HLS 15RS-958 ENGROSSED
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 provide with
5 respect to funding; to provide for definitions; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:221.4(A) and (C)(introductory paragraph) and 221.6(A),
8(E)(introductory paragraph), and (I)(introductory paragraph) are hereby amended and
9reenacted and R.S. 17:221.6(I)(4) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §221.4. Louisiana School Dropout prevention and recovery program Prevention Act
11 A. This Section shall be known and may be cited as the "Louisiana School
12 Dropout Prevention and Recovery Act of 2014".
13 * * *
14 C. A student, who is under eighteen years of age, who withdraws from
15 school prior to graduating from high school, and who has not enrolled in a dropout
16 recovery program as provided in R.S. 17:221.6 shall exercise one of the following
17 options within one hundred twenty days of leaving school:
18 * * *
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-958 ENGROSSED
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 a dropout recovery program for eligible students. School
5 districts and charter schools should maximize the use of Title 1 and at-risk funds
6 through the minimum foundation program to establish such programs.
7 * * *
8 E. A Each student enrolled in a dropout recovery program pursuant to this
9 Section shall be recorded on a monthly basis as participating in the program and shall
10 be included in the student enrollment count for the school or school system offering
11 the program. Each participating school and school system shall report the following
12 information to the state Department of Education on a monthly basis record, each
13 month, all of the students who meet the following criteria for actively participating
14 in the dropout recovery program:
15 * * *
16 I. For the purposes of this Section:
17 * * *
18 (4) "School district" or "district" means a city, parish, or other local public
19 school system.
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 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session Woodruff
Abstract: Exempts students in dropout recovery programs from certain requirements
applicable to minors who withdraw from school before high school graduation and
removes certain reporting requirements pertaining to dropout recovery programs.
Present law requires minors who withdraw from school prior to high school graduation,
within 120 days of leaving, to either reenroll in school and make progress toward completing
graduation requirements, enroll in a high school equivalency diploma program and make
progress toward completing program requirements, or enlist in the La. National Guard or the
U.S. Armed Forces, with a commitment for at least two years of service, and earn a high
school equivalency diploma during the service period. Proposed law exempts minors
participating in a dropout recovery program from this requirement.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-958 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 320
Present law allows each school district and charter school that provides instruction to high
school students to offer a dropout recovery program. Proposed law adds that such districts
and schools should maximize the use of Title 1 and at-risk funds through the minimum
foundation program (MFP) to establish such programs.
Present law requires that a student enrolled in such a program be included in the student
enrollment count for the school or school district offering the program. Proposed law adds
that such students shall be recorded on a monthly basis as program participants.
Present law requires monthly reporting by schools and school systems to the state Dept. of
Education and specifies information to be included in the reports. Proposed law requires that
such information be recorded monthly rather than reported to DOE monthly.
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))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Retain present law provision authorizing all schools and school districts
providing instruction to high school students to offer dropout recovery programs
and remove proposed law provision that would have required the offering of such
programs in schools with low graduation rates.
2. Instead of requiring the funding of students in such programs as provided in the
minimum foundation program (MFP) formula, provide that school districts and
charter schools should maximize the use of Title 1 and at-risk funds through the
MFP to establish such programs.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.