HLS 14RS-1042 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 993
BY REPRESENTATIVE SCHRODER AND SENATOR CLAI TOR
EDUCATION/SPECIAL: Provides relative to requirements for pupil progression,
graduation, and issuance of diplomas for students with exceptionalities
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:183.2(B)(1) and (C), 183.3(B)(3) and (D)(1)(a) and (b)(i) and2
(ii), and 2925(A)(2) and to enact R.S. 17:183.3(D)(1)(b)(iii)(dd) and (E), relative to3
high school career options for students with exceptionalities; to provide relative to4
requirements for Individual Graduation Plans, pupil progression, and graduation; to5
provide with respect to criteria for pursuing a career major curriculum; to provide for6
the issuance of a high school diploma; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:183.2(B)(1) and (C), 183.3(B)(3) and (D)(1)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii),9
and 2925(A)(2) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:183.3(D)(1)(b)(iii)(dd) and10
(E) are hereby enacted to read as follows:11
§183.2. Career option description12
* * *13
B.(1)(a) By the end of the eighth grade, each student shall develop, with the14
input of his family, and for a student with an exceptionality, as defined in R.S.15
17:1942(B), the Individualized Education Program team, a Five Year Individual16
Graduation Plan. Such a plan shall include a sequence of courses which is consistent17
with the student's stated goals for one year after graduation. Each student's Five18
Year Individual Graduation Plan shall be reviewed annually thereafter by the student,19 HLS 14RS-1042 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 993
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parents, and school advisor, and Individualized Education Program team, if1
applicable, and revised as needed.2
(b) If an Individualized Education Program team determines that the student3
is not required to meet state or local established performance standards on any4
assessment for purposes of graduation, the team shall:5
(i) Identify rigorous educational goals for the student.6
(ii) Include diagnostic information, appropriate monitoring and intervention,7
and other evaluation strategies.8
(iii) Include an intensive instructional program.9
(iv) Provide innovative methods to promote the student's advancement10
including flexible scheduling, alternate learning environments, online instruction,11
and other interventions that are proven to accelerate the learning process and have12
been scientifically validated to improve learning and cognitive ability.13
(v) Identify a course of study that promotes college or workforce readiness,14
or both, career placement and advancement, and transition from high school to15
postsecondary education or work placement.16
* * *17
C. Throughout high school, each student shall pursue the rigorous18
curriculum required for his chosen major by his school as approved by the State19
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or, for a student with an20
exceptionality, the rigorous requirements established for graduation by the21
Individualized Education Program team.22
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§183.3. Career major; description; curriculum and graduation requirements24
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B.26
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(3) The questions included in any end-of-course examination administered28
to students pursuing a career major program and curriculum as provided in this29 HLS 14RS-1042 ORIGINAL
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Section, the passage of which is required for high school graduation, shall be1
constructed in a manner that reflects course design and content and the method of2
instruction employed for the course.3
* * *4
D.(1) A student who seeks to pursue a career major curriculum must shall5
meet one of the following conditions:6
(a) The student has fulfilled all of the requirements established by the State7
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the city, parish, or other local8
public school board where the student is enrolled or the Individualized Education9
Program team, if applicable, for promotion to the ninth grade.10
(b)(i) The student is at least fifteen years of age, or will attain the age of11
fifteen during the next school year, scored at least at the approaching basic level on12
either the English/Language Arts or Mathematics component of the eighth grade13
Louisiana Educational Assessment Program test, and meets the objective criteria14
established by the pupil progression plan of the city, parish, or other local public15
school system where the student is enrolled or the requirements for promotion16
established by the Individualized Education Program team, if applicable, to enter the17
ninth grade for the purpose of pursuing a career major curriculum.18
(ii) Prior to entering the ninth grade, such student must the student shall19
complete a summer remediation program in the subject area of any component of the20
eighth grade Louisiana Educational Assessment Program test on which the student21
scored at the unsatisfactory level, as established by the State Board of Elementary22
and Secondary Education or complete the summer remediation requirements for23
promotion established by the Individualized Education Program team, if applicable.24
Any such student who fails to satisfactorily complete a summer remediation program25
shall be required to complete any approved developmental course or courses, for26
credit, as may be deemed necessary to ensure that the student is prepared to27
undertake the coursework required for his chosen career major.28 HLS 14RS-1042 ORIGINAL
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(iii) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall certify1
that the pupil progression plan established by each city, parish, or other local public2
school system that promotes a student to the ninth grade pursuant to this3
Subparagraph contains the following requirements:4
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(dd) Provides for pupil progression determinations for a student with an6
exceptionality, as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B), to be made by the Individualized7
Education Program teams.8
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E.(1) A student with an exceptionality, as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B), who10
successfully completes the requirements of his Individualized Education Program,11
including performance on any assessment required for graduation determined12
appropriate by their Individualized Education Program team, shall be issued a high13
school diploma. The student's Individualized Education Program team shall14
determine if the student is required to meet state or local established performance15
standards on any assessment for purposes of graduation.16
(2) If a student's Individualized Education Program team determines that the17
student is not required to meet state or local performance standards on any18
assessment for purposes of graduation, the student shall be required to successfully19
complete Individualized Education Program goals and requirements and shall meet20
at least one of the following conditions, consistent with the Individualized Education21
Program:22
(a) Employment in integrated, inclusive work environments, based on the23
student's abilities and local employment opportunities, in addition to sufficient24
self-help skills to enable the student to maintain employment without direct and25
continuous educational support from the school district.26
(b) Demonstrated mastery of specific employability skills and self-help skills27
that do not require direct and continuous educational support from the school district.28 HLS 14RS-1042 ORIGINAL
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(c) Access to services that are not within the legal responsibility of public1
education or employment or education options for which the student has been2
prepared by the academic program.3
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§2925. Individual graduation plans5
A.6
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(2) Each student, with the assistance of his parent or other legal guardian and8
school guidance personnel, shall be allowed to choose the high school curriculum9
framework and related graduation requirements that best meets his postsecondary10
goals. Each student's individual graduation plan Individual Graduation Plan shall11
include the recommended sequence of courses for successful completion of his12
chosen major that aligns with postsecondary education, training, and the workforce13
and shall be reviewed annually and updated or revised as needed. For a student with14
an exceptionality, as defined in R.S. 17:1942(B), the high school curriculum15
framework and related graduation requirements shall be determined by the16
Individualized Education Program team.17
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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)]
Schroder HB No. 993
Abstract: Provides relative to high school career options for students with exceptionalities
including requirements for Individual Graduation Plans, pupil progression, and
graduation and for the issuance of a high school diploma to such students.
Present law relative to the high school career option program, provides for an academic
major (college prep. courses) and a career major (academic courses and modern vocational
studies). Requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to
develop and adopt requirements for career major programs offered by school boards and to
issue a career diploma to students who successfully complete such requirements. Requires
students in a career major program to complete an academic core of courses and a career and
technical sequence of courses and specifies course requirements. Requires a student seeking
to pursue a career major curriculum to meet one of the following conditions: HLS 14RS-1042 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 993
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(1)Has fulfilled all requirements established by BESE and the local public school board
for promotion to 9th grade.
(2)Is at least 15 or will turn 15 during the upcoming school year and has scored at least
approaching basic on certain LEAP tests and meets criteria established by the local
school system's pupil progression plan to enter the 9th grade to pursue a career major
curriculum. Such student must also complete a summer remediation program in the
subject area of any LEAP test component on which he scored at the unsatisfactory
level. A student who fails to satisfactorily complete summer remediation must
complete developmental courses (for credit) necessary to be prepared to undertake
the course work required for his chosen career major.
Requires BESE to certify that the pupil progression plan of each local school system that
promotes a student who did not meet 8th grade LEAP standards to the 9th grade contains
specified requirements.
Present law relative to Individual Graduation Plans, requires students by the end of the 8th
grade, to develop a plan to help explore educational and career possibilities and to make
appropriate decisions as part of an overall career plan. Permits students to choose the high
school curriculum framework and related graduation requirements that best meet their
postsecondary goals. Provides that each student's plan shall include the recommended
sequence of courses needed for successful completion of his chosen career major and shall
be reviewed annually and updated as needed. Requires that a student's plan be signed by the
student and his parent or other legal guardian.
Proposed law provides for applicability of present law to students with exceptionalities as
defined in present law (R.S. 17:1942(B)). Provides for determinations relative to pupil
progression and graduation requirements to be made by the student's Individualized
Education Program (IEP) team. Provides for involvement by the IEP team in the
development and review of an Individual Graduation Plan. Provides that a student with an
exceptionality who successfully completes his IEP requirements shall be issued a high
school diploma.
(Amends R.S. 17:183.2(B)(1) and (C), 183.3(B)(3) and (D)(1)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii), and
2925(A)(2); Adds R.S. 17:183.3(D)(1)(b)(iii)(dd) and (E))