HLS 14RS-773 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 703
BY REPRESENTATIVE EDWARDS
SCHOOLS/CHARTER: Prohibits the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
from authorizing charter schools under certain circumstances
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3981(2), relative to the approval of proposed charter schools;2
to prohibit the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from authorizing3
a charter school if the proposed charter was previously denied or conditioned by the4
local school board and other specified conditions are met; and to provide for related5
matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17:3981(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:8
ยง3981. State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; powers and duties9
relative to charter schools10
The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall:11
* * *12
(2) Enter into any proposed charter that complies with this Chapter and the13
rules adopted pursuant to the authority in this Chapter that the board determines is14
a valid, complete, financially well-structured, and educationally sound proposal that15
offers potential for fulfilling the purposes of this Chapter. However, the state board16
shall not enter into a proposed charter if the proposed school would be located in a17
school system that, in its most recent evaluation under the school and district18
accountability system, received a letter grade designation of "A", "B", or "C" or any19
variation thereof and the school board that governs the local school system20 HLS 14RS-773 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 703
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previously denied or placed conditions on the same or a substantially similar1
proposal.2
* * *3
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. 703
Abstract: Prohibits the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) from
authorizing certain charter schools that the local school board previously denied or
placed conditions on.
Present law, relative to charter schools, authorizes various groups to form a nonprofit
corporation for the purpose of proposing a charter; provides for submission of the proposed
charter to the local school board or to BESE.
Present law provides that each proposal for a Type 1 or Type 3 charter school shall first be
made to the local school board with jurisdiction where the school is to be located by
submitting a written proposal. If the local school board denies the proposal, or if conditions
placed on the proposal by the local school board are not acceptable to the chartering group,
then the proposal may be submitted to BESE.
Present law provides that BESE shall enter into any proposed charter that it determines is
a valid, complete, financially well-structured, and educationally sound proposal that offers
potential for fulfilling the purposes of present law. Proposed law retains present law but
prohibits BESE from entering into a proposed charter if the proposed school would be
located in a school system that, in its most recent evaluation under the accountability system,
received a designation of "A", "B", or "C" and the school board that governs the local school
system previously denied or placed conditions on the same or a substantially similar
proposal.
(Amends R.S. 17:3981(2))