any fiscal year, but were not appropriated for that year, shall remain to the credit of the respective boards for appropriation in the succeeding year.

C.(1) Certain costs of the education boards attributable to meeting the requirements of the constitution to select programs, develop a proposed program and budget, act as fiscal managers in allocating funds, and other administrative responsibilities insofar as management of the support fund are concerned are acknowledged as inherent and properly paid out of support fund monies.

(2) Appropriations to cover such administrative costs, however, shall be limited and regulated in order to maximize the funds available for improving the quality of education as follows:

(a) No more than three percent of the average annual amount of actual expenditures by each board for the most recent three previous fiscal years for which actual expenditures are available shall be appropriated for such purposes to each board, subject to a thorough review, with the goal of limiting such costs to those necessary and proper, by appropriate executive agencies during the budget process and the legislature and its agencies during the appropriation process.

(b) Appropriations for salaries and benefits shall be made only to pay persons employed on a full time basis whose proportional time is spent in pursuit of the functions described in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

(c) No costs directly attributable to a member of the Board of Regents or the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, such as travel or per diem shall be paid from support fund monies.

(d) The education funds committee shall annually review all administrative expenditures and report to the legislature as to the efficiency of such administration as well as to any recommended changes.

(3) The education boards may allow the use of a portion of the money allocated by them for approved programs or purposes for the recovery of verified indirect costs relative to such programs pursuant to procedures adopted by the boards.

(4) Costs attributable to the state treasurer exercising responsibility for the custody, investment, and disbursement of the monies in the Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, and the support fund are administrative costs properly paid out of support fund monies, and shall be paid by appropriation from the support fund. Such costs include costs attributable to fees charged by any financial institution for providing custodial services not to exceed two percent of amounts managed costs incurred for outside investment managers for the investment and management of the Permanent Trust Fund not to exceed two percent of amounts managed and other direct costs incurred by the treasurer. Other costs related to these funds shall be paid by appropriation from the state general fund. All appropriations made to, or upon the request of, the state treasurer, related to the management of either the Kevin P. Reilly, Sr. Louisiana Education Quality Trust Fund, or the support fund shall be subject to review of the education funds committee.

(5) Costs attributable to the Board of Regents and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for use of external peer-review consultants for purposes of review, evaluation, and assessment of program proposals are recognized as costs appropriately borne by the respective support fund programs and shall be paid from the category of expenditure related to the program for which the review, evaluation, and assessment applies.

Acts 1989, No. 675, §1, eff. July 1, 1989; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 136, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 698, §1; Acts 2006, No. 703, §1, eff. June 29, 2006; Acts 2012, No. 841, §1; Acts 2013, No. 56, §1, eff. May 29, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3217.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3217.2
Orleans Regional Technical Institute, merger with Delgado Community College
Status: in_force

A.(1) Effective July 1, 1997, the Orleans Regional Technical Institute is hereby merged with Delgado Community College in the University of Louisiana system and on this date the funds, property, obligations, programs, and functions of the Orleans Regional Technical Institute are transferred from the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to and hereby are vested in the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities.

(2) Effective July 1, 1999, Delgado Community College as provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection is transferred to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System under the management of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges.

B.(1) Any student enrolled in a program of study at the Orleans Regional Technical Institute at the time of the merger with Delgado Community College shall be permitted to complete such program of study at no greater cost or conditions than those applicable to the student prior to the merger.

(2) Any person employed at the Orleans Regional Technical Institute on the date of merger with Delgado Community College shall have the right to be retained in his position pursuant to the same policies and conditions applicable to such person prior to the merger. The Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities shall conduct a careful and deliberate review of the programs and employees at the former technical institute and provide for an employee transition that is consistent with the mission of Delgado Community College and that provides opportunities for an employee to have a role at the community college at least equivalent to his position prior to the merger. Such opportunities shall include but not be limited to providing such additional training or professional development, or both, at no cost to the employee as is necessary to prepare the employee to undertake his role at the community college subsequent to the transfer. After July 1, 1999, the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall continue the policies established by the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities as provided in this Paragraph.

(3) A student, faculty member, or other employee of the technical institute on the date of the merger with Delgado Community College shall be entitled to and eligible for all benefits provided by law, rule, or regulation for students, faculty, and employees, respectively, of other public two-year institutions of higher education in the University of Louisiana system and, after July 1, 1999, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System.

(4) The Division of Occupational Studies at Delgado Community College shall be headed by a dean. The dean of the division initially shall be the individual serving as the director of the Orleans Regional Technical Institute on the date of merger with Delgado Community College. All occupational programs at Delgado Community College shall be under the Division of Occupational Studies. The dean of occupational studies, under the supervision of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, shall have the authority to maintain the same vocational technical curriculum as all other technical colleges in the state.

C. Prior to July 1, 1997, the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities shall conduct an independent audit of the Orleans Regional Technical Institute to establish the assets, liabilities, and fund balances of the institute.

D. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, Delgado Community College shall give preference in the operation of vending stands, vending machines, and other concessions operated on the premises of the former technical institute to blind persons pursuant to programs for such persons administered by Louisiana Works. Additionally, no other vending stands, vending machines, or other concessions shall be operated on the same premises as the vending stands, vending machines, and other concessions given preference by this Subsection. No blind person shall be required to pay any fee, service charge, or other cost to operate any vending stand, vending machine, or other concession on the premises of the former technical institute and no blind person operating such a vending stand, vending machine, or other concession on such premises shall be adversely impacted in any way in the operation of such stand, machine, or concession without reasonable or just cause.

E. The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education by not later than December 31, 1998, on the effects of the transfer of the Orleans Regional Technical Institute. The report shall compare the program with the program prior to the transfer with particular emphasis on access by students to occupational training programs compared to such access prior to transfer, including statistics relative to student applications, admissions, and admission refusals.

Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 151, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 624, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2014, No. 811, §8, eff. June 23, 2014.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:499 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 499
Insufficiency of appropriation; effect
Status: in_force

This schedule shall become effective only as sufficient funds are appropriated by the Legislature to put it into effect; if the funds appropriated by the Legislature are insufficient to fully comply with this Subpart, the minimum compensation herein provided shall be reduced proportionately; however, no school bus operator in the public school system of the state of Louisiana shall receive or be paid less during 1964-1965 nor during any subsequent year while this schedule is in effect than the amount paid to or received by him during the 1963-1964 school year for nine months' work, except as to student operators, and also except where the length of the route of any such operator in 1964-1965 or any subsequent year is less than the length of the route of such operator during 1963-1964, in which event the reduction in total compensation shall not exceed the reduction in the amount to be reimbursed the school board, out of state funds, for the operation of said route brought about by the reduction in the length of the route.

Added by Acts 1954, No. 74, §5. 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 2017, No. 335, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2115.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2115.3
Student-initiated, student-led prayer; participation
Status: in_force

No law, rule, or policy shall deny to any student attending a public elementary or secondary school the right to participate in voluntary, student-initiated, student-led prayer.

Acts 1995, No. 264, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:236.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 236.1
Approval of home study programs
Status: in_force

A. A parent or legal guardian shall apply to the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of a home study program. An initial application must be made within fifteen days after commencement of the program. A renewal application must be made by the first of October of the school year, or within twelve months of approval of the initial application, whichever is later. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, upon receipt of such initial or renewal application, shall immediately notify the city or parish school superintendent within whose jurisdiction the home study is being conducted of such application and also shall notify said superintendent of subsequent actions taken by the board on the application.

B. An initial application for participation in a home study program shall be accompanied by a certified copy of the birth certificate of the child. A short-form birth certification card shall be acceptable as a certified copy of the birth certificate. The initial application or, during the 1984-1985 school year, a renewal application, shall be approved if the parent certifies that the home study program will offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level.

C.(1) After the 1984-1985 school year, a renewal application for participation in a home study program shall be approved if the parent submits to the board satisfactory evidence that the program has in fact offered a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level. To substantiate this fact, the parent shall submit with the renewal application a packet of materials which includes such documents as:

(a) A complete outline of each of the subjects taught during the previous year,

(b) Lists of books and materials used,

(c) Copies of the student's work,

(d) Copies of standardized tests,

(e) Statements by third parties who have observed the child's progress, and

(f) Any other evidence of the quality of the program being offered.

(2) If the material submitted is inadequate, the Department of Education shall notify the parent of the deficiencies and request additional materials.

(3) On the basis of all the information submitted, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall determine whether the program offers a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered in public schools at the same grade level and shall approve or disapprove the application accordingly.

D. After the 1984-1985 school year, a renewal application shall be approved if, in lieu of submission of the packet of materials provided in the previous Subsection, the parent submits with the application any one of the following:

(1) Verification that the child has taken the competency-based education examination provided in R.S. 17:24.4 and scored at or above the passing level established by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for public school students at his grade level.

(2) Verification that the child has taken the California Achievement Test (CAT) or such other standardized examination as may be approved by the board and the child has scored at or above his grade level or the child has progressed at a rate equal to one grade level for each year in home study program.

(3) A statement from a teacher certified to teach at the child's grade level that the teacher has examined the program being offered and that, in his professional opinion, the child is being taught in accordance with a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level or, in the case of children with mental or physical disabilities, at least equal to that offered by public schools to children with similar disabilities. Any such teacher evaluation provided for in this Subsection shall be subject to review and approval of the State Board of Education.

E.(1) In May and September of each year and on such other dates as may be determined by the city or parish superintendent of schools, the local school board shall, upon request of a parent whose child is participating in a home study program, administer the competency-based education examination to the child. The test shall be administered with the same instructions and under similar conditions as provided children enrolled in the public schools.

(2) The local school board may charge a fee for this service not to exceed thirty-five dollars.

(3) The certified teacher administering the examination shall promptly provide the parent a statement indicating the child's score and whether he passed the examination.

F.(1) In May and September of each year and on such other dates as may be determined by the state superintendent of elementary and secondary education, the Department of Education shall, upon the request of the parent, administer the competency-based education examination to any child enrolled in a home study program or enrolled in a private school. The test shall be administered with the same instructions and under similar conditions as provided children enrolled in the public schools.

(2) The Department of Education may charge a fee for this service not to exceed thirty-five dollars.

(3) The certified teacher administering the examination shall promptly provide the parent a statement indicating the child's score and whether he passed the examination.

G. Notwithstanding any rule, regulation, or other provision of law to the contrary, a high school diploma awarded by a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall be deemed by all public postsecondary educational institutions, all state departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, and all other state and local governmental entities to have all of the rights and privileges afforded to a high school diploma awarded by a state-approved nonpublic school.

Acts 1984, No. 446, §1; Acts 1988, No. 837, §1; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 118, §2, eff. April 19, 2000; Acts 2010, No. 677, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1519.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1519.3
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans; health care services division organization
Status: in_force

A. The division and its component hospitals shall be under the immediate direction and control of the LSU HSC–NO subject to the overall direction, supervision, and management of the board.

B. No hospital nor any emergency room may be closed without legislative approval. Such approval may be granted by the legislature either by concurrent resolution or by appropriate action in the General Appropriation Act.

C. The board or the division shall not authorize a hospital to reduce healthcare services provided by any one of the hospitals of the health care services division in any manner which causes expenditures of any hospital to be reduced on an annualized basis by greater than thirty-five percent of the previous fiscal year actual spending level. If any services are reduced by greater than fifteen percent in any one year, legislative approval shall be obtained before reducing such services greater than fifteen percent in any year for the next three years. Funding may be provided by any local, regional, state, federal, or private sources to augment existing funding or to restore reduced funding.

D. In no event shall emergency medical treatment be denied to anyone in the nearest general hospital owned or operated by the board.

E. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans shall furnish to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare the same reports that are prepared quarterly and submitted to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. Such reports shall be submitted at the same time that they are made available to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

F. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans shall furnish to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare the same reports that are furnished to the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College. Such report shall be submitted at the same time that they are made available to the Board of Supervisors. Such reports shall include but not be limited to a fiscal year overview and any planned reductions at division hospitals.

G. Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans shall furnish to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare quarterly reports, individually by hospital, on the length of time that patients wait for services provided by the division hospitals.

Acts 1997, No. 3, §1, eff. July 1, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 141, §1, eff. June 9, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 802, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 1024, §1, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 906, §1, eff. July 1, 2003; Acts 2004, No. 629, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:406.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 406.5
Demonstration grants and other assistance
Status: in_force

A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, through the state superintendent of education and state Department of Education, is hereby authorized to make demonstration grants and to provide other forms of state assistance to city and parish school boards and to other appropriate public and private agencies for the development of innovative and promising family-school educational partnership activities designed to:

(1) Support the efforts of families, including training, to the maximum extent practicable, to work with children in the home both to attain the instructional objective of the schools and to instill positive attitudes about the importance of education and learning in the life of the child.

(2) Train teachers and other staff personnel to work effectively as educational partners with the families of participating students.

(3) Train families, teachers, and other staff personnel in the schools to build an educational partnership between home and school.

(4) Evaluate how well family involvement activities of the school are working, what barriers exist to greater participation, and what steps are needed to be taken to expand participation in such family involvement activities.

(5) Purchase or develop courseware, software, communication aids, equipment, or materials relating to increasing the involvement and participation of families in the learning of children or in the life of the schools.

(6) Provide family learning or other community education courses in which families, together, may learn reading, math, and other subjects.

B. The provisions of this Section shall be applicable only to the extent that funds are made available for this purpose from public or private sources.

Acts 1991, No. 448, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2032 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2032
State treasurer as custodian of federal funds
Status: in_force

The State treasurer is hereby constituted and appointed the custodian of the moneys paid to the State of Louisiana for vocational education, under the provisions of the act of Congress referred to in R.S. 17:1991, and such moneys shall be paid out in the manner provided by such act for the purposes therein specified.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3041.24 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3041.24
Cancellation
Status: in_force

The commission shall have authority to cancel any contract made between it and any applicant upon cause deemed sufficient by the commission, and the commission shall have authority to cancel such contracts which it may lawfully cancel made with the Tulane University School of Medicine and any of the schools as herein provided.

Acts 2004, No. 894, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3140.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3140.6
Denial of license; hearings; appeal
Status: in_force

A.(1) If the commission recommends the denial of a license, the applicant shall be notified in writing no later than five business days after the recommendation.

(2) An applicant who is recommended for a denial of a license may, within fourteen business days after receipt of notice of the denial, file with the commission a request for a hearing before the commission at its next regular meeting. If a hearing is requested, the matter shall not be presented to the board until the hearing is held by the commission. The applicant may appear in person or by counsel and may present evidence in support of the granting of the license. Any interested person may appear and present oral and documentary evidence to the commission concerning the issuance of a license to the applicant. Strict rules of evidence shall not apply.

(3) The commission shall issue a statement not later than seven business days after the hearing giving reasons for its recommendation that a license be granted or denied.

(4) A school may continue to operate until a final determination has been made regarding the issuance or denial of its license.

B. If the board receives a recommendation from the commission that a license be denied, the applicant may provide a written request for a public hearing before the board at the time the recommendation is considered. If the board denies a license without a public hearing, the applicant may request a hearing at the next meeting of the board.

C. An applicant for a license who is dissatisfied with the ruling of board after public hearing may file a written appeal to the district court for the parish in which the applicant resides within ninety days after receipt of a notice of the final determination of the board. Written notice of the appeal shall be served on the presiding officer of the board, stating the reasons therefor.

D. A new license shall not be issued to a school if any owner of the school has been or is an owner of a proprietary school that failed to make student tuition refunds in the manner provided by the tuition refund guidelines and any applicable provisions of state and federal law or regulation.

Acts 2019, No. 437, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1792 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1792
Supporting Programs, Opportunities, Resources, and Teams Fund
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the Supporting Programs, Opportunities, Resources, and Teams Fund, hereafter in this Section referred to as the "fund".

B. Monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.

C. After compliance with the provisions of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, the state treasurer shall deposit into the fund all monies dedicated, transferred, or appropriated to the fund. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated to the Board of Regents for distribution to athletic departments at public universities that are members of conferences that compete in NCAA Division One athletics at the Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision levels in Louisiana for the benefit of student athletes. For the purposes of this Section, "benefit" means scholarships, insurance, medical coverage, facility enhancements, litigation settlement fees, and Alston awards. Each university shall establish eligibility criteria for benefits awarded pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

D. Monies from the fund shall not be used to displace, replace, or supplant any other awards or scholarships.

E. The Board of Regents shall distribute funds received pursuant to the provisions of this Section equally among eligible institutions. Each eligible university athletic department shall receive an equal distribution of funds for use in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

Acts 2025, No. 298, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1674 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1674
Powers and duties of department
Status: in_force

Subject to the provisions of this subpart and within the limits of appropriations made by the legislature, the department is authorized and empowered: (1) to prepare and supervise the issuance of public information concerning the scholarship program; (2) to prescribe the form and regulate the submission of applications for scholarships; (3) administer or contract for the administration of such examinations as may be prescribed by the department; (4) select qualified recipients of scholarship grants; (5) award scholarships; (6) accept grants, gifts, bequests and devises of real and personal property for the purposes of the scholarship program; (7) cooperate with approved institutions of higher education in the state and their governing boards in the administration of the scholarship program; (8) make the final decision pertaining to residency of an applicant for scholarship or renewal of scholarship; (9) prescribe the duties and fix the compensation of all such employees; and (10) promulgate reasonable rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this section relating to the administration of the scholarship program.

Added by Acts 1974, No. 695, §1, eff. July 1, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3129.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3129.5
State tuition and fee policy; Board of Regents; study and formulate; legislative approval of authority to increase tuition or fees; implementation; reports
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents shall study and formulate a state tuition and fee policy which shall be applicable to each public postsecondary education institution and system in the state. The policy shall be developed in cooperation and consultation with each public postsecondary education management board. The Board of Regents shall take into consideration the cost of education provided by each type of institution, the proportion of such costs typically paid by students, the economic status of the citizens of the state of Louisiana, the overall rates of increase in public postsecondary education costs and tuition, the existing status of tuition and fees in Louisiana relative to its peer states, and other pertinent factors as may be determined by the Board of Regents after consultation with the postsecondary education management boards. The tuition and fee policy shall establish a framework for the imposition of student tuition and fees by the respective postsecondary education management boards. The delegation of authority to the postsecondary education management boards to establish tuition and fees in accordance with policies adopted by the Board of Regents pursuant hereto shall not be construed to authorize the Board of Regents to set a specific tuition or fee.

B. Prior to the implementation of the initial increase in fees or tuition pursuant to such policy, the authority for the postsecondary education management boards to increase tuition or fees consistent with the policy shall be approved by the legislature by law by the favorable vote of two-thirds of the elected members of both houses of the legislature. Such approval shall constitute compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 2.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana for any subsequent increases pursuant to the policy.

C. The Board of Regents and each of the management boards shall report annually to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget by not later than February first of each year on the status of the implementation of the state tuition and fee policy.

Acts 2003, No. 1105, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:236.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 236.3
Virtual school; definition; attendance policies
Status: in_force

A. "Virtual school" means a public school, including a charter school, which has a unique site code assigned by the state Department of Education and which delivers all or a majority of the instruction provided through the internet or other electronic medium such that a student is not necessarily required to be at a specific location in order to receive instruction from a teacher. This does not preclude the ability of the school to include traditional classroom-based instruction or to host face-to-face meetings, including field trips, extracurricular activities, conferences between a student, parents, and teachers, or other related activities or events. However, a school that delivers all or a majority of the instruction provided through the internet or other electronic medium and requires students to be in daily attendance at a specified location to receive such instruction shall not be considered a virtual school.

B.(1) Each city, parish, or other local public school board may adopt a policy that defines attendance at a virtual school for purposes of compliance with R.S. 17:233.

(2) Each chartering authority may adopt in policy or include in charter agreements a definition of attendance at a virtual charter school which may include provisions for addressing excessive absences, such as parental notification, student engagement and withdrawal from the school for failure to engage, and referrals to child welfare and attendance officers and family and juvenile courts.

Acts 2018, No. 478, §1, eff. May 23, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 398, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2271 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2271
Creation and organization of board; membership; general powers
Status: in_force

A. There is created an Anatomical Board, domiciled in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, composed of nine members as follows:

(1) The head and two faculty members of the Department of Anatomy of Tulane University School of Medicine;

(2) The head and two faculty members of the combined Department of Anatomy of Louisiana State University School of Medicine at New Orleans and Louisiana State University School of Dentistry; and

(3) The head and two faculty members of the Department of Anatomy of Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport.

B. The deans of Tulane University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine at New Orleans, Louisiana State University School of Dentistry, and Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport shall be entitled to attend and participate in all meetings of the board, but shall not be empowered to vote as members of the board.

C. The board may adopt its own by-laws, elect or otherwise designate or select its own officers and agents and determine their compensation. It may also establish rules and regulations for its government and organization and for the removal of its officers and agents.

Amended by Acts 1968, No. 250, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1945.1 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1945.1
Board of directors of the Special School District; creation; membership; terms; powers, duties, and functions
Status: in_force

A. The board of directors of the Special School District is hereby created. The board shall be composed of twelve members who shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate, one of whom shall be a member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education appointed by the president of the state board and the remainder of whom shall be appointed by the governor, as follows:

(1) One member representing the governor's office of disability affairs.

(2)(a) One member who meets both of these criteria:

(i) Demonstrates competency in American Sign Language.

(ii) Possesses expertise in educating students who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.

(b) If unable to appoint a person who meets both of these criteria, the governor may instead appoint a member who meets only one of these criteria.

(3)(a) One member who meets both of these criteria:

(i) Demonstrates competency in braille.

(ii) Possesses expertise in educating students who are blind or visually impaired.

(b) If unable to appoint a person who meets both of these criteria, the governor may instead appoint a member who meets only one of these criteria.

(4) One member representing students receiving special education services at facilities operated by the office of juvenile justice, selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the deputy secretary of the office.

(5) One member representing students receiving special education services at facilities operated by the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the secretary of the department.

(6) One member representing students receiving special education services at facilities operated by the Louisiana Department of Health, selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the secretary of the department.

(7) One member representing students receiving special education services from Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the secretary of Louisiana Works.

(8) One member representing persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, selected from a list of six persons, two of whom shall be nominated by each of the following:

(a) The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf.

(b) The Louisiana Association of the Deaf.

(c) The Betty and Leonard Phillips Deaf Action Center.

(9) One member representing persons who are visually impaired, selected from a list of six persons, two of whom shall be nominated by each of the following:

(a) The National Federation of the Blind of Louisiana.

(b) The Louisiana Association for the Blind.

(c) The Lighthouse for the Blind.

(10) One member with expertise in deaf-blindness selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults, South Central Region.

(11) One alumnus of a Louisiana Special School.

B. Of the members appointed by the governor, there shall be at least one resident of each public health region established by the office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health, with no more than two members from any region.

C. The terms of the members of the board shall be concurrent with the term of the appointing authority, and they shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. Members shall serve until their successors have been appointed and qualified unless removed by the appointing authority. A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the manner of the original appointment. No member of the board shall be an employee of the Special School District.

D. The board shall have the authority to do the following:

(1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of financial assistance for educational purposes from any public or private person or agency and comply with rules and regulations governing grants from the federal government or from any other person or agency.

(2) Purchase land and equipment and make improvements to facilities necessary for the use of the district in accordance with applicable law.

(3) Lease land or other property belonging to the district, subject to approval of the commissioner of administration and in accordance with applicable law.

(4) Sell or exchange land or other immovable property not needed for district purposes, but only when specifically authorized by law and then in accordance only with the procedures provided in R.S. 41:892 for the sale of unused school lands. The sale shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the board, and the act of sale shall be signed by the president of the board or such other person to whom the signing may be delegated by the board in the authorizing resolution.

(5) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of the board.

(6) Award certificates and issue diplomas for successful completion of programs of study. All such certificates and diplomas shall be in addition to a regular high school diploma which shall be issued by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:6(A)(11) to any student who successfully completes the program of study adopted by the state board.

(7) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been recommended by the district superintendent, in accordance with applicable law, and to the extent that funds are specifically appropriated therefor, with other public agencies with respect to cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or associated with an educational purpose or program affecting education in the district. This shall not preclude the board from entering into other such contracts and agreements that it deems necessary to carry out its duties and functions.

(8) Perform such other functions as are necessary for the governance of the district.

E. In addition to the authorities granted by this Section and any powers, duties, and responsibilities vested by any other applicable laws, the board shall:

(1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies that are necessary for the efficient operation of the district.

(2) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of applicants for enrollment in accordance with R.S. 17:1945(B)(2). No student shall be enrolled without the written consent of the student's parent or legal guardian.

(3) Prescribe and select for use free textbooks and other materials of instruction for children enrolled in the schools and programs under its jurisdiction.

(4) Enter into an agreement, as recommended by the district superintendent, with a city, parish, or other local public school system to participate in educational and academic programs or courses.

(5) Select a superintendent who shall be the chief administrative officer of the district and who shall administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the board. The board shall delegate to the superintendent such of its powers and duties as it deems appropriate to aid the superintendent in the efficient administration of his responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the board. The superintendent shall be responsible for all of the administrative functions, duties, and needs of the board, including but not limited to the following:

(a) Preparing an annual budget necessary for the continued operation of the district, the Louisiana Special Schools, and the Special School Programs and submitting such budget to the board for adoption.

(b) Paying the salaries and expenses, including but not restricted to facilities, equipment, and supplies, of the faculty and staff of the district out of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the operating and administrative expenses of the board and the district.

(c) Exercising budgetary responsibility and allocating for expenditure by the district all monies appropriated or otherwise made available for purposes of the district.

(d) Developing and annually updating a student handbook including but not limited to all rules, regulations, and policies for the disciplining of students and submitting such handbook to the board for consideration and adoption.

(e) Determining faculty and staff positions necessary for the efficient operation of the district and selecting personnel for such positions.

(6) Elect from its membership a president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and any other officers the board considers necessary.

F. Members of the board shall not receive any compensation for their service as members.

Acts 2021, No. 468, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 136, §1.