LaFleur (SB 533) Act No. 717
New law establishes La. early learning enrollment coordination procedures. Requires the
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to approve a process to
authorize entities as local early learning enrollment coordinators to begin performing
required services in school systems in the 2015-2016 school year. Provides for the
responsibilities of such coordinators including conducting a process for informing families
about early childhood care and education programs, collecting family preferences, using a
common application process, determining demand, and making recommendations to the state
Dept. of Education (DOE). Provides for initial authorization of local early learning
enrollment coordinators for a period up to five years and provides that BESE may grant
renewal for additional periods of not less than three years nor more than five years after
thorough review of the local early learning enrollment coordinator activities.
Provides that prior to authorizing local early learning enrollment coordinators, BESE shall:
(1)Provide certain information to public school governing authorities and other
specified child care providers (nonpublic and public) relative to informing families
about the availability of publicly-funded and Type III licensed early childhood care
and education programs, coordinating enrollment, eligibility criteria, and waiting
lists, collecting family preferences for enrollment, and providing related timelines.
(2)Not certify any entity as a local early learning enrollment coordinator unless it is in
compliance with procedures and regulations established by BESE. Requires that the
entity be a state agency, a public school system, or a nonprofit or for-profit
corporation having an educational or social services mission, including but not
limited to a nonprofit corporation of a philanthropic or policy nature, a La. public
postsecondary education institution, or a nonprofit corporation established by the
governing authority of a parish or municipality.
(3)Review proposed local early learning enrollment coordinators in a timely manner
and determine whether each proposed coordinator complies with the law and rules
and whether the proposal is valid, complete, and financially well-structured.
(4)Approve a process by which the DOE serves as the local early learning enrollment
coordinator for those coverage areas without an approved entity.
(5)Promulgate rules establishing an appeals process and designating DOE to oversee
the process for families and early learning centers to appeal decisions made by local
early learning enrollment coordinators.
Relative to funding for local early learning enrollment coordinators, provides that the DOE
shall allocate not more than 1% of the public funds appropriated for each early childhood
care and education program in the coverage area to support the local early learning
enrollment coordinator in performing the services required by new law. Specifies that the
amount allocated from the funding for each early childhood care and education program
shall be proportionate to the number of children in the program enrolled by the local early
learning enrollment coordinator for the coverage area and if an allocation cannot be made
from a funding stream to support the early learning enrollment coordinator for a coverage
area, the amount established for that funding stream to support the early learning enrollment
coordinator shall be allocated from the remaining program funding streams in an amount
proportionate to the number of children in each program enrolled by the local early learning
enrollment coordinator for the coverage area. Prohibits BESE from allocating additional
funds to support early learning enrollment coordinators, as provided in new law, from the
funding stream for any early childhood care and education program that has a per-child
allocation or subsidy below the state average per-child allocation or subsidy for all programs
included in the enrollment system. Authorizes the DOE to use such funds to support any
local enrollment pilot programs during the 2014-2015 school year in order to inform the
establishment of rules adopted by BESE on or before June 30, 2015.
Provides that Head Start programs shall fund their respective recruitment, selection, and
enrollment system mandated by applicable federal laws, regulations, standards, and grant
requirements and shall collaborate with local schools and early learning centers to conduct
combined recruitment enrollment activities as defined in new law. Authorizes BESE to establish start-up or incubation grants to encourage sufficient supply
of high-quality local early learning enrollment coordinators.
Requires local early learning enrollment coordinators to annually submit to DOE an
independent financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant who has been
approved by the legislative auditor, along with the auditor's statement that the report is free
of material misstatements. Limits the audit to those records necessary to ensure that the
coordinator has used funds to perform required services and requires that it be submitted to
the legislative auditor for review. Requires the local early learning enrollment coordinator
to return to the state any funds that the legislative auditor determines were expended in a
manner inconsistent with state law or state board regulations. Provides that the cost of the
audit shall be paid by the DOE from funds provided pursuant to new law.
Provides that new law shall not prevent any Head Start grantee or Early Head Start grantee
from complying with all applicable federal laws, regulations, standards, and grant
requirements.
Requires BESE to adopt all rules required pursuant to new law in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure Act.
Provides for definitions for purposes of new law.
Effective upon signature of governor (June 18, 2014).
(Adds R.S. 17:407.41-407.46)