HLS 16RS-718 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 562
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEGER
SCHOOLS/CHARTER: Permits local public school boards to assign students to charter
schools under certain circumstances
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3991(B)(3), relative to charter schools; to permit city, parish,
3 and other local public school boards to assign students to charter schools under
4 certain circumstances; to provide for such assignment to be based on parental
5 preferences, charter school admission requirements and contracts, and local board
6 policies; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:3991(B)(3) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง3991. Charter schools; requirements; limitations; renewal; amendment; revocation
10 * * *
11 B. Each proposed charter shall contain or make provision for the following:
12 * * *
13 (3) Admission requirements, if any, that are consistent with the school's role,
14 scope, and mission may be established pursuant to rules promulgated by the state
15 board. Such admission requirements shall be specific and shall include a system for
16 admission decisions which precludes exclusion of pupils based on race, religion,
17 gender, ethnicity, national origin, intelligence level as ascertained by an intelligence
18 quotient examination, or identification as a student with an exceptionality as defined
19 in R.S. 17:1942(B). Such admission requirements may include, however, specific
20 requirements related to a school's mission such as auditions for schools with a
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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HB NO. 562
1 performing arts mission or proficiency in a foreign language for schools with a
2 language immersion mission. Any school which was chartered prior to July 1, 2012,
3 and which incorporated achievement of a certain academic record as part of its
4 admission requirements may continue to utilize use such admission requirements.
5 No local board shall assign any pupil to attend a charter school, except that a local
6 board in a district in which fifty percent or more of the public schools in the district
7 are charter schools and that uses a single application and enrollment process adopted
8 by the local board for public school enrollment may assign a pupil to a charter school
9 based on such enrollment process, the preferences of the pupil's parent or legal
10 guardian, the charter school's admission requirements, the charter contract, and the
11 local board's policies.
12 * * *
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 562 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Leger
Abstract: Permits a local public school board in a district in which a majority of schools
are charter schools and that uses a single application and enrollment process to
assign students to charter schools based on the preferences of a student's parent or
legal guardian, charter school admission requirements and contracts, and local school
board policies.
Present law provides relative to charter school requirements, limitations, and prohibitions.
Requires that charter school admission requirements be consistent with the school's role,
scope, and mission. Requires that the admission requirements include a system for
admission decisions which precludes exclusion of students based on race, religion, gender,
ethnicity, national origin, intelligence level, or identification as a student with an
exceptionality as defined in present law. Provides that such requirements may include
specific requirements related to a school's mission such as auditions or proficiency in a
foreign language. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law prohibits local school boards from assigning students to attend a charter school.
Proposed law exempts from this prohibition a local public school board in a district in which
50% or more of the public schools are charter schools and the district uses a single
application and enrollment process for public school enrollment. Allows such a board to
assign students to charter schools based on the preferences of the parents, the charter school's
admission requirements and contract, and local school board policies.
(Amends R.S. 17:3991(B)(3))
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HB NO. 562
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Exempt a local school board in a district in which 50% or more of the public
schools are charter schools, instead of a district with one or more charter schools,
from present law prohibition on assignment of pupils to charter schools.
2. Add that the assignment of pupils to charter schools in such a district may be
based on the charter school admission requirements and contract and the local
school board policies.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.