reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3932. Powers and duties

RS 17:3932 - Powers and duties
A. The office shall:
(1) Coordinate all state and local adult literacy services.
(2) Work with the commissioner of administration, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Departments of Education, Public Safety and Corrections, Labor, Economic Development, and Social Services, the office of the state library in the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, the office of elderly affairs in the office of the governor, and all other agencies, departments and offices deemed necessary to establish appropriate literacy programs.
(3) Make recommendations for the budgeting, allocation, and appropriation of funds for all state literacy efforts and allocate all private funds made available to the office of literacy.
(4) Survey adult literacy needs and monitor and document how those needs are addressed.
(5) Evaluate and report annually to the legislature on the efficacy of adult literacy service providers, particularly detailing the receipt and disbursement of all funds appropriated to the office.
(6) Make recommendations to the governor, the legislature, and other policymakers concerning adult literacy.
B. The office may:
(1) Receive, accept, and expend any funds made available to the office.
(2) Appear as, or act in any other capacity as, an advocate for the cause of adult literacy, including addressing the legislature and any other agencies or bodies.
(3) Adopt and promulgate rules as necessary pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act. Such rules shall include but need not be limited to procedures for the office of literacy to review and comment on all requests by state agencies for funding outside of state government for literacy efforts.
(4) Assist the private, statewide literacy foundation or any other governmental or non-governmental entity with promoting the cause of adult literacy.
(5) Establish and provide support for such advisory committees as is deemed useful or necessary.
Acts 1989, No. 88, §1, eff. June 16, 1989.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3971. Short citation

RS 17:3971 - Short citation
This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Charter School Demonstration Programs Law".
Acts 1995, No. 192, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3972. Intent and purpose

RS 17:3972 - Intent and purpose
A. It is the intention of the legislature in enacting this Chapter to authorize experimentation by city and parish school boards by authorizing the creation of innovative kinds of independent public schools for students. Further, it is the intention of the legislature to provide a framework for such experimentation by the creation of such schools, a means for all persons with valid ideas and motivation to participate in the experiment, and a mechanism by which experiment results can be analyzed, the positive results repeated or replicated, if appropriate, and the negative results identified and eliminated. Finally, it is the intention of the legislature that the best interests of students who are economically disadvantaged shall be the overriding consideration in implementing the provisions of this Chapter.
B.(1) The purposes of this Chapter shall be to provide opportunities for educators and others interested in educating pupils to form, operate, or be employed within a charter school with each such school designed to accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
(a) Improve pupil learning and, in general, the public school system.
(b) Increase learning opportunities and access to quality education for pupils.
(c) Encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods and a variety of governance, management, and administrative structures.
(d) Require appropriate assessment and measurement of academic learning results.
(e) Account better and more thoroughly for educational results.
(f) Create new professional opportunities for teachers and other school employees, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site.
(2) It is not a purpose of this Chapter to permit establishment of a charter school to be used as the means of keeping open an existing public school that otherwise would be closed. Such a circumstance, however, shall not preclude approval of a proposed charter that otherwise fulfills a purpose of this Chapter and for which the proposal clearly demonstrates that the educational program proposed to be offered will improve the achievement levels of the students enrolled in that school.
(3) It is not a purpose of this Chapter to provide a means of funding for nonpublic schools or any home study program.
Acts 1995, No. 192, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 14, §1; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2018, No. 307, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3974. Prohibitions; persons convicted of felony offenses

RS 17:3974 - Prohibitions; persons convicted of felony offenses
No person who has been convicted of or has pled nolo contendere to a crime listed in R.S. 15:587.1(C) shall be hired by a charter school as a teacher, substitute teacher, bus operator, substitute bus operator, or janitor, or as a temporary, part-time, or permanent school employee of any kind.
Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2016, No. 497, §2, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 335, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3983.1. Initial charter school proposals and applications; notification to state legislators

RS 17:3983.1 - Initial charter school proposals and applications; notification to state legislators
A.(1) At the time a chartering group submits its initial proposal or application to operate a charter school to the appropriate chartering authority pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter, the chartering authority shall notify each state senator and state representative in whose district the charter school is to be located that such proposal or application has been submitted. Such notification shall be limited to the date the proposal or application was submitted, the chartering authority to which the proposal or application was submitted, the type of charter school the chartering group seeks to operate, and the location of the proposed charter school.
(2) The chartering authority shall also notify each state senator and state representative in whose district the charter school is to be located whether the proposal or application to operate a charter school was approved or denied.
(3) The notifications required by this Section shall be sent by both postal mail and electronic mail to each legislator's district office.
B. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to renewals of the charter of an existing charter school.
Acts 2014, No. 729, §1, eff. June 19, 2014.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3993. Liability

RS 17:3993 - Liability
A. The local school board and its members individually are immune from civil liability for any damages arising with respect to all activities related to the operation of any type of charter school they may authorize as a chartering authority, except as is otherwise specifically provided in a charter.
B. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and its members individually are immune from civil liability for any damages arising with respect to all activities related to the operation of any type of charter school they may authorize as a chartering authority, except as is otherwise specifically provided in a charter.
Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3994. Litigation costs

RS 17:3994 - Litigation costs
In the event litigation is necessary to recover any public funds paid to a charter school under authority of this Chapter, the charter school shall be liable for all court costs, attorney fees, and expenses.
Acts 2001, No. 991, §1, eff. June 27, 2001.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3998. Reports; review

RS 17:3998 - Reports; review
A. Each chartering authority shall report to the state board on the number of schools chartered, the status of those schools, and any recommendations by July first of each year.
B. Each charter school shall be reviewed by its chartering authority after the completion of the third year. If the charter school is achieving its stated goals and objectives pursuant to its approved charter, then the chartering authority shall extend the duration of the charter for a maximum initial term of five years as provided in R.S. 17:3992(A)(1). If the charter school is not achieving its stated goals and objectives pursuant to its approved charter, then the chartering authority shall not extend the duration of the charter, and the charter shall expire at the end of the school's fourth year.
Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:3999. Application of Chapter

RS 17:3999 - Application of Chapter
A. All charter schools shall be governed by the law in effect on August 15, 2003. Thereafter, if the provisions of this Chapter are amended, all charter schools shall comply with the law as amended within ninety days of its effective date.
B. To the extent that the provisions of this Chapter conflict with the provisions of R.S. 17:10.7.1, the provisions of R.S. 17:10.7.1 shall prevail.
Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 381, §1; Acts 2016, No. 91, §1, eff. May 12, 2016.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4002.2. Legislative findings

RS 17:4002.2 - Legislative findings
The legislature finds and declares that:
(1) It is in the public interest that all Louisiana school children have access to the type and format of education that best meets the needs of the individual student, that each student has different needs that merit a variety of course choices on the individual student level, and that the state has the right, responsibility, duty, and obligation to accomplish the objective of a quality, individualized education for all Louisiana children.
(2) Enrollment of children in course work offered by course providers is in compliance with the objectives of Louisiana's compulsory attendance law; course providers in Louisiana make a significant educational and economic contribution towards meeting the goal of a quality, individualized education for every Louisiana school child; and Louisiana has recognized and encouraged that contribution through online education and dual enrollment in postsecondary education institutions for many years.
(3) Effective course providers exist in Louisiana.
(4) Course providers can offer a quality, individualized education to students and it is in the public interest to offer students the means of accessing the educational opportunities offered by course providers by providing students with the public funds allocated to them from local and state sources to enroll in such courses.
(5) Postsecondary education institutions can serve as quality course providers for students who seek advanced level course work or technical or vocational instruction.
(6) Online or virtual course providers can serve as quality course providers for students who desire additional access to high quality courses, especially but not limited to students enrolled in low-performing public schools, students who for reasons of geography may not be able to exercise their right to educational choice, and students who may desire an alternative schooling schedule or calendar.
(7) Business and industry can serve as quality course providers that offer course work in their particular field or expertise with the goal of increasing the skilled workforce required for a robust Louisiana economy.
Acts 2012, No. 2, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4002.3. Definitions

RS 17:4002.3 - Definitions
As used in this Part, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Course provider" means an entity that offers individual courses in person or online, including but not limited to online or virtual education providers, postsecondary education institutions, including any postsecondary institution under the management of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, and corporations that offer vocational or technical course work in their field, and have been authorized to provide such courses by the state board.
(2) "Eligible funded student" means any student who resides in Louisiana and meets the following criteria:
(a) Is attending a public elementary or secondary school.
(b) Has obtained approval from the local school superintendent or other person designated by the governing authority of the school that he attends to enroll in a course pursuant to this Part.
(3) "Eligible participating student" means any student who resides in Louisiana and meets one of the following criteria:
(a) Is a scholarship recipient as defined in R.S. 17:4013 attending a participating school in accordance with R.S. 17:4011 through 4025.
(b) Is attending a nonpublic school that is approved, provisionally approved, or probationally approved by the state board pursuant to R.S. 17:11.
(c) Is enrolled in a home study program approved by the state board.
(4) "State board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2014, No. 482, §1, eff. June 5, 2014; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4002.5. Public school governing authority duties; accountability; rules

RS 17:4002.5 - Public school governing authority duties; accountability; rules
A. The governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school shall establish policies and procedures whereby an eligible funded student may be granted approval to enroll in a course pursuant to this Part, which shall also provide for the following:
(1) Determination of whether a requested course is academically appropriate for the student.
(2) Credits earned through the course provider shall appear on each student's official transcript and count fully towards the requirements of any approved Louisiana diploma.
(3) State assessments as required by the school and district accountability system shall be administered to each student.
(4) All services to which each student would be entitled if attending the school in which he is enrolled full time for all courses, including but not limited to special education services pursuant to the student's Individual Education Plan shall be provided.
B. Each local public school system shall make available to all students the course catalogue as provided by the state board during the annual course enrollment process for that local school system.
C. Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 482, §2, eff. June 5, 2014.
D. The aggregate test scores of students who are enrolled in a course pursuant to this Part and in accordance with Subsection A of this Section shall be counted in the school performance score for the school in which the student is enrolled full time. The test scores shall be reported to and published by the state Department of Education for each course provider in an easy to understand format and on the department's website.
E. Repealed by Acts 2014, No. 482, §2, eff. June 5, 2014.
F. The state board shall adopt rules necessary to implement this Part in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2014, No. 482, §§1, 2, eff. June 5, 2014.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4002.6. Course providers; funding; course amounts

RS 17:4002.6 - Course providers; funding; course amounts
A. The course provider shall receive a course amount for each eligible funded student, as approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
B. The course provider may charge tuition to any eligible participating student in an amount approved by the state Department of Education.
C.(1) Fifty percent of the course amount or tuition to be paid to the course provider shall be paid upon student enrollment in a course, and fifty percent shall be paid upon course completion, according to the published course length.
(2) If a student does not complete a course according to the published course length, and the course provider has received the first payment pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the course provider shall receive an additional forty percent of the course amount as provided in Subsections A and B of this Section, provided the student completes and receives credit for the course prior to leaving school pursuant to R.S. 17:221 or graduating from high school.
(3)(a) The state shall disburse any funds allocated, appropriated, or otherwise made available for the purposes of this Part to each city and parish public school system and other public school.
(b) Any such funds that are not committed for use by the school system or other public school shall be subject to reallocation to another public school system or other public school for the purposes of this Part.
Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2014, No. 482, §1, eff. June 5, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 297, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4011. Short title

RS 17:4011 - Short title
This Part shall be known and may be cited as the "Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Act".
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 515, §2; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4012. Legislative findings

RS 17:4012 - Legislative findings
The legislature finds and declares that:
(1) It is in the public interest that all Louisiana schoolchildren receive the best education that its citizens can provide, and the state of Louisiana has the right, responsibility, duty, and obligation to accomplish the objective of quality education for all Louisiana children.
(2) Attendance of children at nonpublic schools constitutes compliance with the objectives of Louisiana's compulsory attendance law; nonpublic schools in Louisiana make a significant educational and economic contribution towards meeting the goal of a quality education for every Louisiana school child; and Louisiana has recognized and encouraged that contribution through providing textbooks and transportation to students attending approved nonpublic schools for many decades.
(3) Effective nonpublic schools exist in Louisiana's school systems.
(4) Nonpublic schools can offer a quality education to students and it is in the public interest to offer students in all systems the means of accessing the educational opportunities offered by nonpublic schools by providing them with scholarships to attend such schools.
(5) Academically acceptable public schools can serve as quality alternatives for students attending low-performing public schools.
(6) It is the intent of this Part to create additional options for all children, including those with special needs or requiring special education services.
(7) Any delay in implementation of this Part would work to the detriment of children.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 861, §8; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4013. Definitions

RS 17:4013 - Definitions
As used in this Part, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Department" means the state Department of Education.
(2) "Eligible student" means a student who resides in Louisiana, is a member of a family with a total income that does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the current federal poverty guidelines as established by the federal office of management and budget, and who meets any one of the following criteria:
(a) Is entering kindergarten and has enrolled in the local school system in which the public school he would have otherwise attended is located or in a school under the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District. Each local school system or the Recovery School District shall conduct its annual kindergarten enrollment process and shall report such enrollment to the department prior to the program enrollment process.
(b) Was enrolled in a public school in Louisiana on October first and on February first of the most recent school year pursuant to the definition of student membership established by the state board for purposes of the minimum foundation program formula, and such school received a letter grade of "C", "D", or "F" or any variation thereof, for the most recent year pursuant to the school and district accountability system.
(c) Received a scholarship pursuant to this Part in the previous school year.
(3) "Participating school" means a nonpublic school that meets program requirements and seeks to enroll scholarship recipients or a public school that meets program requirements and seeks to enroll scholarship recipients subject to any court-ordered desegregation plan in effect for the school system in which the public school is located.
(4) "Program" means the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program.
(5) "Scholarship" means the funds awarded to a parent or other legal guardian on behalf of an eligible student to attend a participating public or nonpublic school.
(6) "Scholarship recipient" means an eligible student who is awarded a scholarship.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2011, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 41, §1, eff. June 12, 2011; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4014. Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program; creation

RS 17:4014 - Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program; creation
The Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program is hereby created and shall be administered by the department.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4017. Payment of scholarships

RS 17:4017 - Payment of scholarships
A. The amount to be paid for a scholarship shall be divided into four equal payments to be made to each participating school in September, December, February, and May of each school year. Payments shall be based on per pupil count dates as determined by the department. No refunds shall be made to the department or to the parent or legal guardian if the scholarship recipient withdraws from the program or is otherwise not enrolled prior to the next count date. The school in which the scholarship recipient is enrolled on the next count date shall receive the next payment.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Part to the contrary, any public or private entity, including any nonprofit organization, may make a directed donation to any participating school for a scholarship recipient.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2014, No. 779, §1, eff. July 1, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 297, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4018. Student eligibility

RS 17:4018 - Student eligibility
Scholarship recipients shall remain eligible to receive scholarships in each succeeding year that they remain enrolled in a participating school through grade twelve. Eligibility shall continue if a recipient transfers from one participating school to another participating school.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4019. Private scholarships

RS 17:4019 - Private scholarships
A. Recognizing the success of the program and in order to maintain the long-term financial stability of the program, private businesses, industry, foundations, charities, and other groups may ask the division of administration for, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, authority to create privately funded scholarship programs to make payments to participating schools on behalf of individual students. If the division of administration authorizes such a private scholarship program, private scholarship funds received by a participating school from such private scholarship program on behalf of a student shall cause a reduction in the dollar amount of the program scholarship to the participating school attributable to that student such that the program scholarship associated with that student shall be an amount that is equal to the dollar amount that the program scholarship would have been if no such private scholarship funds had been received less the amount of private scholarship funds received by the participating school on behalf of that student.
B. This Section shall in no way be interpreted in such a manner that a student could receive less benefits from a combination of the program scholarship and the private scholarship funded on his behalf than he would have received solely from the program scholarship if there had been no such private scholarship funded on his behalf. Therefore, to the extent any such privately funded scholarship funds provided for in this Section made to a participating school on behalf of a qualified student are for an amount less than the amount a given student would have otherwise received as a program scholarship if no such private scholarship funds had been paid under this Section, then the participating school shall receive that difference on behalf of the student as the student's program scholarship.
C. As provided in this Section, when a participating school receives privately funded scholarship funds on behalf of a student pursuant to this Section, the annual appropriation of state funds for the program shall be reduced by the amount of such private scholarship program funds so received. The commissioner of administration shall determine and specify the amount of the reduction from the source of the funds to provide the maximum benefit to the state from the privately funded scholarship program. The state treasurer shall deposit the amount of such reduction as specified by the commissioner of administration into the Overcollections Fund created in R.S. 39:100.21 and credit such deposit to an account within the fund hereby established and created to be known as the "Program Participation Savings Account".
Acts 2014, No. 779, §1, eff. July 1, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 297, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4020. School participation; application

RS 17:4020 - School participation; application
A. Participation in this program by a school is voluntary, and nothing in this Part shall be construed to authorize any additional regulation of participating schools beyond that specifically authorized by this Part.
B. Any school that wishes to participate in the program and enroll scholarship recipients annually shall notify the department of its intent to participate in the program by February first of the previous school year. The notice shall specify the number of seats the school will have available for scholarship recipients at each grade level and the maximum amount of tuition attributable to each available seat, as applicable.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 861, §8; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4021. School eligibility

RS 17:4021 - School eligibility
A. To be eligible to participate in the program, a nonpublic school shall meet all of the following criteria:
(1) Be approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:11.
(2) Comply with the criteria set forth in Brumfield, et al. v. Dodd, et al, 425 F. Supp. 528.
(3)(a) Be accredited or designated as a provisionally accredited approved school. For purposes of this Paragraph:
(i) "Provisionally accredited approved school" means a school that is working toward meeting accreditation requirements and has met all other criteria for approval by the state board.
(ii) Accrediting entities shall be the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools accreditation organizations, the Cognia accreditation organizations, the National Association of Independent Schools accreditation organizations, the Louisiana Montessori Association, and the diocese or archdiocese in which the school is located.
(b) A provisionally accredited approved school shall be removed from the program if it does not receive accreditation within four years.
B. To be eligible to participate in the program, a public school shall have received a letter grade of "A" or "B", or any variation thereof, for the most recent school year pursuant to the school and district accountability system.
C. Scholarship recipients enrolled in a participating school that fails to meet the eligibility criteria established in this Section may transfer to another participating school for the succeeding school year without loss of eligibility, and such recipients shall be given preference for enrollment at other participating schools.
D. A participating school that fails for three consecutive years to meet minimum standards for academic performance as determined by the accountability system provided for in state board policy shall be ineligible to participate in the program.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2021, No. 196, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4021.1. School eligibility; exceptions; applicability

RS 17:4021.1 - School eligibility; exceptions; applicability
A. R.S. 17:4021(A)(3) shall not apply to a nonpublic school initially participating in the program prior to the 2022-2023 school year.
B. The measurement of three consecutive years for purposes of R.S. 17:4021(D) shall commence with the 2021-2022 school year.
Acts 2021, No. 196, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4023. Testing

RS 17:4023 - Testing
A participating nonpublic school shall ensure that scholarship recipients are administered all examinations required pursuant to the school and district accountability system at the prescribed grade levels and that the results of such examinations are provided to parents or legal guardians.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4024. Reports

RS 17:4024 - Reports
A. The department annually shall report to the Senate Committee on Education, the House Committee on Education, the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget, and each individual legislator regarding the implementation of the program. The report, at a minimum, shall include the following information:
(1) The total number of students receiving scholarships.
(2) A list of all schools participating in the program.
(3) A list of all schools participating in the program grouped by legislative district.
(4) The total student enrollment of each participating school, the number of scholarship recipients enrolled in each school, and the percentage of the total enrollment of each school represented by scholarship recipients.
(5) Aggregate test result data for the scholarship recipients enrolled in each participating school.
B. Not later than April thirtieth of each year, the department shall send a printed copy of the report required by this Section to each legislative committee as provided in Subsection A of this Section and to each member of the legislature.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 861, §8; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2014, No. 728, §1, eff. June 19, 2014.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4025. Rules; severability

RS 17:4025 - Rules; severability
A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt and promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Part.
B. If any provision of this Part or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Part which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this Part are hereby declared severable.
C. The severability provision hereof shall be broadly construed so as to give effect to each and every possible provision or application of this Part which is not specifically held invalid, unlawful, or unconstitutional.
Acts 2008, No. 509, §1, eff. June 25, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2019, No. 21, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4035.2. Public high school program of choice

RS 17:4035.2 - Public high school program of choice
A. For the purposes of this Section, a "program of choice" shall mean a public high school program that allows a student to concurrently pursue a high school diploma and one of the following:
(1) A postsecondary degree, credential, or certificate.
(2) A state-registered apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship.
B. A student may enroll in a program of choice offered within his school system, without regard to attendance zones, provided that both of the following apply:
(1) The program of choice and the high school offering the program have available capacity at the appropriate grade level.
(2) The program of choice is not offered at the public high school in which the student was most recently enrolled or would otherwise attend.
C. The governing authority of each public high school shall adopt policies to govern student transfers to each program of choice that include:
(1) A definition of "capacity" for each high school and each program of choice.
(2) The transfer request period, which shall begin no later than March first and end no earlier than March twenty-eighth, annually.
(3) The process for submitting a transfer request.
(4) Admission requirements, if any, for each program of choice.
(5) The process for requesting review by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with R.S. 17:4035.1(C) of a denial of a request to transfer to a program of choice.
D. The governing authority of each public high school shall:
(1) Partner with local businesses and public postsecondary education institutions to grow programs of choice that are relevant to the school's local area and to the state and that lead to careers in high-demand, high-paying fields.
(2) Work to ensure that programs of choice are evenly distributed, to the greatest extent possible, among the high schools in the school system.
E. The authority to enroll a student in a program of choice shall not be permitted and shall not be exercised if doing so violates an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
F. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed as requiring a high school or a program of choice with selective admission requirements to enroll a student who does not meet the admission requirements, regardless of whether the school or program of choice has available capacity.
Acts 2022, No. 533, §1, eff. June 17, 2022.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4036.1. Learning pods

RS 17:4036.1 - Learning pods
A. Each public school governing authority may establish learning pods as an extension of any school under its jurisdiction. For purposes of this Chapter, "learning pod" means a group of at least ten students enrolled in the school who receive instruction in a small group setting.
B. A student shall be assigned to a learning pod only if the assignment is requested by his parent or authorized by his parent upon the recommendation of school officials.
C. All instruction provided to students assigned to learning pods shall be provided by teachers on the staff of the school who meet all qualifications and are subject to all requirements applicable to teachers at the school who are not assigned to a learning pod.
D. Students assigned to a learning pod shall be:
(1) Counted among the enrollment of the public school governing authority for purposes of full funding through the minimum foundation program formula.
(2) Subject to all requirements applicable to students enrolled in the school who are not assigned to a learning pod.
(3) Eligible for participation in all services and activities for which they would be eligible if not assigned to a learning pod.
E. The establishment of learning pods shall be subject to policies and procedures adopted by a public school governing authority, which, at a minimum, shall provide for the following:
(1) The student population of the learning pod, which may be a blended population of students of different grade levels.
(2) The method of instruction for the learning pod, which may occur in-person at a physical location on the school campus, remotely through virtual instruction, or through a hybrid approach that combines both methods.
(3) Any specialized curriculum or program provided in the learning pod.
(4) The process for a parent to request student assignment to a learning pod, grant authorization for a student's assignment to a learning pod if recommended by school officials, and withdraw a student from a learning pod.
F. This Chapter does not apply to or have any effect on any learning pod or other group of students that is formed and operated by parents, regardless of whether they are enrolled in a public school or a nonpublic school or participating in a home study program.
Acts 2021, No. 400, §1, eff. June 16, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4041. Definitions

RS 17:4041 - Definitions
As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
(2) "Department" means the state Department of Education.
(3) "District" means any city, parish, or other local public school district, the Recovery School District, and the Special School District.
(4) "Governing authority" means the governing authority of any public elementary or secondary school.
(5) "Low-performing school" means an academically unacceptable school as determined by the board.
(6) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of any city, parish, or other local public school district, the director of the Special School District, and the superintendent of the Recovery School District.
(7) "Waiver" means a waiver granted pursuant to and in accordance with this Chapter which exempts the recipient district from any provision of this Title or from any rule, regulation, or policy of the board that is applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees. A waiver may be granted for any combination of such laws, rules, regulations, or policies, including but not limited to those related to instructional time, curriculum, funding, personnel, student-to-personnel ratios, and student support; however, Subpart B of Part III of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, R.S. 17:158, 416.2, 3902 and laws, rules, and regulations identified in R.S. 17:3996(B) and those related to matters identified in R.S. 17:3996(A) shall not be waived. Also, any limitation or restriction on outsourcing of food, clerical, custodial, or paraprofessional services shall not be waived.
Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4042. Authority of the board to grant waivers

RS 17:4042 - Authority of the board to grant waivers
Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the board may, upon receipt of a waiver application from a governing authority as set forth in this Chapter and with the goal of improving quality of instruction and student academic achievement, issue a waiver to any district.
Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4043. Requests for waivers

RS 17:4043 - Requests for waivers
A. A governing authority may request a waiver for any school, any combination of schools, or all schools under his district's jurisdiction. However, a governing authority shall not request a waiver for any school unless a majority of the classroom teachers employed in the school, voting by secret ballot, vote in favor of inclusion of such school in the waiver request.
B. A governing authority requesting a waiver shall submit to the board a written waiver request that does all of the following:
(1) Identifies the specific laws, rules, regulations, and policies from which waiver is sought.
(2) Identifies the school or schools that will be covered by the waiver.
(3) Describes the policies and procedures that will be instituted as a substitute for the waived provisions.
(4) Describes how the proposed waiver will accomplish all of the following:
(a) Increase the quality of instruction for students.
(b) Improve the academic achievement of students.
(c) Improve teaching effectiveness within schools.
(5) Describes, for each school year, specific, measurable educational goals and the methods to be used annually to measure progress in meeting such goals.
Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4045. Grant, denial, or extension of waivers

RS 17:4045 - Grant, denial, or extension of waivers
A. If the requirements provided in this Chapter are met, the board may grant a waiver as requested or grant a waiver subject to specified modifications. The waiver shall be effective for a specified period of up to four years unless terminated sooner by the board.
B. The terms and conditions of any waiver granted pursuant to this Chapter shall be reduced to writing by and approved by the board and agreed to and signed by the superintendent, subject to the approval of the governing authority, in the manner prescribed by the board. The written document containing the terms and conditions of the waiver shall not constitute a contract between the board and the governing authority.
C. The board may, upon request from the governing authority and a recommendation from the department, extend the waiver period if it determines that the waiver has been effective in enabling the school to carry out the activities for which the waiver was requested and the waiver has contributed to improved quality of instruction and student academic achievement. Any such extension shall not prevent a school otherwise eligible from being subject to transfer to the Recovery School District.
Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4046. Reporting requirements

RS 17:4046 - Reporting requirements
A. The governing authority of any school that receives a waiver pursuant to this Chapter shall provide periodic reports on progress in achieving specific benchmarks set forth by the board and shall provide, upon the request of the board, periodic reports on the uses and effectiveness of the waiver.
B. Not later than March first of each year, the board shall submit a report to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education:
(1) Summarizing the uses of waivers granted pursuant to this Chapter.
(2) Describing whether such waivers:
(a) Increased the quality of instruction to students.
(b) Improved the academic achievement of students.
(3) Recommending any proposed legislative changes, if district success in improving quality of instruction and academic achievement under a waiver indicates that changes in an existing provision of law would be appropriate for all districts.
Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4047. Termination of waivers

RS 17:4047 - Termination of waivers
A. The board shall terminate a waiver, either completely or with respect to individual schools, if the board determines that the performance of the schools has been inadequate to justify a continuation of the waiver or if the waiver is no longer necessary to achieve its original purposes.
B. The board shall terminate a waiver as applied to a low-performing school if the school has failed to implement the requirements set forth in R.S. 17:4044 within two years of the granting of the waiver and may terminate a waiver as applied to a low-performing school that has not met its statewide accountability growth targets for three consecutive years while under the waiver or has not met any other required condition or benchmark.
Acts 2010, No. 749, §1, eff. June 29, 2010.
2023 Louisiana Laws › Revised Statutes › Title 17 - Education › §17:4072. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund

RS 17:4072 - Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund
A. The Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Fund is hereby created in the state treasury for the purpose of conducting student-focused, project-based, programs and competitions in STEM subjects, including robotics, coding, and design-build test projects, in grades prekindergarten through college level.
B.(1) The source of monies deposited into the fund shall be legislative appropriations. Monies in the fund shall be subject to appropriation by the legislature and shall be available exclusively for programs and initiatives prescribed by the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council.
(2) The treasurer is hereby authorized to establish a separate account within the fund for the deposit of grants and donations received by the Louisiana Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Advisory Council. If the terms and conditions of the grant or donation or the agreements pertaining thereto require that the monies not be deposited into the treasury, the grant or donation may nevertheless be deposited into the fund. Monies in this separate account shall not be subject to legislative appropriation but shall be used by the council only to further their mission.
C. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Such monies shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund, 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.
D. The council shall adopt a resolution stating which members or officers are authorized to withdraw money from the fund and the separate account in the fund, which resolution shall be submitted to the state treasury. Monies in the fund and the separate account shall only be used by the council to further their mission.
Acts 2017, No. 392, §1, eff. June 23, 2017.
NOTE: See Acts 2017, No. 392, §3, that provides that the Act does not supercede the powers of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Board of Regents, or the postsecondary education management boards as prescribed by law.