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)]
Edwards HB No. 343
Abstract: Prohibits public high school students who are not pursuing a high school diploma
from being administered any test pursuant to LEAP or the school accountability program,
including the ACT. Provides exceptions and prohibits students, schools, and school
systems from being penalized for students not participating in such testing.
Present law (R.S. 17:24.4) provides for the La. Competency-Based Education Program, including
the implementation of the La. Educational Assessment Program (LEAP). Requires certain tests
to be administered to students at various grade levels and requires students to demonstrate
proficiency in order to advance to specified grade levels.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that, notwithstanding any provision of present law or
any other law to the contrary, a public high school student who is not pursuing a high school
diploma shall not be administered any examination pursuant to present law (LEAP or the La.
School and District Accountability System), including the ACT, unless the student's
Individualized Education Plan provides for it or the student's parent requests it. Prohibits
penalizing a student for failure to take an examination pursuant to proposed law. Provides that
the resulting absence of test results shall not be factored into or negatively impact the
performance score or letter grade assignment of a school or school system, nor shall a school or
school system otherwise be penalized, provided that such absence does not violate any federal
law or requirement.
(Adds R.S. 17:24.4(K))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill.
1. Removes limitation that proposed law applies to a student who is pursuing a regular
high school diploma, and instead proposed law is applicable to a student pursuing any
high school diploma.
2. Relative to the prohibition on penalizing schools and school systems due to students'
not participating in testing, provides that such prohibition shall apply only if the
absence of students' test results due to such lack of participation does not violate any
federal law or requirement.