Louisiana Home Education Network

Current Legislation of Interest to Home Educators in Louisiana

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• SENATE BILL NO. 465 SENATE BILL NO. 465 BY SENATOR HOLDEN Never made it out of committee.
  COMMENTARY: This bill is targeted at the traditional private and parochial
  schools. This proposed bill does not affect private school homeschools
  because homeschoolers do not submit to BESE for approval -- homeschoolers
  simply provide notification of intent. I expect that the private school
  lobby will strongly oppose this bill. However, there is always the potential
  for changes and amendments to this bill to affect homeschoolers.
  
  EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY. Requires that approval standards for private
  schools include certain requirements to determine whether a school maintains
  a sustained curriculum at least equal to similar public schools.
  
  Proposed law retains present law and provides for the standards applied to
  determine whether a school maintains a sustained curriculum at least equal
  to that prescribed for similar public schools to include, at a minimum, a
  requirement that the students at each private elementary and secondary
  school be subject to the testing requirements as are required of students at
  similar public schools, including any criterion-referenced test and
  norm-referenced test pursuant to LEAP and any BESE policy.
  
  Proposed law requires BESE to include the results of such tests in its
  determination of whether a school maintains a sustained curriculum at least
  equal to that prescribed for similar public schools. Requires BESE to adopt
  the necessary rules and guidelines to implement the provisions of proposed
  law.
  
   

• SENATE BILL NO. 460 BY SENATOR BOISSIERE Withdrawn
  MOTOR VEHICLES. Requires a person age 18 or younger who is applying for a
  driver's license or instruction permit to present documentation that he is
  attending school.
  
  In addition to any other requirements provided by law, any person who
  applies for a driver's license or an instruction permit for the operation of
  a motor vehicle and who is eighteen years of age or younger shall present
  documentation in a form approved by the department certifying that he is
  attending school.
  
   

• SENATE BILL NO. 117 BY SENATOR GAUTREAUX Unanimous vote to defer the bill
  TOPS: Requires drug tests and subjection to random drug screens for TOPS
  qualifiers as a requirement for initial and continuing eligibility.
  
  AN ACT
  To enact R.S. 17:3048.5, relative to the Tuition Opportunity Program for
  Students; to provide for eligibility; to require establishment of a drug
  screening and testing policy; to require the policy to provide for
  mandatory preapplication drug screening; to require random drug
  screens of award recipients as a condition for continued state payment
  of award; to provide for cost of such drug screens; to require all award
  recipients to sign a written agreement agreeing to the terms of such
  policies; to provide for the adoption of rules by the Louisiana Student
  Financial Assistance Commission; and to provide for related matters.
   

• Update HB 261: Failed House vote 42-57 May 13, 2003
  HOUSE BILL NO. 261 BY REPRESENTATIVE FARRAR (Also introduced in 2001)
  STUDENT/HOME STUDY: Provides eligibility for students in BESE approved
  home study programs to participate in public school extracurricular activities
  under specified circumstances.
  
  Proposed addition:
  §236.3. Home study program participants; extracurricular activities; eligibility; limitations
  
  Beginning with the 2003-2004 school year and thereafter, any student participating
  in an approved home study program as provided by R.S. 17:236.1 shall be eligible to
  participate in any extracurricular activity at the public school to which the student
  would be assigned if attending public school provided the student meets all other
  eligibility requirements for participation in such extracurricular activity at the school.
   

• HOUSE BILL NO. 63 BY REPRESENTATIVE CAZAYOUX Withdrawn
  STUDENTS: Permits the withholding of copies of a student’s education record under
  certain circumstances and exempts such withholding of copies from public records laws.

  This bill completely changes current statute as it relates to parents obtaining a
  copy of their child's transcript from a public school. Deletes the word "No" so that
  schools can now withhold transcripts because of fines, debts, and lastly the vague
  term "other outstanding obligation."

  Please contact your Representative and/or House Education Committee Members and
  ask that they oppose this change. This change could adversely affect all families who
  withdraw their children from public schools, not just those who withdraw to homeschool.
  As such, you need not identify yourself as a homeschooler when contacting your representative.

  Amends R.S. 17:112 (C) : No Copies of the education record of any student
  in a public elementary or secondary school may be withheld as the result of lack
  of payment of any fine, debt, or other outstanding obligation.
  
  

• HOUSE BILL NO. 32 BY REPRESENTATIVE CROWE Withdrawn
  STUDENT/SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Provides relative to age requirements for
  children entering public school
  
  Changes the age at which a child may enter the first grade of any public school
  from age six on or before September 30 to age six on or before August 1.
  
   

To contact your legislator, follow the links below to the State Legislature site.