ENROLLED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 343
BY REPRESENTATIVES EDWARDS AND SMI TH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:24.4(K), relative to student assessment; to prohibit public high school2
students with exceptionalities who are not pursuing a high school diploma from3
being administered any examination pursuant to the Louisiana Educational4
Assessment Program or the Louisiana school and district accountability system; to5
provide exceptions; to prohibit penalizing a student, school, or school system for a6
student's lack of participation; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:24.4(K) is hereby enacted to read as follows:9
ยง24.4. Louisiana Competency-Based Education Program; statewide standards for10
required subjects; Louisiana Educational Assessment Program; parish or city11
school board comprehensive pupil progression plans; waivers12
* * *13
K.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section or any other law to the14
contrary, a public high school student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S.15
17:1942(B), except a gifted or talented student, and who is not pursuing a high16
school diploma shall not be administered any examination pursuant to this Section17
or the Louisiana school and district accountability system, including the American18
College Test, unless one or both of the following apply:19
(a) The student's Individualized Education Plan indicates that the20
examination is an appropriate assessment instrument for the student.21 ENROLLEDHB NO. 343
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(b) The student's parent or legal guardian requests in writing that the student1
be administered the examination.2
(2) A student who is not administered an examination pursuant to Paragraph3
(1) of this Subsection shall not be penalized for failure to take the examination. For4
purposes of this Paragraph, prohibited penalties include but are not limited to:5
(a) Withholding of credits toward graduation or denying a student the ability6
to graduate.7
(b) Denying a student the opportunity to participate in an extracurricular8
activity.9
(c) Denying a student the ability to advance to the subsequent grade level.10
(3) The absence of test results due to the implementation of Paragraph (1)11
of this Subsection shall not be factored into or negatively impact the performance12
score or letter grade assigned to a school or school system, nor shall a school or13
school system otherwise be penalized in any manner, provided that such absence14
does not violate any federal law or requirement including the No Child Left Behind15
Act of 2001 or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.16
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: