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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
SLS 11RS-239 REENGROSSED
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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) The governing authority of each public secondary school may:3
(a) Enter into a Louisiana Virtual School Agreement with the4
department. However, nothing in such agreement shall prohibit the governing5
authority of a school from contracting with a private provider of virtual6
education courses, instruction, or content.7
(b) Identify a school site facilitator to oversee the registration process for8
students and assist with other related administrative matters.9
(c) Develop and adopt policies that provide students with educational10
opportunities through the virtual school, including but not limited to the11
following:12
(i) A process for access to and enrollment in a virtual school course of13
study.14
(ii) A procedure for awarding credit to a student who successfully15
completes a virtual school course of study.16
(2) The governing authority of a public secondary school shall make17
every effort to provide student access to any course of study offered by the18
virtual school that is not offered by the high school in which a student is19
enrolled at the time the student wishes to enroll in the course.20
D. Credit for all courses of study completed through the virtual school21
shall be granted through the high school. A mid-term progress report and final22
letter grade shall be issued by the instructor and forwarded to the high school23
through the department. The high school shall process all credits in accordance24
with the policies adopted pursuant to Subsection C of this Section.25
E. Beginning on January 1, 2012, and continuing thereafter, the26
governing authority of each public secondary school shall provide written27
notification of the virtual school option and available virtual school course28
offerings to each student, and the student's parent or legal guardian, at the time29 SB NO. 46
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of the student's enrollment in high school.1
F. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt2
rules, including the imposition of any fees to be charged to participating3
students and schools, to implement the provisions of this Section in accordance4
with the Administrative Procedure Act.5
G. Implementation of this Section shall be subject to the appropriation6
of funds by the legislature for this purpose.7
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not8
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature9
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If10
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become11
effective on the day following such approval.12
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 Martha Hess.
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. Authorizes the governing authority of each public secondary school 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.
Provides the governing authority of a public secondary school shall make every effort to
provide student access to any course offered by the virtual school that is not offered by the
student's high school at the time the student wishes to enroll in the course. 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.
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.
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the
engrossed bill.
1. Removes the date certain by which the governing authority of each public
secondary school was to enter into a Louisiana Virtual School Agreement
and take other actions.
2. Changes from mandatory to discretionary, requirement that the governing
authority of a public secondary school enter a Louisiana Virtual School
Agreement and to take certain other actions.
3. Changes from mandatory requirement to use best efforts, by the governing
authority of a public secondary school to provide student access to any
course of study offered by a virtual school that is not offered by the high
school in which a student is enrolled.