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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 responsibilities of school governing authorities; to3
provide for the adoption of policies; to provide relative to student access to and4
credit for courses taken through the virtual school; to require notification to students5
and parents of such virtual school option; to provide for rules; and to provide for6
related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:236.4 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 9
ยง236.4. Louisiana Virtual School10
A. The Louisiana Virtual School, hereinafter referred to as "the virtual11
school", is hereby created in the Louisiana Department of Education as a12
technology-based program to expand learning opportunities for high school13
students through courses of study that may not otherwise be available to them,14
and offer access to a full menu of standards-based, online courses of study in15
subjects which are delivered by certified teachers using the Internet, electronic16
mail, and other online resources.17 SB NO. 46
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
B. Any high school student may enroll in a course of study offered by the1
virtual school through the high school in which the student is enrolled.2
C.(1) No later than January 1, 2012, the governing authority of each3
public secondary school shall:4
(a) Enter into a Louisiana Virtual School Agreement with the5
department. However, nothing in such agreement shall prohibit the governing6
authority of a school from contracting with a private provider of virtual7
education courses, instruction, or content.8
(b) Identify a school site facilitator to oversee the registration process for9
students and assist with other related administrative matters.10
(c) Develop and adopt policies that provide students with educational11
opportunities through the virtual school, including but not limited to the12
following:13
(i) A process for access to and enrollment in a virtual school course of14
study.15
(ii) A procedure for awarding credit to a student who successfully16
completes a virtual school course of study.17
(2) The governing authority of a public secondary school shall not limit18
student access to any course of study offered by the virtual school that is not19
offered by the high school in which a student is enrolled at the time the student20
wishes to enroll in the course.21
D. Credit for all courses of study completed through the virtual school22
shall be granted through the high school. A mid-term progress report and final23
letter grade shall be issued by the instructor and forwarded to the high school24
through the department. The high school shall process all credits in accordance25
with the policies adopted pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.26
E. Beginning on January 1, 2012, and continuing thereafter, the27
governing authority of each public secondary school shall provide written28
notification of the virtual school option and available virtual school course29 SB NO. 46
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
offerings to each student, and the student's parent or legal guardian, at the time1
of the student's enrollment in high school.2
F. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt3
rules, including the imposition of any fees to be charged to participating4
students and schools, to implement the provisions of this Section in accordance5
with the Administrative Procedure Act.6
G. Implementation of this Section shall be subject to the appropriation7
of funds by the legislature for this purpose.8
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not9
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature10
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If11
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become12
effective on the day following such approval.13
The original instrument was prepared by Sherri H. Breaux. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Jeanne Johnston.
DIGEST
Shaw (SB 46)
Proposed law creates the La. Virtual School in the Dept. of Education as a technology-based
program to expand learning opportunities for high school students through courses of study
that may not otherwise be available to students and offer 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 La. Virtual School Agreement with the department. Provides that such
agreement shall not prohibit a school's governing authority from contracting with a
private provider of virtual education courses, instruction, or content.
(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 a process for access to and enrollment in a
virtual school course of study and a procedure for awarding credit to a student who
successfully completes a virtual school course of study.
Prohibits the governing authority of a public secondary school from limiting student access
to any course offered by the virtual school that is not offered by the student's high school at SB NO. 46
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
the time the student wishes to enroll in the course.
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, the governing authority of each public secondary
school to provide written notification of the virtual school option and available virtual school
courses to each student, and the student's parent/legal guardian, at the time the student
enrolls in high school.
Requires BESE to adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to adopt
rules, including the imposition of any fees to be charged to participating students and
schools, to implement proposed law.
Provides that implementation of proposed law is subject to the appropriation of funds by the
legislature.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:236.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill.
1. Makes technical changes.
2. Specifies that the virtual school agreement shall not prohibit contracts with
private providers.
3. Prohibits limiting student access to courses not offered by the high school.
4. Requires BESE to adopt rules in accordance with APA, including the
imposition of any fees.
5. Makes implementation contingent upon legislative appropriation.