HLS 10RS-3269 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2010
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 147
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARDY
STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Requests BESE to study the rate of suspensions and expulsions
in La. and to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the House
and Senate education committees prior to the 2011 R.S.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the2
rate of suspensions and expulsions in Louisiana and to submit a written report of its3
findings and conclusions, including any recommendations for legislation relative to4
the issue, to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on5
Education not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2011 Regular6
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.7
WHEREAS, as stated in the Constitution of Louisiana, it is the goal of the public8
educational system to provide learning environments and experiences at all stages of human9
development that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every10
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and11
WHEREAS, according to a 2010 report released by the National Economic and12
Social Rights Initiative and Friends and Families of Louisiana's Incarcerated Children, in13
Louisiana, the expulsion rate is five times the national rate, and there are more than three14
hundred thousand out-of-school suspensions per year; the report also states that within the15
Recovery School District, the expulsion rate is ten times the national rate, and the suspension16
rate is twice the statewide rate and more than four times the national rate; and17
WHEREAS, many incarcerated citizens have a history of suspensions and18
expulsions, and it is possible that there is a correlation; and19 HLS 10RS-3269 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 147
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WHEREAS, many citizens consider the high rate of suspensions and expulsions in1
Louisiana to be a matter of grave concern and an issue that crosses all racial, socio-2
economic, and political boundaries; and3
WHEREAS, in order to fulfill the state's constitutional duty of affording every4
student an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential, it is imperative that the state's5
rate of suspensions and expulsions receive a thorough study so that determinations can be6
made as to how the state can best provide experiences and opportunities to students that help7
them succeed in all aspects of life.8
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby9
urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the rate10
of suspensions and expulsions in Louisiana and to submit a written report of its findings and11
conclusions, including any recommendations for legislation relative to the issue, to the12
House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than sixty13
days prior to the beginning of the 2011 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted15
to the president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.16
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Hardy HCR No. 147
Requests BESE to study the rate of suspensions and expulsions in La. and to submit a
written report of findings and recommendations to the House and Senate education
committees at least 60 days before the beginning of the 2011 R.S.