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Prepared by Linda Nugent.
Leger HB No. 968
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
STUDENTS. Provides relative to dropout prevention and recovery
DIGEST
Proposed law provides that each school district and charter school that provides instruction
to high school students may offer a dropout recovery program for eligible students. Provides
that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's prescribed standards and
achievement testing requirements apply to dropout recovery programs.
Provides that the dropout recovery programs shall make available appropriate and sufficient
supports for students, including tutoring, career counseling and college counseling, comply
with federal and state laws governing students with disabilities, and meet state requirements
for high school graduation.
Provides that each eligible student enrolled in a dropout recovery program shall have an
individual graduation plan developed by the student's assigned academic coach. Specifies
certain elements to be included in the plan.
Requires that a student enrolled in a dropout recovery program be included in the student
enrollment count for the school or school system offering the program. Requires that
monthly participation calculations shall include specified components.
Authorizes school districts and charter schools to contract with an educational management
organization to provide a dropout recovery program and if so, shall ensure that the
educational management organization is accredited by a regional accrediting body, that
teachers provided by the educational management organization hold a current teaching
license and that teachers of core subjects are highly qualified in those subjects, and that the
organization has provided one or more dropout recovery programs for at least two years.
Provides that dropout recovery programs shall be classified as alternative programs. Further
provides that entities that are contracted to provide dropout recovery programs may conduct
outreach to encourage students who are not enrolled in a school district or charter school in
this state to return to school. Prohibits entities that are contracted to provide dropout
recovery programs from conducting advertising or marketing campaigns directed at students
who are enrolled in a school district or charter school, or undertake any other activity that
encourages students who are enrolled in a school district or charter school to stop attending
school in order to qualify for a dropout recovery program.
Defines "eligible student", "satisfactory monthly progress", and "academic coach" for
purposes of proposed law.
Prohibits a school or school system from releasing any personally identifiable information
related to a student to any entity contracted to provide a dropout recovery program, unless
written authorization is granted by the student's parent or legal guardian, or the student if he
has reached the age of legal majority.
(Amends R.S. 17:221.4(A); adds R.S. 17:221.6) Page 2 of 2
Prepared by Linda Nugent.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
bill.
1. Deletes requirement that dropout recovery programs provide curriculum aligned
to standards adopted by BESE and the authorization for the curriculum to be
delivered online.
2. Deletes requirement that dropout recovery programs provide standardized tests
required by state and federal law.
3. Requires students in dropout recovery programs to have an individual graduation
plan instead of a written learning plan and requires that such plan be developed
by the student's assigned academic coach instead of assigned mentor.
4. Requires that monthly participation in a dropout recovery program be reported
for funding purposes to the state Dept. of Education on or before the 10
th
day of
the following month instead of being recorded on or before the 10
th
day of each
month and reported to the department.
5. Deletes provisions with regard to recording and calculating student attendance
for students participating in dropout recovery programs.
6. Deletes requirement that school districts and charter schools are responsible for
tuition and fees for students participating in dropout recovery programs.
7. Provides that dropout recovery programs are classified as alternative programs
instead of alternative schools.
8. Provides for determinations made by school administrators instead of school
districts with regard to student eligibility for participation in a dropout recovery
program.
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Adds that funding for dropout recovery programs shall be provided through the
minimum foundation program formula (MFP).
2. Adds requirement that a school district ensure that an educational management
organization has provided one or more dropout recovery programs for at least two
years prior to providing a program pursuant to proposed law.
3. Adds definition of "academic coach" for purposes of proposed law.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
reengrossed bill
1. Requires that a student enrolled in a dropout recovery program be included in the
student enrollment count for the school or school system offering the program.
2. Prohibits a school or school system from releasing a student's personally
identifiable information to any entity contracted to provide a dropout recovery
program, unless written authorization is granted by the student's parent or legal
guardian, or the student if he has reached the age of legal majority.