Ortego (HB 763) Act No. 196
Existing law provides for foreign language immersion as follows:
(1)Authorizes a local public school board to establish a foreign language immersion
program in any school. The program shall be open to any student who resides in the
school district.
(2)Requires creation of an immersion program if requested in writing by the parent or
legal guardian of at least 25 students enrolled in kindergarten and if specified other
criteria are met. Requires that such program be continued as long as at least 20
students remain enrolled in the program. Requires the school board to ensure that
any foreign language immersion program created pursuant to existing law is
designated as a Certified Foreign Language Immersion Program in accordance with
existing law.
(3)Provides relative to the transportation of students enrolled in a foreign language
immersion program.
New law requires the creation of an immersion program if requested by parents of first
graders, as provided by existing law applicable to parents of kindergarten students (item 2
above). New law makes the requirements for programs created pursuant to a request by
parents (item 2 above) also apply to any program established prior to the 2012-2013 school
year.
New 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.
(2)A sufficient number of 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.
(3)The student resides within the school district.
(4)The student applies for enrollment 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.
New law provides that nothing in existing law or new 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))