ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 763
BY REPRESENTATIVES ORTEGO, BARRAS, BURRELL, CARTER, CHAMPAGNE,
DIXON, GISCLAIR, GUILLORY, GUINN, HARRISON, HUVAL, JONES,
KLECKLEY, NANCY LANDRY, LEBAS, MONTOUCET, PIERRE, RICHARD,
ROBIDEAUX, ST. GERMAIN, TALBOT, THIERRY, WHITNEY, AND
WOODRUFF AND SENATOR LAFLEUR
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 ENROLLEDHB NO. 763
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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
G. Nothing in this Section shall contravene any order of a court of competent29
jurisdiction providing for the assignment of pupils within the school system.30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 763
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Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2014; if vetoed by the governor1
and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,2
2014, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.3
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: