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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 763
BY REPRESENTATIVES ORTEGO AND GISCLAIR
SCHOOLS: Provides relative to foreign language immersion programs in public schools
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:273.3(C)(2)(a)(introductory paragraph) and to enact R.S.2
17:273.3(E), (F), and (G), relative to foreign language immersion programs in public3
schools; to prohibit local school boards from denying enrollment in a foreign4
language immersion program to certain students; to provide with respect to5
requirements for the establishment, continuation, and certification of such programs;6
to provide restrictions; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for related7
matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:273.3(C)(2)(a)(introductory paragraph) is hereby amended and10
reenacted and R.S. 17:273.3(E), (F), and (G) are hereby enacted to read as follows: 11
ยง273.3. Foreign language immersion programs; creation by local school boards;12
parent petition13
* * *14
C.15
* * *16
(2)(a) Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a local school board, if17
requested in writing by the parent or legal guardian parents or legal guardians of at18
least twenty-five students seeking to be enrolled in kindergarten or of at least twenty-19
five students seeking to be enrolled in first grade who reside within the jurisdictional20 HLS 14RS-1178 ENGROSSED
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boundaries of the school district, shall establish a foreign language immersion1
program for such students, provided that all of the following apply:2
* * *3
E. A local public school board shall not deny enrollment in a foreign4
language immersion program to any student if all of the following conditions are5
met:6
(1) The minimum foundation program formula provides funding to local7
school systems employing foreign language teachers to provide salary supplements8
for such teachers at a level equal to or greater than the level of funding provided for9
this purpose through such formula for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.10
(2) A sufficient number of foreign language teachers with the required11
credentials as prescribed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education12
are available through programs administered by the Department of Education and the13
Council for the Development of French in Louisiana to accommodate all interested14
students in the program.15
(3) The student resides within the jurisdictional boundaries of the school16
district.17
(4) The student applies for enrollment in such a program by no later than 18
March first of the school year prior to such enrollment.19
(5) If the student is entering second grade or above, he is sufficiently20
proficient in the target language or is transferring from a certified foreign language21
program in another Louisiana school district.22
F. The requirements of Subparagraph (C)(2)(b) and Subsection E of this23
Section shall apply to a foreign language immersion program established prior to the24
2012-2013 school year. The local school board shall ensure that such program is25
designated as a Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program by the State Board26
of Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with R.S. 17:273.2 by not27
later than July 1, 2017.28 HLS 14RS-1178 ENGROSSED
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G. Nothing in this Section shall contravene any order of a court of competent1
jurisdiction providing for the assignment of pupils within the school system.2
Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2014; if vetoed by the governor3
and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,4
2014, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.5
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)]
Ortego HB No. 763
Abstract: Provides relative to the enrollment of students in foreign language immersion
programs in public schools.
Present law provides for the "Immersion School Choice Law" as follows:
(1)Authorizes a local public school board to establish a foreign language immersion
program in any school under its jurisdiction. The program shall be open to the
enrollment of any student who resides within the jurisdictional boundaries of the
school district.
(2)Provides that, beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, a local public school board,
if requested in writing signed by the parent or legal guardian of at least 25 students
enrolled in kindergarten who reside within the jurisdictional boundaries of the school
district, shall establish a foreign language immersion program for such students if
specified other criteria are met.
(3)Provides that such program shall be continued as long as at least 20 students remain
enrolled in the program.
(4)Requires the local school board to ensure that any foreign language immersion
program created pursuant to proposed law is designated as a Certified Foreign
Language Immersion Program in accordance with present law.
(5)Provides that a local school board shall not be required to provide transportation to
any student enrolled in a foreign language immersion program established that is
located outside the attendance zone of the school the student would otherwise attend
if providing such transportation would result in additional transportation costs to the
school system.
Proposed law amends present law, item (2) above, to make it applicable to students entering
first grade also.
Proposed law prohibits local school boards from denying enrollment in a foreign language
immersion program to any student if the following conditions are met:
(1)The minimum foundation program formula provides funding to local school systems
employing foreign language teachers to provide salary supplements for such teachers
at a level equal to or greater than the level of funding provided for this purpose
through such formula for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. HLS 14RS-1178 ENGROSSED
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(2)A sufficient number of foreign language teachers with the required credentials are
available through programs administered by the Dept. of Education and the Council
for the Development of French in La. to accommodate all interested students in the
program.
(3)The student resides within the jurisdictional boundaries of the school district.
(4)The student applies for enrollment in such a program by no later than March first of
the school year prior to such enrollment.
(5)If the student is entering second grade or above, he is sufficiently proficient in the
target language or is transferring from a certified foreign language program in
another La. school district.
Proposed law provides that, for a foreign language immersion program established prior to
the 2012-2013 school year, the requirements of present law that require enrollment of 20
students for continuation of the program and that require enrollment of timely applicants
shall apply. Further provides that the local school board shall ensure that such program is
designated as a Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program by the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education in accordance with present law (R.S. 17:273.2) by not
later than July 1, 2017.
Proposed law provides that nothing in present law or proposed law shall contravene any
order of a court of competent jurisdiction providing for the assignment of pupils within the
school system.
Effective July 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 17:273.3(C)(2)(a)(intro. para.); Adds R.S. 17:273.3(E), (F), and (G))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
bill.
1. Adds the following conditions on the proposed law prohibition on denial of
enrollment.
a. Sufficient minimum foundation program formula funds to pay salary
supplements.
b. Sufficient number of teachers with proper credentials.
c. Proficiency or transfer student requirements applicable to students
entering the second grade or above.