SLS 11RS-239 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2011
SENATE BILL NO. 46
BY SENATORS SHAW AND LONG
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SCHOOLS. Provides for the Louisiana Virtual School. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:236.4, relative to the Louisiana Virtual School; to provide for enrollment2
of students; to provide for the adoption of policies; to provide relative to student3
access to and credit for courses taken through the virtual school; to require4
notification to students and parents of such virtual school option; and to provide for5
related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17:236.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 8
ยง236.4. Louisiana Virtual School9
A. The Louisiana Virtual School, hereinafter referred to as "virtual10
school", is hereby created in the Louisiana Department of Education as a11
technology-based program that expands learning opportunities to high school12
students through courses of study that may not otherwise be available to them13
and offers access to a full menu of standards-based, online courses of study in14
subjects which are delivered by certified teachers using the Internet, electronic15
mail, and other online resources.16
B. Any high school student may enroll in a course of study offered by the17 SB NO. 46
SLS 11RS-239 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
virtual school through the high school in which the student is enrolled.1
C.(1) No later than January 1, 2012, the governing authority of each2
public secondary school shall:3
(a) Enter into a legal agreement with the department.4
(b) Identify a school site facilitator to oversee the registration process for5
students and assist with other related administrative matters.6
(c) Develop and adopt policies that provide students with educational7
opportunities through the virtual school, including but not limited to the8
following:9
(i) A process for access to and enrollment in any virtual school course of10
study.11
(ii) A procedure for awarding credit to a student who successfully12
completes a virtual school course of study.13
(2) Policies adopted pursuant to this Section shall not limit student access14
to any course of study offered by the virtual school, including but not limited to15
any course that is not offered at the high school in which the student is enrolled.16
D. Credit for all courses of study completed through the virtual school17
shall be granted through the high school. A mid-term progress report and final18
letter grade shall be issued by the instructor and forwarded to the high school19
through the department. The high school shall process all credits in accordance20
with the policies adopted pursuant to Subparagraph (C)(1)(c) of this Section.21
E. Beginning on January 1, 2012, and continuing thereafter, the22
governing authority of each public secondary school shall inform each student23
and parent or legal custodian, in writing, upon enrollment in high school of the24
virtual school option and any available virtual school course offerings.25
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not26
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature27
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If28
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become29 SB NO. 46
SLS 11RS-239 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
effective on the day following such approval.1
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Sherri H. Breaux.
DIGEST
Proposed law creates the La. Virtual School in the Dept. of Education as a technology-based
program that expands learning opportunities to high school students through courses of study
that may not otherwise be available to students and offers access to a full menu of standards-
based, online courses of study in subjects which are delivered by certified teachers using the
Internet, electronic mail, and other online resources.
Provides for the enrollment of high school students in virtual school courses through their
high schools. Requires the governing authority of each public secondary school, not later
than Jan. 1, 2012, to do the following:
(1)Enter into a legal agreement with the department.
(2)Identify a school site facilitator to oversee the registration process for students and
assist with other related administrative matters.
(3)Develop and adopt policies that provide students with educational opportunities
through the virtual school, including but not limited to a process for access to and
enrollment in any virtual school course of study and a procedure for awarding credit
to a student who successfully completes a virtual school course of study. Prohibits
policies from limiting student access to any course of study offered by the virtual
school, including but not limited to any course that is not offered at the high school
in which the student is enrolled.
Provides that credit for all courses of study completed through the virtual school be granted
through the high school. Requires a mid-term progress report and final letter grade to be
issued by the instructor and forwarded to the high school through the department.
Requires, beginning on January 1, 2012 and continuing thereafter, the governing authority
of each public secondary school to inform each student and parent or legal custodian, in
writing, upon enrollment in high school of the virtual school option and any available virtual
school course offerings.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:236.4)