La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3991 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3991
Charter schools; requirements; limitations; renewal; amendment; revocation; board membership
Status: in_force

A.(1)(a) Except for a Type 4 charter school, a charter school approved and established in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall be organized as a nonprofit corporation under applicable state and federal laws.

(b)(i) Should a charter school be established with a governing or management board, the members of such shall receive no compensation other than reimbursement of actual expenses incurred while fulfilling duties as a member of such a board.

(ii) Notwithstanding any provision of Chapter 15 of Title 42 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 or any other law to the contrary, a member of a charter school governing or management board may serve as an officer, director, or employee, whether compensated or not, of any national or state bank; however, he shall recuse himself from voting in favor of any such bank and shall disclose the reason for such recusal by filing a statement of the reason into the minutes or record of the charter school governing or management board and by forwarding a disclosure form to the Board of Ethics.

(c)(i) A charter school shall be prohibited from employing, in any manner, any member of the governing or management board of such school.

(ii) Not more than twenty percent of the members of any governing or management board of a charter school shall be members of the same immediate family. Members of the same immediate family shall include a board member and any other board members to whom he is related as defined in R.S. 42:1102(13) and any other board members to whom any of them are so related.

(iii) Beginning October 1, 2018, the membership of the governing or management board of each charter school located in a parish with a population of between three hundred twenty-five thousand and three hundred seventy-five thousand persons, based on the most recent federal decennial census, shall include at least one member who is a parent, legal guardian, or grandparent of a student enrolled in the charter school or an alumnus of the school, who may be appointed or elected. Each charter school governing or management board shall adopt a policy prescribing the process and timelines for either appointing or electing a parent, legal guardian, or grandparent of a student or an alumnus of the school to the board. The policy shall be provided to the parents of each child enrolled in the school and published on the school's website.

(iv) Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, the governing or management board of each charter school, other than a Type 2 charter school, located in a parish with a population of between three hundred twenty-five thousand and three hundred seventy-five thousand persons, based on the most recent federal decennial census, shall be representative of the community in which the charter school is located by race and gender to ensure diversity, and no fewer than sixty percent of its members shall reside in the parish in which the school is located.

(2) Consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, a charter school and its officers and employees may exercise any power and perform any function necessary, requisite, or proper for the management of the charter school not denied by its charter, the provisions of this Chapter, or other laws applicable to the charter school.

B. Each proposed charter shall contain or make provision for the following:

(1)(a)(i) That for charter schools created as new schools and charter schools created as a result of a conversion after the 2011-2012 school year, the percentage of the total number of students enrolled in the charter school based on the October first student membership who are economically disadvantaged and students with exceptionalities as defined in R.S. 17:1942, not including gifted and talented, shall be equal to not less than seventy percent of the average percentage of students enrolled in the local public school districts from which the charter school enrolls its students who are economically disadvantaged and shall be equal to not less than seventy percent of the average percentage of students enrolled in the local public school districts from which the charter school enrolls its students who have been identified as a student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942, not including gifted and talented. For the purposes of fulfilling the provisions of this Section, the economically disadvantaged and students with exceptionalities percentage for the local public school district shall remain fixed during the term of the approved charter at the percentage which existed during the school year that the charter proposal was approved or renewed.

(ii) Except as provided in Subitem (cc) of this Item, the requirements of Item (i) of this Subparagraph shall not apply to any charter school which is established with the educational mission of meeting the needs of students who are the dependent children of military personnel provided that all of the following conditions are met:

(aa) The charter school predominantly enrolls pupils who, at the time of enrollment, are the dependent children of military personnel.

(bb) All dependent children of military personnel who seek admission to the school and who are economically disadvantaged as defined in R.S. 17:3973 are admitted to the school.

(cc) In the enrollment of pupils from the general population in the community where the charter school is located who are not dependent children of military personnel, the charter school shall comply with the provisions of Item (i) of this Subparagraph, except that the requirements contained therein shall apply to and be based upon only such general population pupils admitted.

(b)(i) That for charter schools created as a result of a conversion during or prior to the 2011-2012 school year, the percentage of the total number of students enrolled in the charter school based on the October first student membership who are economically disadvantaged and students with exceptionalities as defined in R.S. 17:1942, not including gifted and talented, unless otherwise agreed to as part of the charter agreement, by the chartering authority, shall be equal to not less than the percentage of the total of students enrolled in the school in the school year prior to the establishment of the charter school who were economically disadvantaged and shall be equal to not less than the percentage of the total of students enrolled in the school in the school year prior to the establishment of the charter school who were identified as a student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942, not including gifted and talented.

(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of Item (i) of this Subparagraph, that for Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4 charter schools in Richland Parish, the percentage of the total number of pupils enrolled in the charter school based on the October first pupil membership who are at risk, in the manner provided in R.S. 17:3973(1)(a) and (e), shall be, as near as practicable, not more than the percentage of the total number of pupils enrolled in the public elementary and secondary schools and in the state-approved nonpublic elementary and secondary schools located in the local public school district in which the charter school is located who are eligible to participate in the federal free and reduced lunch program or who have been identified as a student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942, not including gifted and talented. However, in no case shall the initial enrollment of such a school nor the cohort of students enrolled for each new school year have, as near as practicable, fewer than fifty percent students who are at risk in the manner provided in R.S. 17:3973(1)(a) and (e).

(c) For the purposes of this Section, students holding a valid passport from the country of France shall not be counted when calculating the overall percentage of students attending the charter school who are economically disadvantaged.

(d) The provisions of this Paragraph and Paragraph (3) of this Subsection shall not apply to Type 5 or 3B charters.

(e)(i) The state board shall develop and administer a process for determining if a charter school is meeting the student enrollment requirements of this Paragraph. The process shall provide for an investigation of a charter school that fails to meet the requirements to determine the reasons for such failure and all actions taken by the school toward meeting the requirements. The process also shall include a clear identification of the responsibilities of the charter school, the local school board of the district in which the charter school is located, and the state board for meeting the needs of the students.

(ii) The state board shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act for the implementation of this Subparagraph.

(f) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, if the aggregate student enrollment data for all of the charter schools located within the boundaries of the city or parish school system in which a charter school is located meets the enrollment requirements of economically disadvantaged students and students with exceptionalities, not including gifted and talented, as provided in this Paragraph, every charter school located within the boundaries of the school system shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph.

(2) A statement of the school's role, scope, and mission.

(3) Admission requirements, if any, that are consistent with the school's role, scope, and mission may be established pursuant to rules promulgated by the state board. Such admission requirements shall be specific and shall include a system for admission decisions which precludes exclusion of pupils based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, national origin, intelligence level as ascertained by an intelligence quotient examination, identification as a student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B), or identification as a student who is economically disadvantaged. Such admission requirements may include, however, specific requirements related to a school's mission such as auditions for schools with a performing arts mission or proficiency in a foreign language for schools with a language immersion mission. Any school which was chartered prior to July 1, 2012, and which incorporated achievement of a certain academic record as part of its admission requirements may continue to use such admission requirements. No local board shall assign any pupil to attend a charter school, except that a local board in a district in which fifty percent or more of the public schools in the district are charter schools and that uses a single application and enrollment process adopted by the local board for public school enrollment may assign a pupil to a charter school based on such enrollment process, the preferences of the pupil's parent or legal guardian, the charter school's admission requirements, the charter contract, and the local board's policies.

(4)(a) A description of the jurisdiction within which a pupil shall reside or otherwise be eligible to attend a public school in order to be eligible for admission.

(b) A description of the geographic boundaries circumscribing the neighborhood immediately surrounding the charter school from which students residing within may be given preference for enrollment as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

(5) A financial and accounting plan sufficient to permit a governmental audit.

(6) A description of how the proposed charter school fulfills one or more of the purposes specified in this Chapter, including how the best interests of students who are economically disadvantaged will be considered.

(7) A description of the education program offered by the school, including how the program will meet the educational needs of students who qualify as economically disadvantaged and students with exceptionalities as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B).

(8) The specific academic and other educational results to be achieved, the timelines for such achievement, and how results will be measured and assessed.

(9) Repealed by Acts 2012, No. 2, §2.

(10) The organizational, governance, and operational structure of the school. Any qualifications required of charter school administrators and governing board members shall be as prescribed in the charter school agreement.

(11) Policies, programs, and practices to ensure parental involvement.

(12) Personnel policies and employment practices applicable to the school's officers and employees.

(13) Assurance that teachers and other school employees will be evaluated in accordance with R.S. 17:3997.

(14) School rules and regulations applicable to pupils including disciplinary policies and procedures that incorporate research-based discipline programs, such as positive behavioral interventions and supports and restorative justice principles in accordance with R.S. 17:252.

(15) Information concerning the school location and the adequacy of its facilities and equipment. Such information shall include a statement of the procedures to be followed and disposition of facilities and equipment should the charter be terminated or not renewed.

(16) Management and accounting practices to be employed.

(17) Provisions regarding liability issues.

(18) Types and amounts of insurance coverage provided.

(19) The methods and procedures to be used for monitoring the charter school by the chartering authority. Such methods and procedures shall be established through agreement by all parties and shall include the right of the chartering authority and its designated officer to visit and inspect the charter school on a reasonable basis.

(20) A requirement that curriculum shall be focused on the intellectual domain with intellectual development defined as acquisition of discrete technical and academic skills. No curriculum at a charter school shall be offered that would limit in any way the ability of a pupil to attend the school in the public school system that the student would otherwise attend if not enrolled at the charter school.

(21) A requirement that charter schools regularly assess the academic progress of their pupils, including the participation of such pupils in the state testing programs, and share such information with parents. The state Department of Education shall work directly with each charter school regarding the implementation of the state testing program in those schools.

(22) A requirement that a pupil shall have a mastery of grade-appropriate skills before the pupil can be recommended for promotion or promoted.

(23) Provisions regarding the security of the school. If a local school board provides security services for its schools then it shall make such services available to any of its Type 1, 3, 3B, or 4 charter schools on terms as provided within the charter agreement.

(24) A plan for collecting data in accordance with R.S. 17:3911.

C. A charter school shall:

(1)(a) Enroll an eligible pupil who is eligible under the residency requirements established in the charter as required in Paragraph (B)(4) of this Section and who submits a timely application unless the total number of eligible applicants exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school, in which case the charter school shall conduct an admissions lottery as provided in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph.

(b)(i) An application shall be timely if it is submitted within the period designated by the charter school, which period shall not be less than one month nor more than three months. There shall be an established application period for each successive school year.

(ii) Application information, including enrollment eligibility, any applicable enrollment preferences, program enrollment capacity, the application period, and any important application and enrollment dates, shall be made available to all applicants and posted on the school's website.

(c)(i) Except as is provided in Items (ii) and (iii) of this Subparagraph, the charter school shall admit no pupil during the application period but shall wait until the period has ended. If fewer eligible pupils have applied than is the maximum that the school can admit, then all eligible pupils shall be admitted and additional pupils may apply and be admitted for the school year to which the application period applies until the maximum number is admitted. If the total number of eligible applicants exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school, admission to the program, class, grade level, or school shall be based on an admissions lottery conducted from among the total number of eligible applicants done in such a fashion as to ensure enrollment transparency. Lottery information, including when and where the lottery will be conducted, the mechanism by which the lottery will be conducted, and the results of the lottery, including any waiting list information, shall be made available to all applicants. Applicants placed on a lottery enrollment waiting list shall be notified of their waiting list ranking and notified of any changes to the enrollment waiting list throughout the school year. There shall be an established lottery each successive school year as necessary. Lottery enrollment waiting lists shall not roll over from one school year to the next.

(ii) In the case of the creation of a charter by the conversion of a preexisting school, pupils enrolled in the preexisting school shall be given preference over all other applicants and the applications procedure shall be established in a fashion that provides ample opportunity for such pupils to exercise the right for preferential admission.

(iii) A charter school may modify its enrollment procedures in order to give preference to students previously enrolled in the school and their siblings and to give preference to siblings submitting their applications to enroll in the school for the first time.

(iv) Unless otherwise provided for within the charter, charter schools may not enroll in any given year more than one hundred twenty percent of the total number of students which had been approved in their charter without formally amending their charter. The state board may authorize the state superintendent of education and the superintendent of the Recovery School District to amend the charter of any Type 5 charter school participating in a unified enrollment system administered by the Recovery School District for the purpose of adjusting student enrollment limitations.

(v) A charter school may directly enroll the child of a faculty member if the child meets all admission requirements for the school. No student admitted to a charter school pursuant to this Item shall be counted to determine whether such enrollment exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school. A charter authorizer that uses a common application and enrollment process for its charter schools shall adopt uniform policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this Item, but such policies and procedures shall not limit the ability of a school to exercise the authority granted by this Item.

(vi) A charter school with a foreign immersion mission may directly enroll the child of a foreign consular officer who resides in Louisiana if the child meets all mission-related and academic admission requirements established for the school. No student admitted to a charter school pursuant to this Item shall be counted to determine whether such enrollment exceeds the enrollment capacity of a program, class, grade level, or school. A charter authorizer that uses a common application and enrollment process for its charter schools shall adopt uniform policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this Item, but such policies and procedures shall not limit the ability of a school to exercise the authority granted by this Item.

(d) Beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, each elementary and middle charter school, other than a Type 2 charter school, may request from and be granted by its chartering authority the authority to give preference in its enrollment procedures to students residing within the neighborhood immediately surrounding the school. The geographic boundaries of the neighborhood immediately surrounding such school shall be determined by the school's chartering authority.

(e) The state board shall develop rules and regulations for determining a charter school's compliance with the application and enrollment transparency requirements set forth in this Subsection. The state board shall also provide for a process to investigate allegations of discriminatory practices of a charter school that shall include but not be limited to the review of data related to a charter school's enrollment, discipline, parent complaints, and identification of students with exceptionalities, not including gifted and talented. The state board shall annually produce a status report regarding enrollment percentages of economically disadvantaged students and students with disabilities.

(2) Conduct the pupil assessments required by the state board for pupils in other public schools pursuant to R.S. 17:24.4.

(3) Be subject to any court-ordered desegregation plan in effect for the city or parish school system.

(4) Comply with the criteria set forth in Brumfield, et al. v. Dodd, et al., 425 F. Supp. 528.

(5) Be nonsectarian in its programs, admissions policies, and employment practices.

(6) Employ instructional staff who have at least a baccalaureate degree and who shall be subject to all provisions of state law relative to background checks applicable to the employment of public school personnel.

(7) Have the autonomy necessary to manage its educational programming and daily operations in accordance with law, policy, and contract.

D.(1) A charter school may negotiate with the local school board in whose jurisdiction it is located for use of facilities and the operation and maintenance thereof, for pupil transportation, and for other support services provided by the board to other public schools in the system.

(2)(a)(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 17:158(A), if the local school board is requested to provide transportation services to a charter school student pursuant to R.S. 17:158, then the charter school receiving the transportation services shall reimburse the local school board for the actual cost of providing such transportation unless an amount less than actual cost is agreed upon by both parties.

(ii) Providing transportation services pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph and the amount reimbursed to the local school board by a charter school for such services shall be in accordance with a written agreement entered into for this purpose by the charter school and the local school board prior to any transportation services being provided by the board for students at the charter school.

(iii) By not later than ninety days following the end of each fiscal year, the local school board shall provide the charter school with an itemized accounting of the actual cost of transportation services provided to the charter school students.

(b) The provisions of this Paragraph shall not apply to any contract or agreement for providing transportation services between a charter school and the local school board which is in effect on August 15, 2007.

E. A charter school shall not:

(1) Be supported by or affiliated with any religion or religious organization or institution; however, a charter school may receive from any such organization or institution support or student services including but not limited to mentoring, volunteering, fundraising, or tutoring.

(2) Result from the conversion of any private school or any home study program, as defined in R.S. 17:236.

(3) Charge any pupil any tuition or an attendance fee of any kind.

(4) Discriminate among potential employees, employees, or pupils in violation of any state or federal law.

(5)(a) Hire a person:

(i) As an administrator, teacher, substitute teacher, bus operator, substitute bus operator, janitor, or other school employee who might reasonably be expected to be placed in a position of supervisory or disciplinary authority over school children who has been convicted of or has pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C).

(ii) As an administrator, teacher, or substitute teacher if any of the following apply to the person:

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

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

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

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a charter school may hire a person as a teacher or substitute teacher who is otherwise prohibited from being hired if the state board approves a formal appeal request submitted by the person and issues a teaching certificate or authorization as provided in R.S. 17:8.7(B).

(b) The state board shall establish regulations, requirements, and procedures consistent with the provisions of R.S. 15:587.1 under which the school governing authority shall determine whether an applicant or employee has been convicted of or pled nolo contendere to any criminal offense. Included in these regulations shall be the requirement and the procedure for the submission of a person's fingerprints in a form acceptable to the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification and Information prior to employment of such person.

(6)(a) Require the parent or legal guardian of any student to disclose any medical information or special education needs, income, or economically disadvantaged status prior to the student's being enrolled in the charter school, unless otherwise specifically required by law.

(b) Nothing in this Paragraph shall prohibit a charter school from providing an enrollment preference to a student with special needs or who is economically disadvantaged when the student's parent or legal guardian has voluntarily provided the school with information regarding such needs.

F. Except for a Type 4 charter school, a local school board shall not assign any pupil or employee to a charter school or interfere in any way with the operation and management of a charter school except as provided by the approved charter, the provisions of this Chapter, or other law applicable to the charter school or its officers or employees.

G. Any pupil enrolled in a charter school who decides not to attend such charter school shall be permitted by the local school board to attend the public school that the pupil would otherwise attend if not enrolled at the charter school.

H.(1)(a) Any assets acquired by a Type 1, 2, 3, 3B, or 5 charter school are the property of that charter school for the duration of that school's charter agreement.

(b) Any assets acquired by a Type 4 charter school are the property of the local school board.

(2) If a Type 1, 3, or 3B charter school is approved for conversion to a Type 2 charter school under the provisions of R.S. 17:3983(B)(2), all assets purchased with any public funds prior to such conversion shall remain the property of that charter school for the duration of that school's charter agreement with the state board.

(3)(a) If the charter agreement of any Type 1, 2, 3, 3B, or 5 charter school is revoked or the school otherwise ceases to operate, all assets purchased by the charter school with any public funds become the property of the chartering authority.

(b) Notwithstanding Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, if the charter agreement of a Type 2 charter school that was previously any other type of charter school is revoked or the school otherwise ceases to operate, any property owned by the local school board that was used by the charter school prior to such revocation or ceasing of operation remains the property of the local school board.

(4) Charter schools shall maintain records of any assets acquired with any private funds which remain the property of the nonprofit group operating the charter school. 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 2001, No. 453, §1, eff. June 21, 2001; Acts 2001, No. 592, §1, eff. June 22, 2001; Acts 2003, No. 9, §1, eff. Nov. 6, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 381, §1; Acts 2008, No. 458, §1, eff. July 1, 2008; Acts 2009, No. 123, §1, eff. June 26, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 756, §2, eff. Jan. 1, 2011; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 41, §1, eff. June 12, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 2, §§1, 2; 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. 121, §1; Acts 2016, No. 303, §1, eff. June 2, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 497, §1, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 136, §1; Acts 2017, No. 253, §1, eff. June 14, 2017; Acts 2017, No. 335, §1; Acts 2018, No. 307, §1; Acts 2018, No. 634, §1, eff. July 1, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 646, §1, eff. June 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 387, §1; Acts 2024, No. 334, §1, eff. May 28, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 659, §1; Acts 2025, No. 129, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:252 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 252
School master plans for supporting student behavior and discipline
Status: in_force

A.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, in collaboration with the Louisiana Juvenile Justice Planning and Coordination Board, shall formulate, develop, and recommend to the Juvenile Justice Reform Act Implementation Commission by March 1, 2004, a model master plan for improving behavior and discipline within schools.

(2) The model master plan may include but need not be limited to guidelines for accomplishing the following:

(a) Improving communication, coordination, and collaboration between the schools and juvenile justice agencies.

(b) Improving safe school planning.

(c) Revising school zero tolerance policies to ensure compliance with all applicable provisions of law to ensure that schools do not make inappropriate referrals to juvenile justice agencies.

(d) Providing improved mental health services in or through the schools.

(e) Providing better assistance to parents in knowing about and accessing family strengthening programs.

(f) Improving the coordination of special education and juvenile justice services.

(g) Improving classroom management using positive behavioral supports and other effective disciplinary tools.

(h) Improving methods and procedures for the handling of school suspensions, the referral of students to alternative schools, and the use of seclusion and physical restraint in addressing challenging student behavior.

(i) Providing for better and more useful reporting on an annual basis of school behavioral and disciplinary problems.

B. Each city, parish, and other local public school board shall cause to be developed and shall submit by October 1, 2004, a master plan for each school under the board's jurisdiction for improving behavior and discipline in each such school based on the model master plan developed and approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

C. The model master plan for improving behavior and discipline within the schools and the school master plans required of city, parish, and other local public school boards by this Section shall not prohibit a teacher from removing a pupil from the classroom for disciplinary reasons in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:416.

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

Acts 2003, No. 1225, §3; Acts 2009, No. 240, §1; Acts 2010, No. 136, §1, eff. June 8, 2010; Acts 2016, No. 522, §1, eff. June 13, 2016; Acts 2024, No. 686, §2, eff. June 19, 2024.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:500 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 500
Sick leave for school bus operators; minimum pay for substitute
Status: in_force

A. The term "school bus operator", as used in this Section, shall mean any individual who operates a school bus transporting children under the supervision of the public school system of the state of Louisiana.

B.(1) All school bus operators employed by the parish and the city school boards of this state shall be entitled to and shall be allowed a minimum of ten days absence per school year because of personal illness or because of other emergencies or special circumstances, without loss of pay. Such sick leave when not used in any year shall be accumulated to the credit of the school bus operator without limitation. When a school bus operator is absent for six or more consecutive days because of personal illness, the school bus operator shall be required to present a certificate from a clinician certifying such illness. As used in this Subpart, "clinician" means a physician, physician assistant providing healthcare services in accordance with R.S. 37:1360.28, or an advanced practice registered nurse providing healthcare services in accordance with R.S. 37:913. The parish and city school boards are authorized to adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary relative to the use of such sick leave, either current or accumulated, for emergencies or special circumstances. The parish and city school boards may grant additional sick leave, without loss of pay, or with such reduction of pay as they may establish and fix.

(2) The minimum of ten days of sick leave provided in this Subsection shall be allowed based on a school bus operator beginning work at the beginning of a school year. In the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the first month of a school year, ten days shall be allowed; in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the second month of a school year, nine days shall be allowed; in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the third month of a school year, eight days shall be allowed; in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the fourth month of a school year, seven days shall be allowed; in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the fifth month of a school year, six days shall be allowed; in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the sixth month of a school year, five days shall be allowed; in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the seventh month of a school year, four days shall be allowed; and, in the case of a school bus operator who begins work in the eighth month or thereafter of a school year, three days shall be allowed.

(3) Upon the retirement of any school bus operator, or upon his death prior to retirement, his employer shall pay to such school bus operator, or to his heirs or assigns, sick leave which has accrued to such school bus operator, but which remains unused at the time of his retirement or at the time of his death if prior to retirement, not to exceed twenty-five days of such unused sick leave. Such pay shall be at the rate of pay received by the school bus operator at the time of retirement or death prior to retirement; provided that any parish or city school board may pay such unused sick leave beyond twenty-five days at its discretion.

C.(1) Each substitute school bus operator, substituting for a regular school bus operator who is on sick or emergency leave, shall be paid by the employing school board a daily sum for each day's actual operation of the bus, which shall be not less than sixty-five percent of the daily rate of pay being paid the regular bus operator, to be computed by dividing the annual pay of the regular operator by the number of school days in the regularly scheduled session, exclusive of any compensation or mileage allowance for use of a privately owned bus.

(2)(a) The provisions of this Subsection for the compensation of a substitute school bus operator are applicable and may be used only when the regular operator is on leave and is expected to return to his route.

(b)(i) Whenever a vacancy occurs on a route due to death, resignation, retirement, or the expiration of the regular operator's approved leave or a new route is established, the route shall be filled with a regular school bus operator as provided in R.S. 17:493.1 no later than the following school year unless the route is consolidated or eliminated.

(ii) A substitute bus operator may only be used as a temporary measure until a permanent operator can be appointed to a route. A substitute operator may not drive a route for a period that exceeds the end of the school year during which the operator began driving the route. The vacant route shall be filled in accordance with R.S. 17:493.1.

(c) If an operator is on approved leave, his route shall not be considered a vacant route. A substitute shall be used to drive a route for an operator on approved leave regardless of the length of time of the approved leave.

Acts 1954, No. 146, §§1, 2; Acts 1958, No. 398, §1; Acts 1960, No. 255, §2; Acts 1970, No. 646, §1; Acts 1984, No. 129, §1; Acts 1985, No. 369, §1; Acts 1990, No. 1077, §1; Acts 1993, No. 826, §1, eff. June 22, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 948, §1; Acts 1999, No. 663, §1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2020, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 34, §1, eff. Oct. 28, 2020; Acts 2022, No. 648, §1; Acts 2023, No. 296, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:266 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 266
Cursive writing; required instruction
Status: in_force

Cursive writing shall be taught in all public schools. Each public school shall ensure that such instruction is introduced by the third grade and incorporated into the curriculum in grades four through twelve.

Acts 2016, No. 482, §1, eff. July 1, 2017.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2160 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2160
Portion of corporation franchise tax dedicated to payment of bonds
Status: in_force

So long as there are outstanding and unpaid any bonds or other obligations issued under this Sub-part, or the interest thereon, the annual franchise tax on corporations shall continue to be levied and collected, and there shall be dedicated to the Louisiana State Board of Education from the proceeds of this tax an amount sufficient to pay the principal and interest requirements of the same.

This amount shall be remitted directly by the Secretary of State to the Louisiana State Board of Education for the purpose of paying the bonds or other obligations and the interest thereon, as the same become due and to provide for any required reserve fund therefor.

The amounts dedicated to the board of education as provided in this Section are charged with a first privilege to secure the payment of the bonds or other obligations and the interest thereon and to provide any required reserve fund therefor, until the obligations and the interest thereon are paid.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:407.37 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 407.37
Operating without a license; penalties
Status: in_force

The department may take action against a person who operates an early learning center without a valid license issued by the department. Such actions may include the following:

(1) Assessing a civil fine of up to one thousand dollars for each day of the knowing and continued unlicensed operation of an early learning center.

(2) Filing a suit in the district court in the parish in which the center is located for injunctive relief, including a temporary restraining order, to enjoin the institution, agency, corporation, person or persons, or any other group from continuing the violation.

Acts 2014, No. 868, §2, eff. Oct.1, 2014; Acts 2016, No. 659, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:421.12 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 421.12
Supplements to salaries of school educational diagnosticians having certain credentials issued by the National Certification of Educational Diagnosticians Board
Status: in_force

A. A full-time school educational diagnostician who holds a valid Louisiana teaching certificate or ancillary certificate, an educational diagnostician certification approved and issued by the state Department of Education, and a Nationally Certified Educational Diagnostician credential issued by the National Certification of Educational Diagnosticians Board and who is employed by a school board to provide educational diagnostic services to students or to provide supervision of any kind to educational diagnosticians shall receive from the school board, in addition to an annual salary, an annual amount of five thousand dollars when federal funds applied for this purpose by the local school system are available for distribution in the same manner as the annual salary.

B.(1) Any educational diagnostician who meets the requirements of Subsection A of this Section and who has been verified to have been awarded the Nationally Certified Educational Diagnostician credential issued by the National Certification of Educational Diagnosticians Board shall be paid the initial supplement beginning in the school year immediately following the school year in which he is awarded the credential if he submits appropriate documentation to the employing school board.

(2) The school board shall maintain documentation indicating the number of nationally certified educational diagnosticians employed by the school board who are receiving the supplement.

C. A school board shall budget, receive, and expend federal funds that are or may be allocated to implement the provisions of this Section.

D. In addition to any other requirements of this Section, to receive the salary supplement provided by this Section for the fall school term of the 2014-2015 school year, an otherwise eligible person shall have been awarded the initial credential issued by the National Certification of Educational Diagnosticians Board before July 1, 2013, and shall provide documentation of validity to the school board prior to September 1, 2013.

E. The salary supplement of any educational diagnostician authorized by this Section shall continue for a period not to exceed the term of the national credential as determined by the National Certification of Educational Diagnosticians Board; however, such supplement shall continue in effect without interruption as long as the educational diagnostician provides to the school board documentation of credential renewal by the National Certification of Educational Diagnosticians Board.

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

Acts 2013, No. 393, §1, eff. June 18, 2013.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1233 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1233
Definitions
Status: in_force

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

(1) "Document" means any written or otherwise tangible material intended to be or actually used as a part of or any evidence of the work history of any school employee including but not limited to any and all reports, comments, reprimands, correspondence, memoranda, evaluations, observations, and grievances relative to a particular school employee.

(2) "Personnel file" means the file or files which contain the cumulative collection of any and all documents maintained by the school system with respect to each individual school employee.

(3) "Personnel file custodian" means those persons employed by the school system charged with the duty of maintaining and preserving the personnel files.

(4) "School system" means a parish or city school system.

(5) "Third party" means any person or entity not regularly employed or employed under a contract by the school system in which the school employee is employed.

Acts 1987, No. 174, §1; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2358 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2358
Uniformity of application and construction
Status: in_force

In applying and construing this Part, consideration shall be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to this subject matter among states that enact it.

Acts 1968, No. 651, §1; Acts 2010, No. 937, §2, eff. July 1, 2010.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:22 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 22
Superintendent; functions and duties
Status: in_force

The superintendent shall:

(1) Serve as ex officio secretary of the board. As ex officio secretary, he shall have powers and functions assigned by the board, among which shall be the authority with the president of the board, to authenticate and verify official documents of the board and the submission of agenda items for consideration by the board.

(2) Provide the staff services for the board. In that regard the superintendent shall:

(a) Cause all certificates and diplomas that are to be awarded to be prepared by the State Department of Education.

(b) Make recommendations on contracts and agreements to be entered into by the board.

(c) Prepare or obtain all reports required by the board.

(d) Prepare a minimum foundation program, a formula for the equitable allocation of minimum foundation funds to parish and city school systems, and budgets for adoption by the board. Upon adoption by the board of such program, formula, and budget for the ensuing fiscal year, the superintendent shall submit the budget in accordance with R.S. 39:33 and shall submit the minimum foundation program and formula to each member of the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget and to each member of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education for review not later than the fifteenth day of March in each year on the forms and in the manner prescribed and accompanied by such other data as the committees may require.

(e) Administer the process prescribed by the board for the review, adoption, procurement, and distribution of free textbooks and other instructional materials and prepare lists of state reviewed textbooks and instructional materials.

(f) Provide all other staff and administrative services needed by the board to carry out its constitutional and statutory mandates.

(3) Implement the policies and programs of the board and the laws affecting schools under the jurisdiction of the board.

(4) Serve as the administrative head of the State Department of Education.

(5) Employ and fix the salaries and duties of employees of the department of education, subject to applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and other applicable laws.

(6) Pursuant to rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the board, offer assistance to local public school officials and the elementary and secondary schools of the state in their efforts to adopt procedures by which (a) courses of study prescribed by the board will be followed, (b) teachers will meet the standards prescribed by the board, and (c) schools will meet the standards for approval which are prescribed by law or by the board. He shall assist the parish and city school boards and teachers in securing the best possible results from their efforts, and in this connection, the public school officials in the various parishes and cities, insofar as practicable in the professional administration of the schools, shall consider the suggestions and directions of the superintendent.

(7)(a) Make an annual report to the board, the governor, and the legislature on the condition of, the progress made, and the improvements needed in the public elementary and secondary schools. The report shall contain the following:

(i) A complete financial report on the receipts and expenditures of the department and of the various schools.

(ii) Data concerning faculty, enrollment, graduates, courses of study, and any other information required to show the condition, progress, and needs of these schools.

(iii) An abstract of the reports of the city, parish, and other local public school superintendents to the state superintendent, as well as all other facts and statistics that are of interest to the public schools.

(iv) A report on the implementation of a total system of choice.

(v) Such other information as is necessary to effectuate the purposes of this Paragraph.

(b) The superintendent shall cause a sufficient number of copies of this report to be printed for distribution to the members of the board, the governor, the members of the legislature, state officials, city, parish, and other local public school boards, libraries, and the superintendents of schools of other states and territories.

(c) Such report shall be submitted to the board, the governor, and the legislature not later than March fifteenth of each year.

(8) File, each year and separately, all papers, reports, and public documents transmitted to him by the parish and city school boards and officials whose duty it is to report to him, and hold them in readiness for examination by the board, the governor, any legislative committee, or any interested citizen requesting any of them. He shall cause a record of all matters pertaining to his office to be kept.

(9) Report to the board any irregularity on the part of a parish or city school board or of any parish or city superintendent of schools of which he has knowledge.

(10) Conduct such conferences and meetings of school officials, superintendents, and teachers as are necessary for the promotion and advancement of education.

(11) Repealed by Acts 2017, No. 224, §2, effective August 1, 2022.

(12) Perform such other functions as provided by law.

Acts 1975, No. 274, §1. Amended by Acts 1976, No. 455, §1; Acts 1982, No. 625, §1; Acts 1986, No. 72, §1; Acts 1989, No. 244, §1; Acts 2003, No. 763, §1, eff. June 27, 2003; Acts 2011, No. 333, §1; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2015, No. 389, §1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2017, No. 224, §§1, 2, eff. August 1, 2022.

NOTE: For effective date, See Acts 1986, No. 72, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1222 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1222
Premiums
Status: in_force

The said boards and publicly supported educational institutions are legally authorized, enabled, and permitted to deduct from the employee's pay, salary or compensation, such parts of the premiums as are payable by the employee and as may be authorized in writing by the employee. Provided further that in the event any former employee be enjoying the benefits of any retirement plan because of former employment, such an employee shall have the right so to notify his former employer in writing of his desire to accept the benefits of said group insurance and shall according to the usual method of payment of installments as premiums pay into said institution his pro rata share of said premiums and said employer shall make the contribution as intended under R.S. 17:1221 and this Section.

Amended by Acts 1950, No. 181, §2.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1970.4 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1970.4
School board; creation; membership; terms; powers and duties; voting; compensation
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created a school board for the school, sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "board".

B. The board shall be composed of seven members who reside within a sixty-mile radius of the campus of the school as follows:

(1) Two appointees of the governor.

(2) One appointee of the lieutenant governor.

(3) One faculty member of the College of Arts at the university appointed by the university president or a person appointed by the university president who resides within a sixty-mile radius of the campus who is deemed by the president to qualify for such a faculty position.

(4) One faculty member of the College of Sciences at the university appointed by the university president or a person appointed by the university president who resides within a sixty-mile radius of the campus who is deemed by the president to qualify for such a faculty position.

(5) One faculty member of the College of Liberal Arts at the university appointed by the university president or a person appointed by the university president who resides within a sixty-mile radius of the campus who is deemed by the president to qualify for such a faculty position.

(6) One appointee of the state superintendent to be replaced by a member of the student body at the school who is elected by the student body.

C.(1)(a) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection and Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, the term of each member of the board shall be four years.

(b) The terms of the initial members shall be as follows:

(i) One appointee of the governor shall serve a two-year term and one a four-year term, as designated by the governor.

(ii) The appointee of the lieutenant governor shall serve a three-year term.

(iii) One of the faculty appointees of the university president shall serve a two-year term, one a three-year term, and one a four-year term, as designated by the university president.

(2) The appointee of the state superintendent shall serve only as an initial member of the board. In January, 2000 and thereafter, the school student member, elected by the student body pursuant to a process adopted by the student government association, shall serve a one-year term and he may not succeed himself.

(3) All board members shall serve without compensation.

D.(1) The board may:

(a) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of financial assistance 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, which are not in contravention of the constitution and laws of this state.

(b) Purchase land, buildings, and equipment and make improvements to facilities necessary for the use of the school, in accordance with applicable law and subject to the approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

(c) Lease land or other property belonging to it or to the school, subject to approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System.

(d) Sell or exchange land or other real property not needed for school purposes, but only when specifically authorized by law and then only in accordance with the approval of the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System. Any 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.

(e) Adopt, amend, or repeal rules and policies necessary or proper for the conduct of the business of the board.

(f) 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 in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:6(11) to any student who successfully completes the program of study adopted by the board.

(g) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been recommended by the principal, 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 programs affecting education in the school. This shall not preclude the board from entering into other such contracts and agreements that it may deem necessary to carry out its duties and functions.

(h) Perform such other functions as are necessary to the supervision and control of those phases of education under its supervision and control.

(i) The board shall delegate to the principal such of its powers and duties as it determines appropriate to aid the principal in the efficient administration of his responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the board.

(2) The board shall:

(a) Adopt rules and policies necessary for the efficient operation of the school.

(b) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of applicants for enrollment.

(c) Determine subjects and extracurricular activities to be offered. Such subjects shall initially be subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, changes in the subjects shall be subject to approval by the state board.

(d) Select a principal, subject to the approval of the president of the university, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the school and who shall administer the rules and policies adopted by the board. The principal shall also be the chief administrative officer of the board and shall be responsible for all the administrative functions, duties, and needs of the board. Until such time as the board selects a principal, an appointee of the president of the university shall serve as the chief administrative officer of the board and shall be responsible for the duties of the principal as they relate to the board.

(e) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary for the efficient operation of the school and select personnel for such positions.

(f) Prepare and adopt an annual budget necessary for the continued operation of the school and submit it to the president of the university for his approval and inclusion in the university budget.

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

(h) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate for expenditure by the school and programs under its jurisdiction pursuant to its approved budget all monies appropriated or otherwise made available for purposes of the board and of such school and programs.

(i) Prescribe and select for use in the textbooks and other materials of instruction for children enrolled in the school and programs under its jurisdiction for which the legislature provides funds.

(j) Prepare and adopt or approve programs of study and rules for the discipline of students and for the government of the school and programs under its jurisdiction, which shall not be inconsistent with law and which shall be enforced by the staff and faculty of the school. Such programs of study shall initially be subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, any changes in such programs of study shall be subject to approval by the state board.

(k) Notwithstanding any provisions of law to the contrary, prescribe the qualifications and provide for the certification of teachers. Such qualifications shall initially be subject to approval by the state board, and thereafter, any changes in such qualifications shall be subject to approval by the state board.

(l) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, especially R.S. 17:441 et seq., adopt rules and regulations under which faculty members may become permanent employees of the school.

(m) Develop and adopt a formula or system under which students shall be admitted. Such formula or system shall be sufficient to insure that at least one qualified applicant for admission from within the geographical boundaries of each city and parish school system shall be admitted to the school each year. If no qualified applicant from a city or parish public school system applies for admission, then the admission position available to that school system shall be lost to that system for that school year and shall be reallocated by the board to provide for the admission of qualified applicants from other public systems.

(n) Adopt rules to provide for the audition of any applicant who has not been auditioned but who meets all other criteria for participation in the program.

(o) Impose room, board, and other fees for all full-time students, with the provision that any student who is incapable of paying such fees due to economic hardship shall be exempt from or subject to reduction of the requirements of this Subparagraph.

(p) Establish criteria to be used in determining those students who shall be exempt from the requirements of Subparagraph (o) of this Paragraph.

E. Four members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and all official action of the board shall require the favorable vote of a majority of those members present and voting. All members of the board shall be voting members.

F. The school board shall serve as the local educational agency for the school.

Acts 1997, No. 1350, §1; Acts 2013, No. 220, §6, eff. June 11, 2013; Acts 2015, No. 389, §1, eff. July 1, 2015.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:416.23 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 416.23
Behavioral or emotional challenges; referral for assessment and treatment; reporting
Status: in_force

A. Except as provided in R.S. 17:173, not later than thirty days prior to the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, each city, parish, or other local public school board shall adopt rules and regulations and implement a program to:

(1) Assist school personnel in identifying signs and symptoms of a student with behavioral or emotional challenges that may cause the student to be at risk of their behavior escalating into aggression or disruption, disciplinary actions including suspension or expulsion, or juvenile delinquency.

(2) Designate a specific employee at each school who shall be responsible for identifying behavioral and mental health support services available in the community, and when appropriate, facilitating a referral to those services for assessment and treatment, including services provided through the Louisiana Coordinated System of Care and its Medicaid provider network.

(3)(a) Require that after any second suspension of a student during the same school year, the principal or his designee and the employee designated pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall consult on whether the student's behavior could be attributable to behavioral or emotional challenges.

(b) Require that if it is determined that the behavior is attributable to behavioral or emotional challenges and rises to the level that supportive services could be beneficial, the principal or his designee and the employee designated pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection shall schedule a conference with the student's parent or legal guardian to discuss the student's behavior and counseling as well as the referral of the student and family to support services for assessment and treatment.

B. A city, parish, or other local public school board shall report to the state Department of Education and the House and Senate committees on education the number of students identified as possibly having behavioral or emotional challenges, the number of students for which a conference was scheduled, and the number of students referred for assessment and supportive services pursuant to this Section. The reports shall be submitted annually on July first and shall reflect data from the previous school year. The reports may be used to evaluate needs and capacity for behavioral health services throughout the state.

Acts 2024, No. 324, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3129.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3129.3
Louisiana classroom teacher and vocational-technical school instructor enrollment program; creation; regulations; limitations
Status: in_force

A. The Board of Regents shall develop, in concert with the institutions of higher learning under its jurisdiction and their management boards, a program for the enrollment of Louisiana full-time classroom teachers and vocational-technical school instructors in courses of instruction for college credit offered on the main campus of said institutions, on a tuition-free basis, where space is available and where the applicant teacher or instructor meets any prerequisite course requirements and all other requirements of this Section. The program shall be implemented at no additional cost to the state. However, any institution having a teacher or instructor enrolled pursuant to the provisions of this Section may count such enrollment in its computation of student credit hours. All fees required for enrollment, except tuition, shall be paid by the teacher or instructor. For purposes of this Section, "classroom teacher" shall be defined as any full-time classroom teacher employed by a city or parish school board and holding a valid Louisiana teacher's certificate, and any full-time classroom teacher employed by a nonpublic school approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

B. The program shall be implemented not later than January 1, 1994. 1

C.(1)(a) By September 1, 1993 1 , the board shall adopt rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of the program and, prior to adoption, shall submit them to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education for review and comment.

(b) By September 1, 1995, the board shall adopt rules and regulations to implement provisions relative to participation of vocational-technical school instructors and, prior to adoption, shall submit them to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education for review and comment.

(2) Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a) A requirement that the appropriate administrator at the institution approve space availability for the program and that such approval shall be granted absent any documented evidence that space is not available.

(b) A requirement that space availability shall be determined only after the deadline established by the institution for student schedule changes.

(c)(i) A requirement that to be eligible to participate in the program, a teacher or instructor shall not otherwise be eligible to enroll in such course or courses pursuant to the continuing education tuition exemption program established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(ii) By August 1, 1995, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall provide a copy of the guidelines and eligibility requirements for the continuing education tuition exemption program administered by the board to each institution and if any revisions are made to such guidelines and requirements after such time, the board shall provide the revised guidelines and requirements to each institution on a timely basis.

(iii) Upon receipt of the guidelines and requirements for the continuing education tuition exemption program as provided in Item (ii) of this Subparagraph, each institution shall be responsible for determining eligibility for enrollment in the program as provided by this Section.

(iv) Any teacher who is otherwise eligible for the program as provided by this Section and who is denied enrollment into the continuing education tuition exemption program as provided by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education due to insufficient funding for the program for the semester or quarter in which the teacher applies, shall be eligible to participate in the program as provided by this Section.

(d) A requirement limiting the course enrollment of a classroom teacher or instructor pursuant to the provisions of this Section to not more than six credit hours for any one semester or its equivalent for attendance at any institution operating on a quarter system. There shall be no limitation on course enrollment during summer sessions.

(e) A requirement that participation in the program by a classroom teacher or vocational-technical school instructor during any one school year shall obligate such teacher to practice his profession as a classroom teacher in the elementary or secondary schools of the state and such instructor to practice his profession as an instructor in the state vocational-technical schools for at least the subsequent school year.

Acts 1993, No. 253, §1, eff. June 2, 1993; Acts 1995, No. 1010, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Acts 1995, No. 1213, §1.

1 As appears in enrolled bill.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:55 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 55
Executive committees; appointment
Status: in_force

Each parish school board has authority to appoint from its membership an executive committee of three members, with such duties as may be delegated to it by the parish school board. If the parish school board is composed of thirteen or more members the school board may appoint from its membership an executive committee of four members.

Amended by Acts 1970, No. 343, §1; Acts 1975, No. 647, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3654 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3654
Costs of program
Status: in_force

All costs of the program provided for herein that require any local expenditure of school board funds shall be reimbursed by the state.

Added by Acts 1980, No. 207, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:427.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 427.3
Teach Louisiana First Program; purpose; eligibility criteria; incentive payments; reports; administration; funding
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created the Teach Louisiana First Program, referred to in this Section as the "program", for the purpose of providing incentives to reduce the shortage of teachers certified to teach certain core subjects in low-performing public schools as defined by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, referred to in this Section as the "state board", pursuant to policies adopted by the state board for implementation of the school and district accountability system.

B.(1)(a) The program shall provide for the payment, pursuant to a contract with the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission, referred to in this Section as the "administering agency", of incentive pay to highly qualified teachers who are employed by city, parish, or other local public school boards, referred to in this Section as a "school board", selected by the state Department of Education, referred to in this Section as the "department", pursuant to standards established by the state board, all as provided in this Section.

(b) The incentive payment provided to teachers participating in this program shall be in addition to any salary adjustment received by a teacher holding a valid certificate issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards pursuant to R.S. 17:421.6.

(2) The state board shall by rule adopted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act and through the department:

(a) Establish the criteria for and identify the low-performing schools in which teachers eligible to receive incentives pursuant to this Section may be employed and designate the core subjects within such schools that are critical to the school's improvement.

(b) Determine the interest of the school board with jurisdiction over a school identified pursuant to Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph in participating in the program and provide such school board with all criteria and guidelines regarding the program.

(c) Establish the criteria for identifying teachers eligible to receive incentives pursuant to this Section.

(d)(i) Establish and execute a system of prioritization for the allocation of authority to employ teachers eligible to receive incentives pursuant to this Section.

(ii) In determining such prioritization, the state board shall establish and consider criteria including:

(aa) School performance scores.

(bb) District performance scores.

(cc) Percentage of uncertified teachers.

(dd) Poverty level.

(iii) The state board shall seek to provide for the employment of such teachers in a sufficient number in a school to create improvement in student achievement and in school and district performance.

(e)(i) Pursuant to the system of prioritization established pursuant to Subparagraph (d) of this Paragraph, select and notify participating school boards and specify the schools and the core subjects that teachers who shall receive incentives pursuant to this Section may be hired to teach.

(ii) Provide for the reallocation of positions which remain unfilled by selected schools.

(f) Cooperatively establish and cause to be conducted a periodic evaluation of the program to measure its effectiveness in promoting the program purpose specified in this Section.

(g) Define "core subjects" for the purposes of this program.

(h) Determine the allocation of available funds to participating school boards in the event there are insufficient funds appropriated to provide for the payment of incentives to each eligible teacher, including those already participating in the program, and for notification of the allocation to the administering agency.

C.(1) To participate in the program, a teacher shall be employed by a school board to teach a core subject in a low-performing school specified pursuant to this Section, sign an employment contract with the school board to teach in a selected school in a subject area in which the applicant is certified, sign a program contract with the administering agency to receive the incentive payment pursuant to the program, and meet one of the following sets of criteria:

(a) Have completed a state-approved teacher training program, have satisfactorily passed the examination required by R.S. 17:8.2 as reported by the department, meet the requirements of federal law for designation as a highly qualified teacher in a Title I school, and have held a valid Louisiana teaching certificate issued by the department in the subject area or areas in which the applicant is contracted to teach for not more than the two years immediately preceding the execution of a teaching contract with a school board for participation in the program.

(b) Have at least three years of classroom teaching experience, hold a valid Louisiana teaching certificate issued by the department in the subject area or areas in which the applicant is contracted to teach, and meet the requirements of federal law for designation as a highly qualified teacher in a Title I school.

(2) In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, each applicant shall meet all other requirements for certification and employment as a teacher in public schools required by law and the rules and regulations of the state board, comply with all provisions of the school board's employment contract, and comply with the administering agency's program contract for receipt of an incentive payment.

(3) To participate, a teacher may be employed in the school system, but shall be newly assigned to the low-performing school or re-hired to teach in a school that has been reconstituted pursuant to state board policy.

D.(1) Each school board which employs a teacher who meets the criteria set forth in Paragraph (C)(1) and Subparagraph (C)(1)(a) of this Section and enters into a contract with the school board to participate in the program, upon execution of a program contract by the administering agency, shall receive a payment of four thousand dollars to be paid by the school board to such teacher for the first year of teaching as provided in this Section. For each of the three consecutive years immediately following the first year of teaching, if the teacher is continued in the program by the school board based upon its evaluation of the teacher's performance and the school is continued in the program as determined by the department, the school board which employs the teacher shall receive four thousand dollars or, upon the teacher meeting the teaching experience requirements of Subparagraph (C)(1)(b) of this Section shall receive six thousand dollars per year to be paid by the school board to such teacher as provided in this Section.

(2) Each school board which employs the teacher who meets the criteria set forth in Paragraph (C)(1) and Subparagraph (C)(1)(b) of this Section and enters into a contract with the school board to participate in the program, upon execution of a program contract by the administering agency, shall receive a payment of six thousand dollars to be paid by the school board to such teacher for the first year of teaching as provided in this Section. For each of the three consecutive years immediately following the first year of teaching, if the teacher is continued in the program by the school board based upon its evaluation of the teacher's performance and the school is continued in the program as determined by the department, the school board which employs the teacher shall receive six thousand dollars for each year of participation in the program up to the limitation prescribed in Paragraph (3) of this Subsection.

(3) No program participant shall receive any incentive payment as provided in this Section for more than four consecutive years of teaching as provided in this Section and the total amount of incentive payments provided to any participant for such four-year period shall not exceed twenty-four thousand dollars.

(4) Each participating school board shall provide the incentive pay to which a teacher is entitled pursuant to this Section in three payments. The first shall be paid at the beginning of the school year; the second at the conclusion of the first one-half of the school year; the third at the conclusion of the school year. Such payments may be included in the teacher's regular pay check that occurs at the designated time or may be paid in an additional and separate check. The exact time for the payments required by this Paragraph shall be determined by the employing school board provided such times generally meet the requirements of this Paragraph.

(5) If any program participant incurred federal student loan debt in the course of his education prior to participation in the program, such participant may elect to apply any payments he has received pursuant to the program toward the loan debt. In such case, the administering agency shall forward the amount as designated by the participant, up to the maximum amount of the incentive payment due to the participant, to the holder of the federal student loan to apply toward the participant's loan debt.

E.(1) Prior to receiving an incentive payment pursuant to this Section, each teacher who has met the requirements of this Section for participation in the program shall enter into a program contract with the administering agency in which the teacher agrees to the terms and conditions upon which the payment shall be made. Such contract shall include the terms and provisions as are necessary to carry out the purpose of the program including an agreement by the applicant to reimburse to the state the amount of the incentive payment received for any program year in which the applicant fails to teach for the complete year pursuant to notification by the employing school board to the department and the administering agency unless the debt is forgiven by the administering agency in part or in whole for justifiable cause as established by the administering agency. The contract shall be prepared by the administering agency in consultation and cooperation with the department, shall be approved by the attorney general, and shall be signed by such officer or employee of the administering agency as it shall designate and shall be signed by the teacher.

(2) The obligation of the teacher to repay an incentive payment pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall remain in effect until the teacher has completed the year of teaching for which the payment is made in compliance with the terms and conditions of the school board's employment contract and the administering agency's program contract or has repaid the amount of the payment and any interest that may be charged thereon, all in accordance with the terms of the program contract.

(3) Upon the teacher's breach of any terms of the contract with the school board or the administering agency, or both, the administering agency shall take all necessary steps to secure collection of any incentive payment authorized, up to and including referral to the attorney general for collection.

(4) The attorney general shall be responsible for collection of any balance due to the state from a participant for breach of a contract as required by this Section.

F.(1) The program shall be administered by the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission which shall promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act for the implementation of the program.

(2) Such rules and regulations shall include the following:

(a) Applications, contract forms, audit procedures, and deadlines for receipt by the commission of any information or reports required for the implementation of the program.

(b) Procedures to be used by school boards participating in the program to receive incentive payments and provide needed information to the administering agency.

(c) Procedures for recovering from school boards unused funding.

(d) Procedures for school boards to report changes in the employment status and the teaching performance of teachers hired by such boards.

(e) Procedures for determining the number of program positions that may be allocated annually based upon available funds and the priorities set by the state board.

(f) Guidelines for the submission, including deadlines, of information as required for administration of the program.

(g) Procedures and requirements for providing incentive payments to participating schools.

(h) Procedures for ensuring compliance with the terms of program contracts and recovering incentive payments when either the teacher, the school, or the school board does not comply with the terms of the contracts or the requirements of the program.

(i) Such other matters as the commission deems necessary and proper to carry out the purpose of the program.

G. The commission may seek, accept, and expend funds from any source, including private business, industry, foundations, and other groups as well as any federal or other governmental funding available for the implementation of the program.

H.(1) The state board, the department, and the participating schools and school boards shall provide information to the administering agency at times required by the administering agency as needed to administer the program.

(2) By not later than March 1, 2010, the state board shall submit a written report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education on data collected by the board to determine whether significant student achievement improvements have been made by those students who were taught by teachers participating in the program, and whether improvements have been made in school and district performance as a result of the program, and whether such improvements are sufficient to warrant continuation of the program.

I.(1) Each school board allocated a program position shall employ an eligible program applicant to teach a specified core subject in a low-performing school under its jurisdiction that has been selected to participate.

(2) If the school board has not employed a qualified applicant within the period prescribed by the commission following the date of notification of participation, the school board shall return any allocated money to the commission for reallocation.

(3) Within thirty days of the change in employment status of a teacher filling a program position, the school board shall report the change using the procedure established by the commission.

(4) If a school board's program teaching positions are continued for additional years, prior to contracting with the incumbent in the position, the school board shall report to the commission on the teacher's performance as a program participant and such performance shall be rated at least satisfactory for continuation in the program.

J. Each college of education at any public postsecondary education institution shall encourage participation in the program by students enrolled in the teacher education program offered by the college.

K. The implementation of the program as provided in this Section shall be subject to the appropriation of funds by the legislature for this purpose.

Acts 2003, No. 982, §1; Acts 2005, No. 115, §1, eff. June 21, 2005.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:1455 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 1455
Meetings of board; quorum and vote for official action
Status: in_force

A. The board shall hold at least one regular meeting in each quarter of each calendar year. Other regular meetings and special meetings may be called and held as provided in the bylaws, or by any rule, regulation or resolution adopted by the board. The board shall fix the time and determine the place of all meetings.

B. Ten members of the board, eligible to vote, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 17:3356, or of any other law to the contrary, official action of the board shall require the favorable vote of a majority of the members present and voting, and in any event the favorable vote of at least seven members must be cast in favor of any such action. Voting by proxy is prohibited.

Amended by Acts 1976, No. 135, §1, eff. July 1, 1976; Acts 1978, No. 52, §2, eff. June 7, 1978; Acts 1997, No. 543, §1, eff. July 3, 1997.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2817 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2817
Conversion of corporations providing educational services into cooperatives
Status: in_force

Any corporation under the laws of this state for the purpose, among others, of providing educational services and facilities, may be converted into a cooperative and become subject to this Chapter with the same effect as if originally organized under this Chapter by complying with the following requirements:

(1) The proposition for the conversion of such corporation into a cooperative and proposed articles of conversion to give effect thereto shall be first approved by the board of directors of such corporation. The proposed articles of conversion shall recite in the caption that they are executed pursuant to this Chapter and shall state:

(a) The name of the corporation prior to its conversion into a cooperative;

(b) The address of the principal office of such corporation;

(c) The date of the filing of the articles of incorporation of such corporation in the office of the secretary of state;

(d) The statute or statutes under which such corporation was organized;

(e) The name assumed by such corporation;

(f) A statement that such corporation elects to become a cooperative, subject to this Chapter;

(g) The names and addresses of the persons who shall constitute the first board of directors of the converted corporation upon filing of the articles of conversion;

(h) The manner and basis of converting memberships in or shares of stock of such corporation into memberships therein after completion of the conversion; and

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

(2) The proposition for the conversion of such corporation into a cooperative and the proposed articles of conversion approved by the board of directors of such corporation shall then be submitted to a vote of the members or stockholders, as the case may be, of such corporation at any duly held annual or special meeting thereof, the notice of which shall set forth all particulars concerning the proposed conversion. The proposition for the conversion of such corporation into a cooperative and the proposed articles of conversion, with such amendments thereto as the members or stockholders of such corporation shall choose to make, shall be deemed to be approved upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of those members of such corporation voting thereon at such meeting, or, if such corporation is a stock corporation, upon the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the capital stock of such corporation represented at such meeting.

(3) Upon such approval by the members or stockholders of such corporation, articles of conversion in the form approved by such members or stockholders shall be executed by authentic act on behalf of such corporation by its president or vice-president and its corporate seal shall be affixed thereto and attested by its secretary. The president or vice-president executing such articles of conversion on behalf of such corporation shall also make and annex thereto an affidavit stating that the provisions of this Section with respect to the approval of its trustees or directors and its members or stockholders of the proposition for the conversion of such corporation into a cooperative and such articles of conversion were duly complied with. Such articles of conversion and affidavit shall be submitted to the secretary of state for filing as provided in this Chapter. The term "articles of incorporation" as used in this Chapter shall be deemed to include the articles of conversion of a converted corporation.

Added by Acts 1958, No. 257, §17.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3139 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3139
Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas Act; title
Status: in_force

This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana Granting Resources and Autonomy for Diplomas Act".

Acts 2010, No. 741, §1, eff. June 29, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 418, §1, eff. July 12, 2011.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:416.21 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 416.21
Behavior of students with exceptionalities; use of seclusion and physical restraint
Status: in_force

A. As used in this Section:

(1)(a) "Crisis intervention" means the implementation of an action plan for school personnel to implement when a student exhibits disruptive behaviors that prevent him from participating in classroom or daily activities. Crisis intervention may include the following:

(i) The use of positive behavioral supports and sensory rooms or other calming spaces intentionally designed to help comfort and stabilize a student so that he may return to the classroom or daily activities.

(ii) In extraordinary circumstances, the use of seclusion and physical restraint as a means to safely de-escalate a situation in which a student poses a risk of imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(b) Information about a school's use of crisis intervention, including the proper use of seclusion and physical restraint, shall be included in a school's student handbook and made available to the parent and legal guardian of each student with an Individualized Education Program or Behavioral Intervention Plan.

(2) "Imminent risk of harm" means an immediate and impending threat of a person causing substantial physical injury to self or others.

(3)(a) "Mechanical restraint" means the application of any device or object used to limit a person's movement.

(b) Mechanical restraint does not include:

(i) A protective or stabilizing device used in strict accordance with the manufacturer's instructions for proper use and which is used in compliance with orders issued by an appropriately licensed health care provider.

(ii) Any device used by a duly licensed law enforcement officer in the execution of his official duties.

(4)(a) "Physical restraint" means the use of manual restraint techniques that involve physical force applied to restrict the movement of all or part of a person's body.

(b) Physical restraint does not include:

(i) Consensual, solicited, or unintentional contact.

(ii) Momentary blocking of a student's action if the student's action is likely to result in harm to the student or any other person.

(iii) A school employee holding a student for less than three consecutive minutes within any given hour for the protection of the student or others.

(iv) A school employee holding a student for the purpose of calming or comforting the student, provided the student's freedom of movement or normal access to his or her body is not restricted.

(v) Minimal physical contact for the purpose of safely escorting a student from one area to another.

(vi) Minimal physical contact for the purpose of assisting the student in completing a task or response.

(5) "Positive behavioral interventions and support" means a systematic approach to embed evidence-based practices and data-driven decisionmaking when addressing student behavior in order to improve school climate and culture.

(6) "School employee" means a teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, support staff member, or a provider of related services.

(7) "School health designee" means a school employee designated to assess the use of seclusion and physical restraint in the event that a school nurse is not present on a school campus at the time such measure is used.

(8) "Seclusion" means a procedure that isolates and confines a student in a designated separate room or area until he is no longer an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(9) "Seclusion room" means a room or other confined area, used on an individual basis, in which a student is removed from the regular classroom setting for a limited time to allow the student the opportunity to regain control in a safe, secure, and supervised setting and from which the student is involuntarily prevented from leaving until he is no longer at risk of imminent harm to self or others. A seclusion room shall:

(a) Be free of any object that poses a danger to the student placed in the room.

(b) Have an observation window and be of a size that is appropriate for the student's size, behavior, and chronological and developmental age.

(c) Have a ceiling height and heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting systems comparable to operating classrooms in the school.

(10) "Sensory room" means a room or space that is used for the monitored separation of a student in an unlocked setting in which school personnel may use positive behavioral interventions and support to help to calm or stabilize a student's disruptive behavior. A sensory room may also be referred to as a "calming room", "calming space", "comfort room", "comfort space", "sensory space", "timeout room", or "timeout space". The appropriate use of sensory rooms shall not be considered seclusion, which shall only be used for the limited purpose of responding to a student posing an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(11) "Written guidelines and procedures" means the written guidelines and procedures adopted by a public school governing authority regarding appropriate responses to student behavior that may require immediate intervention.

B.(1) Seclusion shall be used only:

(a) For student behaviors that involve an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(b) As a last resort when de-escalation and other positive behavioral interventions and support attempts have failed and the student continues to pose an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(2) Seclusion shall not be used as a routine school safety, discipline, or intervention measure or to address behaviors such as general noncompliance, self-stimulation, and academic refusal, and other behaviors that, while disruptive to a classroom setting or other daily school activities, do not present an imminent risk of harm to self or others. School employees shall respond to such behaviors with less stringent and less restrictive techniques, such as those included in a school's or student's crisis intervention plan or a student's Individualized Education Program or Behavioral Intervention Plan.

(3)(a) A seclusion room shall be used only as a last resort if and when less restrictive crisis intervention measures, such as positive behavioral supports, constructive and non-physical de-escalation, and restructuring of a student's environment, have failed to stop a student's actions that pose an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(b) A student shall be placed in a seclusion room only by a school employee who uses accepted methods of escorting a student to a seclusion room, placing a student in a seclusion room, and supervising a student while he is in the seclusion room.

(c) Only one student may be placed in a seclusion room at any given time, and the school employee supervising the student must be able to see and hear the student the entire time the student is placed in the seclusion room.

C.(1) Physical restraint shall be used only:

(a) When a student's behavior presents a threat of imminent risk of harm to self or others and only as a last resort to protect the safety of self and others.

(b) To the degree necessary to stop dangerous behavior.

(c) In a manner that causes no physical injury to the student, results in the least possible discomfort, and does not interfere in any way with a student's breathing or ability to communicate with others.

(d) By trained personnel, except in emergency situations in which there is not sufficient time to have trained personnel respond. Minimum training requirements shall be specified in rules promulgated by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(2) The following practices are prohibited in any public school:

(a) Any form of mechanical restraint.

(b) Physical restraint in a manner that places excessive pressure on a student's chest or back or that causes asphyxia.

(c) Physical restraint in a manner that is disproportionate to the circumstances and to a student's size, age, and severity of behavior.

D. Seclusion and physical restraint shall not be used as a form of discipline or punishment, as a threat to control, bully, or obtain behavioral compliance, or for the convenience of school personnel.

E. No school employee shall subject a student to unreasonable, unsafe, or unwarranted use of seclusion or physical restraint.

F.(1) No school employee shall seclude or physically restrain a student who is known to have any medical or psychological condition that precludes such action, as certified by a licensed pediatrician, neurologist, or mental health provider in a written statement provided to the school in which the student is enrolled.

(2) Each principal or his designee shall notify each parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled at the school with an Individualized Education Program of the prohibition of the use of seclusion and physical restraint if the student has a condition as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. Such notification shall be made annually and be incorporated into the student's Individualized Education Program meeting.

G. A school employee shall continuously monitor a student who is secluded or physically restrained for the duration of such seclusion or restraint.

H. A school employee shall release a student from seclusion and physical restraint as soon as the reasons for justifying such action have subsided.

I. Upon a student's release from seclusion or physical restraint:

(1)(a) The school employee who secluded or physically restrained the student shall notify the school principal and the principal or his designee shall notify electronically the director or supervisor of special education as soon as is practicable but no later than one hour following the release of the student, or the end of the same school day, whichever occurs first.

(b) The school employee who secluded or physically restrained the student or a school administrator shall notify the parent or legal guardian of the student via a phone call as soon as is practicable but no later than the end of the same school day.

(2) A school nurse or school health designee shall visit the student as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the same school day, to look for and document any signs of injury or distress.

J. A school employee who secluded or physically restrained a student shall document and report the incident in accordance with the policies adopted by the public school governing authority. The employee shall submit such report to the school principal by the end of the next school day following the incident. The principal or his designee shall submit the report to the parent by the end of the next school day following receipt of the report. At a minimum, the incident report shall include the following:

(1) The name, age, grade, gender, race, and disability of the student secluded or restrained.

(2) The date, time, location, and duration of the seclusion or physical restraint.

(3) The name and title of each school employee involved and who was a witness.

(4) A description of the events requiring the use of seclusion or physical restraint, including a description of the procedures and types of restraint used, any actions taken in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, and the student's behavior that suggest the student posed an imminent risk of harm to self or others.

(5) A description of any student injuries, visible marks, or medical emergencies that occurred during or after the seclusion or physical restraint.

(6) A description of the actions taken immediately following the student's release from seclusion or physical restraint, including actions to notify the student's parent or legal guardian.

(7) A description of the student's actions immediately following the student's release from seclusion or restraint.

K. A school principal or his designee and the director or supervisor of special education shall review video and audio footage, if available, to ensure policies and proper techniques were followed during the incident.

L. If a student is involved in three incidents in a school year involving the use of seclusion or physical restraint as a result of posing an imminent risk of harm to self or others, the special education teacher shall send prior written notice of the intention to call an Individualized Education Program team meeting to the student's parent or legal guardian, and at such meeting, his Individualized Education Program team shall review and revise the student's Behavioral Intervention Plan, including any crisis intervention plans, to include any appropriate and necessary behavioral supports. Thereafter, if the student's challenging behavior continues or escalates, requiring repeated use of seclusion or physical restraint, the director or supervisor of special education or his designee shall review the student's plans at least once every three weeks.

M.(1) Each public school governing authority shall adopt written guidelines and procedures regarding:

(a) Proper use of crisis intervention plans, including the use of positive behavioral interventions and support, sensory rooms, seclusion, and physical restraint, and how these strategies differ.

(b) All seclusion and physical restraint safety, reporting, and notification requirements, including any follow-up procedures.

(c) An explanation of the methods of physical restraint and the school employee training requirements relative to the use of restraint.

(d) An explanation of how school employees may utilize and be trained in a crisis intervention training program.

(2)(a) These guidelines and procedures shall be provided to the state Department of Education, all school employees, and every parent or legal guardian of a student with an exceptionality.

(b) At the beginning of each school year, each public school governing authority shall post on its website the guidelines and procedures adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection.

(3) Each public school governing authority shall annually submit prior to the beginning of each school year its guidelines and procedures adopted in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection to its special education advisory council provided for in R.S. 17:1944.1.

(4) The state department shall maintain on its website, and annually distribute to public school governing authorities, updated guidance for recommended best practices relative to the use of seclusion and physical restraint for students with exceptionalities.

N.(1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules establishing guidelines and procedures for public school systems to follow regarding the reporting of incidents of seclusion and physical restraint, including specific data elements to be included in such reporting.

(2) Each public school governing authority, in accordance with state board policy, shall report all instances where seclusion or physical restraint is used to address student behavior to the state Department of Education.

(3)(a) The state Department of Education shall maintain a database of all reported incidents of seclusion and physical restraint of students with exceptionalities and shall disaggregate the data for analysis by school; student age, race, ethnicity, and gender; student disability, where applicable; and any involved school employees.

(b)(i) Based upon the data collected, the state Department of Education shall annually compile a comprehensive report regarding the use of seclusion and physical restraint of students with exceptionalities, which shall at a minimum include the following:

(aa) The number of incidents of physical restraint disaggregated by school system; student age, race, ethnicity, gender, and student disability classification.

(bb) The number of incidents of seclusion disaggregated by school system; student age, race, ethnicity, gender, and student disability classification.

(cc) A list of the school systems and charter schools that have complied with the reporting requirements pursuant to Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

(ii) The state Department of Education shall post the annual report on its website and submit a written copy to the Senate and House committees on education and the Special Education Advisory Panel.

O.(1) The department may develop a crisis intervention training program that may be used by each public school governing authority. If the department develops such a program, at a minimum, it shall cover the following:

(a) Teach evidence-based techniques that are shown to be effective in the prevention and safe use of seclusion and physical restraint.

(b) Provide evidence-based, competency-based skills training relating to positive support, conflict prevention, de-escalation, and crisis response techniques including but not limited to the following:

(i) Guidelines on understanding when there is an imminent danger of serious physical harm to a student or others and when to intervene in such a scenario.

(ii) An emphasis on safety and respect for the right and dignity of each person involved in an incident that involves the use of seclusion or physical restraint on a student.

(iii) An emphasis on using the least restrictive form of intervention and taking incremental steps in an intervention.

(iv) Alternatives to the use of seclusion and physical restraint.

(v) Strategies for the safe implementation of restrictive interventions.

(vi) The use of emergency safety interventions that include continuous assessment and monitoring of the physical well-being of a student and the safe use of seclusion and physical restraint throughout the duration of a restrictive intervention.

(vii) Prohibited actions relative to seclusion and physical restraint.

(viii) Debriefing strategies and the importance and purpose of debriefing.

(ix) Best practices for documentation of instances of the use of seclusion of and physical restraint on a student.

(x) Measurable learning objectives for participants.

(xi) An overview of seclusion rooms, sensory rooms, the differences between them, and authorizations and prohibitions relative to the use of such rooms as provided in this Section and in each public school governing authority's relevant guidelines and procedures.

(2) If the department develops a program as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, certain public school employees as designated by each principal or his designee are required to complete the program. The department shall provide the program at no cost to each public school governing authority.

Acts 2011, No. 328, §1, eff. June 29, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 1, §1; Acts 2016, No. 522, §§1, 2, eff. June 13, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1; Acts 2025, No. 210, §2; Acts 2025, No. 479, §1, eff. Dec. 1, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:407 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 407
Legislative intent
Status: in_force

A. The legislature finds and declares as follows:

(1) Developmentally appropriate early childhood programs have produced sizeable gains in the skill levels of educationally disadvantaged and at-risk children.

(2) Early childhood education programs facilitate the development of children who are economically disadvantaged and increase the chances that they will be more successful students and ultimately more productive citizens.

(3) Funding successful and innovative programs is required to increase the learning opportunities of children who are economically disadvantaged and provide for their optimal development.

(4) Many preschool children live in families in which both parents or the primary caregiver are employed such that these children require full day care in a developmentally appropriate environment.

B. Therefore, it is the intention of the legislature that every preschool child in Louisiana who is economically disadvantaged should have access to an educationally appropriate early childhood program which shall include but not be limited to parental involvement, center-based programs, and before and after care.

Acts 1992, No. 970, §1, eff. July 9, 1992; Acts 2018, No. 307, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:433 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 433
Outstanding state teacher award
Status: in_force

A. Beginning with the 1986-1987 school year and annually thereafter, one outstanding state elementary teacher, one outstanding state middle or junior high school teacher, one outstanding state high school teacher, and one outstanding state teacher shall be selected from each year's winners of the outstanding local teacher of the year awards.

B.(1) The state Department of Education with the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish a selection process for naming the four outstanding state teachers annually, which shall include regional selection committees and a state selection committee appointed by the state superintendent of education and objective procedures to consider the following factors:

(a) Teaching skill and dedication.

(b) Plans to continue active teaching status.

(c) Respect of and rapport with students.

(d) Respect of and rapport with parents.

(e) Respect of and rapport with coworkers.

(f) Community leadership.

(g) Contributions to school groups and activities.

(h) Affiliations with educational organizations.

(i) Student achievement.

(2) The final selection process shall also include a formal mechanism to obtain teacher, parental, and community recommendations and opinion. Award recipients shall be suitably recognized at the state level by an appropriate ceremony for that purpose.

C. The state teacher of the year shall participate in any national teacher of the year contest, when appropriate.

D. Monetary awards shall be provided to the state teachers of the year at the state level when funds are available, and may be provided from private sources subject to the approval of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Such monetary award shall not be a violation of R.S. 42:1111 or any other provision of the Code of Governmental Ethics.

Acts 1986, No. 134, §1, eff. June 26, 1986; Acts 1986, No. 308, §1, eff. June 30, 1986; Acts 1995, No. 289, §1; Acts 2003, No. 743, §1, eff. June 27, 2003.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:423 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 423
Persons entering military service; right to prior service credit
Status: in_force

Anything in this Part to the contrary notwithstanding, any person who shall have served on active duty in the armed forces of the United States during World War II or the Korean or Viet Nam conflicts shall receive credit under the minimum salary schedule provided for in R.S. 17:419 through 422 for the period that he served in the armed forces of the United States.

The term "person", as used in this Section, shall mean and include only a person who was a regularly employed teacher, as that term is defined in R.S. 17:441, by a school system of this state prior to the time of induction for service in World War II or the Korean or Viet Nam conflicts; provided, however, that notwithstanding any other provision of this Section any credit which has heretofore been granted by any parish or city school board under the minimum salary schedule established by R.S. 17:419 through 421 for military service rendered prior to the effective date of Act No. 585 of 1972 shall not be denied, and if such credit has heretofore been discontinued it shall be restored and henceforth continued in effect just as if such credit had never been interrupted, stopped, or denied.

Added by Acts 1956, No. 286, §1. Amended by Acts 1972, No. 585, §1; Acts 1974, No. 602, §1; Acts 1976, No. 148, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3911 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3911
Data collection system; establishment
Status: in_force

A. The department shall establish a standardized data collection and analysis system which shall be used to collect the data provided in Subsection B of this Section and shall be the basis for the creation of the progress profiles provided for in this Subpart.

B.(1) The data collection system shall provide for but shall not be limited to the regular collection of the following information on a per school basis, including schools and educational programs located within secure care facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of juvenile justice:

(a) The results of all tests required by law or board regulation, including results from any state required criterion-referenced test, norm-referenced test, and graduation exit exam.

(b) College readiness test information, including American College Test scores.

(c) School performance scores pursuant to R.S. 17:10.1.

(d) Dropout rates, as defined by board rule.

(e) Student attendance rates.

(f) High school completion rates.

(g) Faculty information.

(h) Financial information.

(i) Student discipline information, in total and by unduplicated counts, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, sex, English learner status, and students with exceptionalities, excluding gifted and talented, in accordance with data collection conducted pursuant to 20 U.S.C. 3413(c)(1), including but not limited to the following:

(i) In-school suspensions.

(ii) Out-of-school suspensions.

(iii) In-school expulsions.

(iv) Out-of-school expulsions.

(v) Removals to an alternative education setting by school personnel.

(vi) Referrals to law enforcement.

(vii) School-related arrests.

(j) Class size information.

(k) Number of students in the general population and number of students in classes for students with exceptionalities.

(l) Number of school resource officers.

(m) Such other data as the board may approve.

(2) The data collection system may also provide for but shall not be limited to the regular collection of the following information:

(a) Faculty attendance rates.

(b) Number of students in advanced placement classes.

(c) Number of National Merit Scholarship finalists and semi-finalists.

(d) Socio-demographic student information.

(e) Such other data as the board may approve.

(3) Each city and parish school board shall ensure that all schools under its jurisdiction accurately report student discipline information, including referrals by teachers for serious disciplinary offenses, using the uniform reporting form developed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 17:416(A)(4)(a)(iii). Each board shall have school-level summaries of the reported student discipline information prepared for its use and shall formally review and analyze the summary information on a regular basis. Upon request by the state Department of Education, the student discipline information required by this Paragraph also shall be collected as part of the data collection system provided for by this Section. The provisions of this Paragraph shall apply to schools and educational programs located within secure care facilities under the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of juvenile justice.

(4)(a) The department shall annually collect the following data elements for students with an exceptionality by each disability classification, including breakouts of each speech or language impairment category and breakouts of each intellectual disability category, not including students identified exclusively as gifted and talented, for each city, parish, or other local public school board. The following data elements shall be reported for each disability classification in total as well as by unduplicated counts by race, gender, age, and sex:

(i) Setting.

(ii) Exit code.

(iii) Participation in each assessment type by grade and subject.

(iv) Scoring at the proficient level on each test administered pursuant to the school and district accountability program by grade and subject.

(v) Eligibility for an extended school year program.

(vi) Attending extended school year program.

(vii) Receiving initial evaluations, re-evaluations and waivers from evaluations.

(b) The data collection system shall also include information on student discipline for each public school by percentage and unduplicated counts of total students with exceptionalities receiving discipline, including:

(i) In-school suspensions, broken down by categories of ten days or less and more than ten days.

(ii) Out-of-school suspensions, broken down by categories of ten days or less and more than ten days.

(iii) In-school expulsions, broken down by categories of ten days or less and more than ten days.

(iv) Out-of-school expulsions, broken down by categories of ten days or less and more than ten days.

(v) Restraint procedures.

(vi) Seclusion procedures.

(vii) Unilateral removals to an interim alternative educational setting by school personnel by disability classification and by reason for removal.

(c) The data collection system shall also include:

(i) Percentage and unduplicated count of special education teachers by qualification level for each city, parish, or other local public school system.

(ii) Data and information regarding city, parish, or other local public school board high cost assistance requests and awards including but not limited to the unduplicated count of students included in the request, the total amount requested, and the amount awarded.

(d) The department shall annually compile a report that includes data on each element gathered from the latest collection cycle and trend data from the three prior years. The report shall be sent to each public school governing authority and published on the department's website.

(e) The requirements of this Paragraph shall not be construed to violate the provisions of R.S. 17:3914.

(f) For any fiscal year in which the department fails to collect and report the required data, the state treasurer shall withhold an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the state general funds appropriated to the state Department of Education through the general appropriations bill for "STATE ACTIVITIES" which are allocated for travel expenses, until such time as the department complies with the provisions of this Paragraph.

C. The department shall:

(1) Develop all procedures and formats for the defining and reporting of all data and statistical components and annually review them.

(2) Assist each local board and the office of juvenile justice in compiling the information by identifying and providing any required and discretionary information currently collected at the state level.

(3) Perform the statistical analysis necessary to aggregate the reported data.

(4) Coordinate all existing and new data collection efforts so as to minimize paperwork at the school and school system level.

(5) Obtain concurrence of the city, parish, or other local public school system prior to changing the exit code assigned to a student by the school system.

D. The board shall review and approve, modify, or reject the data collection system created by the department pursuant to this Section.

Acts 1988, No. 659, §1, eff. July 15, 1988; Acts 1992, No. 325, §1, eff. June 17, 1992; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 40, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1373, §§1, 2, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2016, No. 485, §1, eff. June 13, 2016; Acts 2016, No. 500, §3; Acts 2018, No. 660, §1, eff. June 1, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1; Acts 2019, No. 148, §1; Acts 2023, No. 97, §1, eff. June 6, 2023.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3351.20 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3351.20
Mandatory fees
Status: in_force

A.(1) In addition to the authority granted by any other provision of law, including but not limited to R.S. 17:3139.5, 3351.7, and 3351.8, and in accordance with Article VII, Section 2.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Legislature of Louisiana hereby authorizes the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges to establish at each institution under their respective management and supervision mandatory fees to be charged to students enrolled at such institutions and to adjust the amounts of such fees as they deem necessary. Such authority shall apply for the 2015-2016 through the 2019-2020 academic years only, and the authority to increase fees pursuant thereto shall terminate on June 30, 2020.

(2) The revenue per full-time equivalent student from all tuition and fee amounts charged to a student plus the revenue per full-time equivalent student from state and local appropriations shall not exceed the national average of total per full-time equivalent student revenue from state appropriations, local appropriations, tuition, and fees as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics by Carnegie classification, which maximum amount may be annually adjusted based on the most recent full-time equivalent funding statistics as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics and adjusted to the current fiscal year using the Higher Education Price Index. This Paragraph shall not apply to the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, the pharmacy program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, or the Southern University Law Center.

(3) The total of all tuition and fee amounts charged to a student enrolled in the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport, the pharmacy program at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, or the Southern University Law Center shall not exceed the tuition and fees charged, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics, of national peers selected by the institution, which maximum amount may be annually adjusted based on the most recent tuition and fee amounts per full-time equivalent student as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics and adjusted to the current fiscal year using the Higher Education Price Index.

B.(1) The authority granted by Subsection A of this Section includes the authority to impose per-credit fees, to impose differential fees for certain programs exclusive of others, and to charge proportional amounts for part-time students and for summer sessions.

(2) The authority granted by Subsection A of this Section is not subject to any limitation on the authority to establish fees and set fee amounts provided for in R.S. 17:3139 et seq.

C. Each management board shall establish a need-based financial assistance fund at each of its member institutions. Each institution shall allocate to its fund funds from its operating budget in an amount not less than five percent of revenues realized by the institution from fees assessed pursuant to this Section. Such funds shall be used to provide need-based financial assistance to students at that institution who are eligible to receive a Pell Grant.

D. No revenues generated by fees imposed pursuant to this Section shall be used for any other purpose except for support of the university at which the fees were collected.

E. The authority granted in Subsection A of this Section includes the authority to impose a fee for the administration of any student surveys required or authorized by law.

F. Each postsecondary education management board shall submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education not later than February fifteenth of 2018, 2019, and 2020 regarding how the fees authorized by this Section are being implemented at each institution under its supervision and management, including an overview of the distribution of the monies in the need-based financial assistance fund as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

Acts 2015, No. 377, §1, eff. July 1, 2015; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1; Acts 2017, No. 293, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3089 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3089
ABLE Account Advisory Council; creation; powers
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created the ABLE Account Advisory Council, which shall advise and consult with the authority relative to the authority's administration of and adoption of rules pertaining to the program.

B. The membership of the advisory council shall consist of the following persons:

(1) The chairperson of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council or his designee.

(2) The executive director of the governor's office of disability affairs or his designee.

(3) The executive director of The Arc of Louisiana or his designee.

(4) The executive director of People First of Louisiana or his designee.

(5) A person with a disability selected by the executive director of People First of Louisiana.

(6) A parent or family member of a person with a disability selected by the chairperson of the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.

(7) One member who is affiliated with Louisiana Rehabilitation Services or the Disability Program Navigator Initiative, or any successors of these, appointed by the secretary of Louisiana Works.

(8) An officer of a bank in Louisiana who is a member of the Louisiana Bankers Association and who is nominated by the association.

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

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

(11) The state treasurer.

C. The advisory council shall meet at least annually at the call of the chairman and at such other times as the chairman or the advisory council determines necessary. The advisory council may establish and delegate to an executive committee such duties and responsibilities as the authority determines appropriate.

D. A majority of the advisory council shall constitute a quorum of the advisory council, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be necessary for any action taken by the advisory council. A majority of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum of the executive committee, and the affirmative vote of a majority of the executive committee members present shall be necessary for any action taken by the executive committee. No vacancy in the membership of the advisory council or the executive committee shall impair the rights of a quorum to exercise all rights and perform all duties of the advisory council or the executive committee respectively.

Acts 2016, No. 604, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:392.11 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 392.11
Dyslexia; screening, diagnosis, and reporting
Status: in_force

A. As used in this Part:

(1) "Dyslexia" means an unexpected difficulty in reading for an individual who has the intelligence to be a much better reader, most commonly caused by a difficulty in phonological processing, which affects the ability of an individual to speak, read, and spell.

(2) "Phonological processing" means the appreciation of the individual sounds of spoken and written language.

B.(1) The state Department of Education shall select a dyslexia screener with an area under the curve of 0.80 or above and provide the screener, at no cost, to each public school. The dyslexia screener shall be administered to each student by a classroom teacher in the second half of kindergarten or upon request of a teacher or a parent or legal guardian. This screener shall not be a progress monitoring tool but shall:

(a) Be developed solely for dyslexia.

(b) Be evidence-based with proven, published psychometric validity.

(c) Be used for the sole purpose of determining whether a student is at risk for dyslexia.

(2) If the results of such screening indicate that a student is at risk for dyslexia, the parent or legal guardian shall be notified within thirty days of the results of the screening, and, if requested by the parent or legal guardian, a core assessment for the diagnosis of dyslexia shall be administered as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

C.(1) The parent may select either the school or a vendor or professional approved by the department to administer the core assessment. The administrator of the core assessment, in order to determine whether the student has dyslexia, shall determine through history, observation, and psychometric assessment if there are unexpected difficulties in reading and associated linguistic problems at the level of phonological processing that are unrelated to the student's intelligence, age, and grade level. The core assessment shall not be based on a single test score or specific number of characteristics and shall include all of the following:

(a) Tests of language, particularly phonemic assessment, real words and pseudowords, oral reading fluency, and intellectual ability.

(b) An academic performance review.

(c) An interview with the student's parent or legal guardian.

(2) The department shall do the following in accordance with rules that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt for such purposes:

(a) Establish qualifications for vendors and professionals who may administer the core assessment as provided in this Subsection and provide a process for their approval.

(b) Establish a payment amount and provide for reimbursement for the administration of the core assessment.

(3) If the core assessment is administered by the school, the department shall reimburse the school for the cost of the assessment. If the core assessment is administered by an approved vendor or professional, the department shall reimburse the parent or legal guardian for the cost of the assessment. The reimbursement amount shall not exceed the payment amount established in accordance with Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

D.(1) Each public school governing authority shall submit a report to the state Department of Education by December fifteenth annually relative to the occurrence of dyslexia. The report shall include numbers of students of all grade levels identified as dyslexic, either pursuant to the provisions of this Section or by any other means, and shall include, per grade, all of the following:

(a) For students identified as dyslexic through a Section 504 Plan:

(i) The number initially identified during the preceding school year.

(ii) The total number.

(b) For students with an Individualized Education Plan identified as having a specific learning disability, dyslexia:

(i) The number initially identified during the preceding school year.

(ii) The total number.

(2) The state Department of Education shall compile the reports received pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection and report such data to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education no later than March first annually.

(3) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if the number of students in a grade level identified as dyslexic is not zero and not more than ten, the report shall not indicate an exact number but shall indicate that there are fewer than eleven students in the grade identified as dyslexic.

Acts 2023, No. 266, §1; Acts 2024, No. 517, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:414.3 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 414.3
School fund; management, expenditure, and accounting; duties of school principal; accounts for certain closed schools; committees; creation and authority; policies
Status: in_force

A. The principal of every public elementary and secondary school shall maintain a school fund as provided for in this Section for the management of any money which accrues to benefit his school. The money provided by the state or the city or parish school system for support of the regular instructional program or the school facility shall not be included in the school fund provided for in this Section; such money shall be managed as directed by the agency from which it is received.

B.(1) The monies in the school fund shall be deposited in a single bank account, preferably interest-bearing, on which checks may be drawn. The bank shall be selected in the manner required by the policy or direction of the school board or, if there is no policy or direction, at the discretion of the principal.

(2) Separate records or ledgers shall be maintained by the principal, or his designee from among the school staff, for each of the following sources of deposits into the school fund account:

(a) Each club, organization, association, class, athletic team, or other organizational unit within the school, the existence of which complies with school and school board policy; the membership of which is either students, faculty, or employees of the school; and which generates money by collecting dues, conducting fundraisers, charging admission, or some other money generating activity for a purpose which the entity intends to control.

(b) Each donation made to the school by an entity outside the school, whether it be a parents club, community, business, or civic organization, or other donor, when such donation is made for a specific or restricted use or purpose.

(c) All donations made by any entity referred to in Subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this Paragraph as well as all monies raised by the school population generally which are unrestricted and which are intended for discretionary use to benefit the school, its students, faculty, employees, programs, or facilities.

(d) All monies raised in a school-wide effort for a specific use or purpose.

(e) Any other money source, temporary or permanent, which is identifiable, approved by the principal, and has a need to maintain a record or ledger.

(3)(a) No money shall be drawn on the school fund account without a request therefor; no withdrawal shall occur unless the check carries the signature of the principal, or the administrator who assumes his duties during his absence.

(b) No monies shall be drawn on the school fund account unless the request for withdrawal of funds carries two signatures, one of which shall always be the principal's.

(c) The other signature shall be:

(i) In the case of a request for withdrawal by an entity which has deposited pursuant to the status described in R.S. 17:414.3(B)(2)(a) and (e), an officer, member, or sponsor of the entity, designated by the entity.

(ii) In the case of a request for withdrawal for the pursuit of a restricted use or purpose as described in R.S. 17:414.3(B)(2)(b), another school administrator, faculty member, or employee who is approved by the donor and is familiar with the purpose of the donation.

(iii) In the case of a request for withdrawal of money deposited pursuant to R.S. 17:414.3(B)(2)(c) or (d), any other school administrator, faculty member, or employee.

(d) Withdrawals may be made for estimated amounts of anticipated need, but in such cases shall be accounted for with receipts, which accounting shall be reflected in the school fund records and which receipts shall be retained with the record until the report provided for in R.S. 17:414.3(C) is approved by the superintendent.

(e)(i) Money deposited in the school fund pursuant to R.S. 17:414.3(B)(2)(a), (b), (d), and (e) shall be used according to the purpose for which it was generated or for the purposes selected by the depositing entities, provided such expenditures are approved by the principal as indicated by his signature on checks for withdrawals.

(ii) Money deposited in the school fund pursuant to R.S. 17:414.3(B)(2)(c) may be expended at the discretion of the principal provided such expenditures are for the benefit of all or any of the school's students, faculty, staff, facility, or program and provided the ledger reflects the expenditure.

(4) Deposits in the school fund account shall be made by the principal, or his designee from among the school staff.

(5) Every deposit or withdrawal from the school fund account shall be entered in the separately maintained record as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

(6) The records of the school fund shall be reconciled monthly with the school fund account statement of the bank regarding activity in the school fund account. Bank statements shall be signed by the principal, once reconciled with the records, and retained with the school fund record. The school fund records shall be reviewed annually by the principal and one other member of his administrative staff. Such review shall be reflected in the record by the signature of both reviewers.

(7)(a) Any amount of money in the school fund account in excess of that needed to permit the access described in this Section may be invested by the principal in accordance with R.S. 33:2955. However, balances in the school fund account shall include all monies deposited pursuant to R.S. 17:414.3(2)(a), (b), and (e) unless the depositing entity approves the investment of any portion of its deposits as provided in this Paragraph, which approval shall be in writing and maintained with the school fund record.

(b) Any investments made pursuant to this Paragraph shall be recorded in the records of the school fund, shall be reported as required in Subsection C of this Section, and shall be accounted for in any review or reconciliation of the school fund.

(c) Earnings on any investment made pursuant to this Paragraph shall be considered the same as, and may be expended as, provided in R.S. 17:413.2(B)(3)(e)(ii).

C. Each school principal shall report on his school's fund annually to the superintendent or a member of his staff designated by him, at a regular time designated by the superintendent. The report shall be sufficiently detailed to notify the superintendent of account balances, significant deposits, significant expenditures, and any unresolved errors or discrepancies. The superintendent shall approve such reports in writing to the school within two months of receiving the report or shall notify the principal of any further information needed or examination required. The superintendent shall be responsible for notifying the school board of the apparent need for further examination, supervision, or intervention. The school board may require and provide for an audit of the school fund of any school within its jurisdiction at any time.

D. No agency of state government, or any of its branches, shall supervise, regulate, or audit the school funds provided for in this Section, except upon request of a city or parish school board.

E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to permit an expenditure that is otherwise prohibited by law.

F.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, any monies deposited in a school fund account pursuant to Subsections A through E of this Section and that cannot be accessed and expended in accordance with the procedures and for the purposes as specified in such Subsections due to the school's closure for reasons of natural catastrophe or disaster as certified by the state superintendent of education shall be placed under the control of the city, parish, or other local public school board having jurisdiction over the school prior to its closure, and such funds shall be accessible for investment, withdrawal, and expenditure in accordance with the provisions of this Subsection. The school fund account of any school transferred to the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District within five months after a natural catastrophe or disaster as certified by the state superintendent of education shall be placed under the control of the superintendent of the Recovery School District or other Recovery School District employee holding the equivalent position.

(2)(a) Each city, parish, and other local public school board or the superintendent of the Recovery School District or other Recovery School District employee holding the equivalent position having control of one or more school fund accounts pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall create a committee composed of five members as follows:

(i) The superintendent of the school system or the Recovery School District superintendent or other Recovery School District employee holding the equivalent position, as applicable.

(ii) The chief financial officer of the school system or other school system employee holding the equivalent position or the chief financial officer of the Recovery School District or other Recovery School District employee holding the equivalent position, as applicable.

(iii) A member of the local community appointed by the school board or the Recovery School District superintendent or other Recovery School District employee holding the equivalent position, as applicable.

(iv) A member of the city, parish, or other local school board appointed by the president thereof, or the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or his designee from among the members of that board.

(v) The state superintendent of education or his designee from among the employees of the Department of Education.

(b) The appointed members of the committee shall serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority, and a vacancy in the appointed position shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(c) The committee shall elect a chairman and such other officers as it deems necessary. An official action of the committee shall require the favorable vote of at least three members.

(d) The committee shall meet on call of the chairman and may meet at such other times as determined by the committee by formal action. The initial meeting of the committee shall be called by the superintendent of the school system or the superintendent of the Recovery School District or other Recovery School District employee holding the equivalent position, as applicable.

(e) All meetings and other activities of the committee shall be subject to applicable provisions of the Open Meetings Law (R.S. 42:11 et seq.) and the Public Records Law (R.S. 44:1 et seq.).

(f)(i) The committee shall have the authority to invest, withdraw, and expend the monies in the closed school's school fund account with first priority given to meeting the financial obligations incurred in connection with such account prior to the school's closure, if applicable. The committee shall designate two of its members to have signatory authority over the school fund account.

(ii) Committee members with designated signatory authority over the school fund account shall fulfill all requirements prescribed by the federally insured financial institution where the account is established with respect to drawing funds from the account within thirty days of such designation.

(iii) No money shall be drawn on the school fund account without a request therefor approved by the committee, and no withdrawal shall occur unless the check carries the signature of both committee members with designated signatory authority.

(g) All existing financial obligations shall be met as soon as possible after a school's closing.

(h) Any monies remaining in the account after such financial obligations have been met shall be retained by the committee for a period of four years from the date of the school's closure. Schools that reopen prior to such four-year period shall be given control over the school's school fund account immediately upon reopening. The funds in any school fund account of a school that does not reopen within four years after being closed may be expended by the committee for purposes which directly benefit students, but shall not be used for any recurring purposes. If multiple schools in a school system are closed, the school fund accounts for such schools shall be managed as a single account after the four-year period has ended. Any expenditure of funds from a school fund account in excess of the fund's outstanding obligations shall be used for purposes which directly benefit students, but shall not be used for any recurring purposes. The committee shall offer to return to the donor any restricted donations made pursuant to the provisions of Subsection B of this Section prior to the use of such donated funds by the committee for any purpose contrary to the restrictions on such donation.

(i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, actions for the recovery of obligations payable from the school fund account of a school closed pursuant to this Subsection are subject to a liberative prescription of two years commencing on the date the payment is exigible. The continuity of services by the obligee shall not prevent prescription of any obligation due to that portion of such services already rendered on the date the school closed. The provisions of this Subparagraph shall apply to all obligations and accounts receivable in existence at the time of the school closing.

(j) The committee shall have the authority to invest the funds in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph (B)(7) of this Section.

(3) Each city, parish, and other local public school board and the administering agency of the Recovery School District having control of one or more school fund accounts pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall adopt policies necessary to implement the provisions of this Subsection. Such policies shall include but shall not be limited to procedures consistent with the provisions of this Subsection for the investment, withdrawal, expenditure, and proper accounting of the monies in the school fund account, and the minimum evidence necessary to establish an obligation.

(4) The provisions of this Subsection are subject to the provisions of R.S. 6:317 and shall not conflict with or alter the contractual provisions of any agreement entered into with any federally insured financial institution holding school funds pursuant to a deposit agreement, time certificate of deposit, investment contract, or any similar agreement.

(5) The provisions of this Subsection shall be retroactive to August 29, 2005.

Acts 1990, No. 1066, §1, eff. July 27, 1990; Acts 2007, No. 341, §1, eff. July 9, 2007.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3140.2 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3140.2
Advisory Commission on Proprietary Schools; creation; membership; terms; rules and regulations
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby established under the jurisdiction of the board the Advisory Commission on Proprietary Schools, comprised of nine members to be appointed as follows:

(1) One member by the commissioner of higher education.

(2) Two members by the board.

(3) Three members by the Louisiana Association of Private Colleges and Schools.

(4) One member by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges.

(5) One member by the State Association of Better Business Bureaus.

(6) One member by the Louisiana Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.

B.(1) Each member shall serve for a four-year term and shall serve until his successor is appointed or qualified.

(2) Any vacancy occurring in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the manner of original appointment.

C. Members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in attending meetings of the commission.

D. The commission shall elect annually from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman.

E. The commission shall be advisory in nature, but may have such powers and duties as set forth in this Chapter, subject to approval of and oversight by the board. The board may ratify, annul, or modify any decision, finding, recommendation, or order of the commission as it deems appropriate. Any action taken by the commission pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall not be effective until ratified by the board.

F.(1) The board shall adopt rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act as deemed necessary to administer the provisions of this Chapter and the functions of the commission. The rules and regulations shall be interpreted and implemented to promote high-quality instruction, consumer protection, and student success. The rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to:

(a) Establishing acceptable standards for the conduct of staff and for the operation of schools.

(b) Providing for investigation of complaints related to the established standards and for the disposition of complaints.

(c) Providing remedies including but not limited to restitution orders, fines, and other appropriate measures for violation of established standards.

(d) Providing for a student complaint procedure which shall be applicable to all licensed proprietary schools and include a mechanism for informing all students of the availability of the student complaint procedure.

(2) The board shall post the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this Subsection on the board's website.

G. The board shall provide for the monitoring of all proprietary schools to ensure that all advertising and representations made on behalf of a school to a prospective student are truthful and free from misrepresentation and fraud.

Acts 2019, No. 437, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3399.18 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3399.18
Louisiana Power-Based Violence Review Panel
Status: in_force

A. The Louisiana Power-Based Violence Review Panel is hereby created under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents.

B. The panel shall be composed of the following members:

(1) The president of the Louisiana Senate or his designee.

(2) The speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives or his designee.

(3) The chair of the Louisiana Senate Select Committee on Women and Children or his designee.

(4) The chair of the Louisiana House Select Committee on Women and Children or his designee.

(5) The attorney general or his designee.

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

(7) The president of each public postsecondary education management system or his designee.

(8) A student representative from each of the postsecondary management boards appointed by the respective board's president.

(9) The superintendent of the Louisiana State Police or his designee.

(10) The president of the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police or his designee.

(11) A member of the Domestic Violence Prevention Commission appointed by the secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services.

(12) A licensed social worker with experience related to power-based violence appointed by the president of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Chapter, National Association of Social Workers.

(13) A licensed psychologist with experience related to power-based violence, appointed by the chair of the Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists.

(14) The executive director of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault or his designee.

(15) The president of Sexual Trauma Awareness and Response or his designee.

(16) The governor or his designee.

(17) A Title IX coordinator representing each public postsecondary education system, appointed by the president of the system.

C. Members shall serve without compensation, except for per diem or reimbursement of expenses to which they may be entitled as members of the constituent organizations.

D. A majority of the total membership shall constitute a quorum of the panel, and any official action taken by the panel shall require an affirmative vote of the majority of the quorum present and voting.

E. The panel shall elect a chairman, and any other officers deemed necessary, from among the membership.

F. The panel shall meet at least two times per year upon the call of the chair or as provided by panel rules.

G. The panel may adopt rules of procedures for its operation.

H. The Board of Regents shall provide staff support to the panel.

I. The panel shall:

(1) Evaluate policies and practices of institutions of public postsecondary education, public postsecondary education management boards, and the Board of Regents regarding reporting, investigating, and adjudicating power-based violence by and against students and recommend revisions to improve such policies and practices.

(2) Advise and assist institutions of public postsecondary education, public postsecondary education management boards, and the Board of Regents in coordinating procedures to provide power-based violence prevention programs.

(3) Serve as an advisory agency to the legislature, the governor, the Board of Regents, and the public postsecondary education management boards regarding power-based violence.

J. To the extent permitted by and in accordance with the Public Records Law, the Board of Regents, each public postsecondary education management board, each public postsecondary education institution, and each law enforcement or criminal justice agency located within a parish with a public postsecondary education institution campus shall make available all facts, records, information, and data required by the panel and in all ways cooperate with the panel in carrying out the functions and duties imposed by this Part.

Acts 2021, No. 441, §1, eff. June 22, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 689, §1, eff. June 18, 2022.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3100.9 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3100.9
Annual financial report; audits
Status: in_force

The authority shall be audited in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 24:513. The audit shall be conducted in conjunction with the audit conducted pursuant to R.S. 17:3099.1. A copy of the audit report shall be provided to the governor and the legislature pursuant to R.S. 24:772. Copies of the audited financial report also shall be made available, upon request, to persons entering into contracts with the authority and to prospective account owners in education savings accounts.

Acts 2018, No. 687, §2, eff. May 30, 2018.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2188 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2188
Incontestability; contract
Status: in_force

Bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness issued hereunder shall not be invalid for any irregularity or defect in the proceedings for the issuance and sale thereof, and shall be incontestable in the hands of bona fide purchasers or holders for value. The provisions of the resolution authorizing the issuance of said bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness shall create a valid contract between the board of supervisors and each and every holder of said bonds, and the provisions of such contract shall be enforceable by appropriate proceedings to be taken by such holder or holders either at law or in equity. The said bonds, notes, or certificates of indebtedness shall be a valid obligation of the board of supervisors in favor of any holder for value, and no court shall enjoin the payment of the principal or interest thereof, or the setting aside of the revenues pledged to the payment thereof.

Acts 1968, No. 331, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3127 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3127
Power with respect to new institutions
Status: in_force

The Board of Regents shall have the power to study the need for and feasibility of any new institution of post-secondary education, including branches of institutions and conversion of two-year institutions to institutions offering longer courses of study. If the creation of a new institution, the addition of another management board, or the transfer of an existing institution from one board to another is proposed the Board of Regents shall report its written findings and recommendations to the legislature within one year. Only after the report has been filed, or, after one year if no report is filed, may the legislature take affirmative action on such a proposal and then only by law enacted by two-thirds of the elected members of each house.

Added by Acts 1975, No. 313, §1, eff. July 17, 1975.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:183.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 183.5
Methods of program development; options to aid in curriculum design; career major teachers
Status: in_force

A. To develop and implement any career major program, school principals and superintendents may choose one of the following methods:

(1) Work as a system in developing a system-wide program.

(2) Work as individual schools in developing individual school programs.

(3) Work as groups of high schools in developing various consortia programs.

B. The following options may be incorporated into school planning to aid in curriculum design:

(1) Four by four block scheduling which allows a total of eight Carnegie units to be earned in each school year.

(2) Coordination of the eight electives already available into a coherent and sequenced career major.

(3) State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approval for new courses.

(4) Sharing facilities, materials, equipment, and instructors with technical colleges subject to the following:

(a) If students are transported to area technical colleges, each parish school system shall be responsible for the cost of transporting such students.

(b) Other expenses and issues, including liability, involved in sharing resources with technical colleges must be approved by the appropriate school board with subsequent approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(5) Organization of new courses in accordance with the appropriate state-adopted career clusters.

(6) Arrangements for students to complete more in-depth study through job shadowing, mentoring, paid or unpaid internships, pre-apprenticeships, registered apprenticeship programs, community service, project learning, school-based enterprises, and early admission to postsecondary education or training.

C. The faculty for the career major program shall include career and technical instructors and other teachers who have received the appropriate staff development or in-service training to enable them to teach career major courses.

D. Any teacher chosen to teach an applied course of instruction shall be given appropriate staff development and in-service training.

E. Whenever an instructor is unavailable to teach a career and technical course, such course may be taught through the aid of technology and computer software.

Acts 1997, No. 1124, §1; Acts 2001, No. 191, §1, eff. May 31, 2001.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:2196.6 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 2196.6
Limitation on bond issues
Status: in_force

No bonds shall be issued under the authority of this Sub-Part unless the avails of corporation franchise tax collected during the preceding fiscal year shall have been not less than two times the maximum payment required to be made in any subsequent year on account of the principal and interest requirements with respect to prior bonds and pledges and bonds issued and outstanding under authority of this Sub-Part and the bonds then proposed to be issued under this Sub-Part, which fact shall be certified to the issuing board by the Treasurer of Louisiana and the determination of such facts so made by the Treasurer of Louisiana shall be conclusive.

Added by Acts 1966, No. 376, §1.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:4001 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 4001
Louisiana Charter School Start-Up and Expansion Loan Fund; creation; purpose; distribution
Status: in_force

A.(1) The Louisiana Charter School Start-Up and Expansion Loan Fund, hereafter referred to as the "fund", is hereby created within the state treasury for the purposes of providing a source for funding loans to assist eligible charter schools to expand existing operations and facilities or establish new operations and facilities with initial start-up funding, including funding for eligible costs associated with facility predevelopment, development, and associated financing activities.

(2) For purposes of this Section, "eligible charter school" shall mean an existing or new Louisiana public charter school authorized by either a local school board or the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:3971 et seq. An affiliated supporting organization as defined in Section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a charter school's wholly owned, nonprofit corporation real estate entity is eligible to apply for a loan or facilitate the use of a loan for the benefit of an eligible charter school.

B. All monies appropriated to the fund and any grants, other donations, or other sources of financial assistance directed to the fund shall be deposited into the fund. Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature and shall be appropriated to the division of administration for allocation as loans for the purposes provided in Subsection D of this Section. Expenses incurred by the division of administration in administrating the fund shall be reimbursable from the fund. All unexpended and unencumbered monies remaining in such fund at the end of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund. The monies in such fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in accordance with state law, and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the fund, after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

C.(1) The division of administration shall administer the use of the monies appropriated from the fund and may enter in contracts and other agreements in connection with the operation of the fund.

(2) The division of administration, in consultation with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section. The rules shall include but not be limited to the following:

(a) Charter school eligibility requirements.

(b) Processing procedures for loans and a loan application that includes a per pupil funding calculation.

(c) Security and collateral requirement provisions.

(d) Terms of the loan agreement, including the manner of execution, repayment schedule, redemption features, the maximum principal amount of the obligation, the maximum interest rate to be incurred or borne by the obligation, the maximum repayment term of the loan which shall not exceed the term of the charter agreement, and default provisions.

(e) Provisions defining eligible costs to include predevelopment costs of construction prior to construction, such as property or land acquisition, feasibility and site studies, design and engineering fees, legal costs, permitting, review, and inspection fees, surveys, utility assessments, financing costs and other eligible project costs as determined by the division of administration.

(f) Provisions defining development costs to include the costs of construction, labor and materials, site acquisition, construction administration, financing, equipment, demolition, infrastructure, required off-site improvements, and other related costs as determined by the division of administration.

(g) Provisions defining eligible renovations to include material additions and renovations to existing buildings, general environmental abatement, systems, code and life-safety upgrades, and other types of renovations as determined by the division of administration.

D.(1) No loan shall be made without the approval of the division of administration. Loans shall be executed through a loan agreement between the division of administration and the eligible charter school and shall be used solely for the following purposes:

(a) To pay for charter school start-up and early operating expenses.

(b) To purchase tangible items such as equipment, technology, and instructional materials.

(c) Land acquisition and facility predevelopment and development costs, including construction hard and soft costs.

(d) Facility acquisition, upgrade, repairs, and other eligible renovations.

(e) Any other purposes approved by the division of administration that are related to the start-up, operation, expansion, or renovation of an eligible charter school.

(2) In order for an eligible charter school to qualify for a loan pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the eligible charter school shall comply with all of the following:

(a) The eligible charter school shall demonstrate sufficient financial resources and a detailed financial strategy for repayment of the loan.

(b) The eligible charter school shall complete and submit the supplemental reporting schedule as mandated in R.S. 24:514(I)(2) as part of its annual financial reporting to the legislative auditor pursuant to R.S. 24:513 et seq.

(3) An eligible charter school is limited to one loan from the fund, which shall not exceed five million dollars per loan; however, once all of the principal, interest, and any other obligations due under the loan agreement are paid in full, the eligible charter school may apply for a new loan.

(4) No money lent as provided in this Section may be used to pay prior debts of the nonprofit corporation which formed the eligible charter school, any of the natural persons principally involved in forming the eligible charter school, or any former or current business or nonprofit venture of any such natural persons for any purchase not related to the creation of the eligible charter school or predevelopment and development costs of the eligible charter school facility, or to pay to members of the immediate family of any such natural persons, or to make any investments.

(5)(a) Loans to eligible charter schools shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement as approved by the division of administration and the rules adopted pursuant to this Section. Nothing herein shall limit the ability of a loan to be subordinated to a senior loan, to be paid off prior to maturity, or to charge variable interest rates. All interest and principal payments on loans shall be repaid and deposited back into the fund and made available for additional loans.

(b) Loan repayment may occur by having the state Department of Education automatically reduce the last state payment or payments for each eligible charter school in accordance with the terms of the loan agreement. The state Department of Education may instead deposit those funds with the state treasury in the Louisiana Charter School Start-up and Expansion Loan Fund.

(6) The division of administration shall not knowingly approve the loan portion of any eligible charter school's budget proposal if the background checks required by the state board reveals that any person principal to the charter school proposal has been convicted of any felony related to misappropriation of funds or theft.

(7)(a) If the charter agreement of any eligible charter school is revoked or the school ceases to operate during the term of the loan agreement and the loan is not fully repaid, all cash assets, equipment, property, facilities or other physical assets purchased or constructed with loan funds shall be transferred in accordance with the loan agreement and the rules adopted by the division of administration.

(b) The state may, by suit, action, mandamus, or other proceedings, protect and enforce any rights to assets or security provided in connection with a loan agreement authorized pursuant to this Section.

E. Eligible charter schools shall comply with applicable laws related to public bids for the erection, construction, alteration, improvement, or repair of a public facility or immovable property pursuant to R.S. 17:3996(B)(19).

F. The division of administration shall submit an annual report to the legislature, on or before December thirty-first, relative to fund activities for the prior fiscal year, including but not limited to the following:

(1) The number of loan applications filed in the preceding year.

(2) The number of loans executed in the preceding year, the amounts loaned to each eligible charter school, and the total amount of loan funds expended in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

(3) The collection rate of the loans.

(4) The balance of the fund at the time such report is submitted and the viability of the fund at that time.

(5) An evaluation of financial accountability measures and the effectiveness of the loan program.

Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2001, No. 1182, §2, eff. July 1, 2001; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §5, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2016, No. 497, §1, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2025, No. 413, §1, eff. June 20, 2025.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:71.5 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 71.5
Reapportionment; reorganization
Status: in_force

A. By resolution adopted pursuant to R.S. 17:71.4, each school board shall reapportion itself based upon each federal decennial census, or a special census as authorized by R.S. 17:71.3(A). Such resolution shall be adopted on or before December thirty-first of the second year following the year in which the population of this state is reported to the president of the United States for each decennial census, unless an election of the members of the school board is to take place in the second year after reporting of the decennial census, in which case, the resolution is to be adopted no later than March first of the second year after reporting of the decennial census. Reapportionment shall not reduce the term of any member who is then seated and elected. Each board shall submit its reapportionment plan to the United States Department of Justice no later than one hundred twenty days after adoption of the resolution pursuant to R.S. 17:71.4, as required by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, Title 42, Section 1973(a) of the United States Code and shall also submit a copy of such resolution by certified mail to the secretary of state.

B.(1) The provisions of this Subsection shall be applicable only when all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The parish is governed by a home rule charter providing for a consolidated plan of government.

(b) The parish governing authority has reapportioned itself and reduced the number of its members when required to do so pursuant to procedures provided in the home rule charter.

(c) The school board has the same number of members elected from the same districts that the parish governing authority had prior to such parish governing authority reapportionment.

(2) In any such parish, the school board shall reapportion itself when required to do so by the electors of the parish in accordance with the same procedures provided in the parish home rule charter which were used to require that the parish governing authority reapportion itself. For the purposes of this Subsection, the school board shall have the same powers and duties to implement such procedures as are provided in the home rule charter for the parish governing authority. When so required to reapportion, the school board shall adopt the same number of members and the same districts as the parish governing authority.

C. The implementation of the provisions of Subsection B of this Section shall be contingent upon approval pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

D.(1) The provisions of this Subsection shall be applicable only when all of the following conditions are met:

(a) The parish is governed by a home rule charter.

(b) The parish governing authority consists of seven members as follows:

(i) Five members elected from single-member election districts.

(ii) Two members elected from the parish at large.

(c) The school board has eleven members elected from single-member election districts.

(2) In any such parish, the school board shall reapportion itself when required to do so by the electors of the parish using the procedures provided in the parish home rule charter relative to the initiative and referendum process, including petition and election timelines and other requirements for initiative and referendum as specified in the home rule charter. For the purposes of this Subsection, the school board shall have the same powers and duties to implement such procedures as are provided in the home rule charter for the parish governing authority. When so required to reapportion, the school board shall adopt the same number of members and the same election districts as the parish governing authority.

Added by Acts 1968, No. 561, §1. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 319, §1, emerg. eff. July 13, 1970 at 2:00 P.M; Acts 1985, No. 440, §1, eff. July 12, 1985; SCR No. 1, 1988 2nd Ex. Sess.; Acts 1991, No. 11, §1, eff. June 10, 1991; Acts 1996, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 52, §1, eff. May 7, 1996; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 2, §1, eff. April 11, 2000; Acts 2001, No. 173, §1, eff. May 31, 2001.
La. Rev. Stat. § 17:3903 — LA Code / Code revised-statutes / Title 17 / Section 3903
Evaluators; selection and training
Status: in_force

A. Each local board shall establish and maintain an accountability relationships register in accordance with rules adopted by the board for such purpose. The register shall contain clear definition of who shall be the evaluator or evaluators of whom within the ranks of teachers and administrators. The evaluators of classroom teachers shall be defined as the school principal or assistant principal or his respective supervisory level designees.

B. Every employee with responsibility for evaluating a teacher or administrator shall receive training as provided in this Part.

Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 1, §2, eff. June 22, 1994; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 38, §1, eff. April 14, 2000; Acts 2010, No. 54, §1, eff. May 27, 2010.