HLS 15RS-958 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 320
BY REPRESENTATIVE WOODRUFF
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENTS: Provides relative to dropout prevention and recovery
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:221.4(A) and (C)(introductory paragraph) and 221.6(A),
3 (E)(introductory paragraph), and (I)(introductory paragraph) and to enact R.S.
4 17:221.6(I)(4), relative to high school dropout recovery programs; to require such
5 programs in certain high schools; to provide with respect to funding; to provide for
6 definitions; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:221.4(A) and (C)(introductory paragraph) and 221.6(A),
9(E)(introductory paragraph), and (I)(introductory paragraph) are hereby amended and
10reenacted and R.S. 17:221.6(I)(4) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §221.4. Louisiana School Dropout prevention and recovery program Prevention Act
12 A. This Section shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana School
13 Dropout Prevention and Recovery Act of 2014".
14 * * *
15 C. A student, who is under eighteen years of age, who withdraws from
16 school prior to graduating from high school, and who has not enrolled in a dropout
17 recovery program as provided in R.S. 17:221.6 shall exercise one of the following
18 options within one hundred twenty days of leaving school:
19 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-958 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 320
1 §221.6. Louisiana School Dropout recovery programs; individual graduation plan;
2 requirements; definitions Recovery Program
3 A. Each school district and charter school that provides instruction to high
4 school students may offer shall establish a dropout recovery program for in each high
5 school under its jurisdiction that had a graduation rate of eighty-five percent or less
6 in the previous school year. A dropout recovery program shall provide all eligible
7 students an opportunity to meet high school graduation requirements.
8 * * *
9 E. A student in a dropout recovery program shall be provided for and funded
10 at one hundred percent of the state and local share per pupil amount as provided in
11 the approved minimum foundation program formula for the city, parish, or other
12 public school system or school in which such student is enrolled. Each student
13 enrolled in a dropout recovery program pursuant to this Section shall be recorded on
14 a monthly basis as participating in the program and, at the biannual student count,
15 shall be included in the student enrollment count for the school or school system
16 offering the program. The amount of funds provided for that student shall be equal
17 to a percentage of the overall per student share based on the total number of months
18 the student is recorded as participating divided by the total months covering the
19 formula period. Each participating school and school system shall report the
20 following information to the state Department of Education on a monthly basis
21 record, each month, all of the students who meet the following criteria for actively
22 participating in the dropout recovery program:
23 * * *
24 I. For the purposes of this Section:
25 * * *
26 (4) "School district" or "district" means a city, parish, or other local public
27 school system.
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are additions. HLS 15RS-958 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 320
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)]
HB 320 Original 2015 Regular Session Woodruff
Abstract: Requires dropout recovery programs in high schools with low graduation rates
and provides prorated MFP funding for students enrolled in such program.
Present law provides with respect to high school dropout prevention (R.S. 17:221.4) and
high school dropout recovery (R.S. 17:221.6).
With respect to dropout prevention, present law requires certain minors, within 120 days of
leaving school, to seek alternative programs. Proposed law retains present law and exempts
minors who are otherwise participating in a dropout recovery program.
Present law, with respect to dropout recovery in high school, allows each city, parish, or
other local public school system or charter school to offer a dropout recovery program.
Proposed law requires such a program in those high schools that had a graduation rate of
85% or less in the previous year.
Present law provides that any student enrolled in a dropout recovery program is to be
included in the student enrollment count of the school offering the program. Proposed law
provides that the enrolled student is to be funded according to the applicable MFP formula,
on a pro rata basis as determined by the number of months in which the student participated
in the program.
Present law requires certain student information to be recorded and reported to the Dept. of
Education on a monthly basis. Proposed law retains the recordation requirement but
eliminates the reporting requirement to the Dept. of Education.
Proposed law retains present law with respect to other provisions of the dropout recovery
program and clarifies certain terms.
(Amends R.S. 17:221.4(A) and (C)(intro. para.) and 221.6(A), (E)(intro. para.), and (I)(intro.
para.); Adds R.S. 17:221.6(I)(4))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.