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:
(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))