HLS 15RS-1326 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 543
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
EDUCATION ACCOUNTABILITY: Provides relative to an accountability system for
nonpublic schools participating in the voucher program
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:4015(2) and (9) and to enact R.S. 17:4021(A)(4) and 4022(7),
3 relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program; to provide
4 relative to eligibility requirements for nonpublic schools applying to participate in
5 the program; to require the Department of Education to develop an accountability
6 system for participating nonpublic schools; to require compliance with the system
7 by participating nonpublic schools; and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 17:4015(2) and (9) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
1017:4021(A)(4) and 4022(7) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §4015. Program administration
12 In administering the program pursuant to this Chapter, the department shall:
13 * * *
14 (2) Receive notice of intent from schools seeking to participate in the
15 program which shall include the number of available seats per grade and whether the
16 school elects to offer an enrollment preference to a student based on the parish in
17 which the student resides, and qualify such schools for participation in the program
18 if such schools are effective and are providing a quality education to students as set
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1326 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 543
1 forth in R.S. 17:4012 as determined by the department pursuant to R.S.
2 17:4021(A)(4). For eligible public schools, the notice of intent shall be submitted
3 by the principal of the school with the approval of the local superintendent. The
4 local school board shall delegate the authority to participate in the program to the
5 local superintendent.
6 * * *
7 (9) On or before August 1, 2012 develop Develop and implement criteria for
8 participation that include an accountability system for participating students at
9 participating nonpublic schools that is comparable to and contains the same
10 components, requirements, and criteria as the school and district accountability
11 system for public schools, including but not limited to requirements for high stakes
12 testing, assignment of letter grades to schools, and publishing and reporting of
13 accountability results. After August 1, 2012, the accountability system shall not be
14 altered except by an act of the legislature, except for adjustments to individual
15 numeric performance targets and thresholds made by the state superintendent of
16 education pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the State Board of Elementary
17 and Secondary Education as provided in R.S. 17:4025(A).
18 * * *
19 §4021. School eligibility
20 A. To be eligible to participate in the program, a nonpublic school shall meet
21 all of the following criteria:
22 * * *
23 (4) The department has determined that the school is 'effective' using an
24 accountability system developed and implemented by the department for nonpublic
25 schools that is comparable to and contains the same components, requirements, and
26 criteria as the school and district accountability system for public schools, including
27 but not limited to requirements for high stakes testing, assignment of letter grades
28 to schools, and publishing and reporting of accountability results.
29 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 543
1 §4022. Participating schools; requirements
2 Each participating school shall:
3 (7) Comply with the accountability system developed pursuant to R.S.
4 17:4015(9).
5 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2015; if vetoed by the governor
6and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,
72015, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
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 543 Original 2015 Regular Session Harrison
Abstract: Requires the state Dept. of Education to develop and implement an
accountability system for nonpublic schools participating in the voucher program and
requires compliance by such schools. Requires nonpublic schools applying to
participate in the program to be determined as effective schools through the use of
an accountability system comparable to the public school accountability system.
Present law, relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence (voucher)
Program, requires the state Dept. of Education to develop criteria for participation that
include an accountability system for participating students at participating schools. Provides
that such system shall not be altered except by legislative Act except for certain numeric
adjustments made by the state superintendent of education.
Proposed law deletes present law and instead requires the department to develop and
implement an accountability system for participating nonpublic schools that is comparable
to and contains the same components, requirements, and criteria as the school and district
accountability system for public schools, including but not limited to requirements for high
stakes testing, assignment of letter grades to schools, and publishing and reporting of
accountability results. Requires participating nonpublic schools to comply with the
accountability system.
Proposed law requires that in order for a nonpublic school to be eligible to participate in the
program, it must be determined by the department to be effective pursuant to an
accountability system provided for by proposed law.
Effective July 1, 2015.
(Amends R.S. 17:4015(2) and (9); Adds R.S. 17:4021(A)(4) and 4022(7))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.