HLS 16RS-205 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 887
BY REPRESENTATIVE STEVE CARTER
SCHOOLS: Creates a residential school for certain at-risk students in grades six through
twelve
1 AN ACT
2To enact Part II-D of Chapter 8 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be
3 comprised of R.S. 17:1971 through 1976, and R.S. 36:651(D)(9), to create a
4 residential school for certain at-risk students; to provide for a board of directors and
5 a school director; to provide for the powers, duties, and responsibilities of such board
6 and director; to provide for board membership, terms, and compensation; to provide
7 for funding; to provide for definitions; to provide for legislative intent; and to
8 provide for related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. Part II-D of Chapter 8 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
111950, to be comprised of R.S. 17:1971 through 1976, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 PART II-D THRIVE ACADEMY
13 §1971. Legislative intent
14 A. It is the intent of the legislature to establish an independent, residential
15 school as a pilot school for certain at-risk students in grades six through twelve with
16 the express purpose of providing a more challenging educational experience to
17 develop students to their full potential through high expectations, personal support,
18 and educationally enriching activities.
19 B. The legislature finds that an independent, residential school for at-risk
20 students of this age can be an important cost saving measure for the state because
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1 research shows that investing in education for at-risk students in this kind of setting
2 can lead to greater academic success which can strengthen the future economy if
3 those students avoid dropping out of high school, resulting in less likelihood of
4 unemployment, reliance on social-welfare programs, and imprisonment.
5 §1972. Definitions
6 As used in this Part, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the
7 meanings ascribed to them in this Section, except when the context clearly indicates
8 a different meaning:
9 (1) "At-risk student" means a student who meets at least one of the
10 following:
11 (a) Is eligible for health benefits under Medicaid.
12 (b) Is in the eighth grade or below and is reading two or more grade levels
13 below grade level as determined by any of the tests required pursuant to R.S.
14 17:24.4.
15 (c) Has a documented history of truancy.
16 (d) Is in foster care pursuant to placement through the Department of
17 Children and Family Services.
18 (e) Meets the criteria for a homeless student as defined in the federal
19 McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
20 (f) Is referred by a teacher, counselor, or principal.
21 (2) "Department" means the state Department of Education.
22 (3) "School" means the Thrive Academy.
23 (4) "State Board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
24 Education.
25 (5) "State superintendent" means the state superintendent of education.
26 §1973. Thrive Academy; creation; location; governance
27 A. There is hereby created the Thrive Academy which shall be a residential
28 school for certain at-risk students in grades six through twelve. The school shall be
29 located in Baton Rouge. Except as provided in Subsection B of this Section, the
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1 school shall be independent of the control of the state superintendent and of all local
2 and state education boards except its board of directors.
3 B. The school shall be subject to the same laws, rules, regulations, and other
4 requirements applicable to charter schools and traditional public schools as
5 specifically provided for in R.S. 17:3996.
6 §1974. Board of directors; creation; membership; terms; powers; voting;
7 compensation
8 A. There is hereby created a board of directors for the school, hereinafter in
9 this part referred to as the "board". The board shall be composed of nine members
10 as follows:
11 (1) The state superintendent of education or his designee.
12 (2) The superintendent of schools for East Baton Rouge Parish or his
13 designee.
14 (3) The chairman of the House Committee on Education or his designee.
15 (4) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education or his designee.
16 (5) One member who shall be appointed by the governor.
17 (6) One teacher who shall be a member of the faculty of the school and who
18 shall be elected by the members of the faculty.
19 (7) The secretary of the Department of Children and Family Services or his
20 designee.
21 (8) The president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents or
22 his designee.
23 (9) The district attorney of East Baton Rouge Parish or his designee.
24 B. The terms of the members of the board shall be four years.
25 C. Six members of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
26 business, and all official action of the board shall require the favorable vote of a
27 majority of those members present and voting.
28 D. The board is hereby authorized to:
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1 (1) Accept donations, bequests, or other forms of financial assistance for
2 educational purposes from any public or private person or agency and comply with
3 rules and regulations governing grants from the federal government or from any
4 other person or agency, which are not in contravention of the constitution and laws.
5 (2) Purchase land and equipment and make improvements to facilities
6 necessary for the use of the school, in accordance with applicable law.
7 (3) Lease land or other property belonging to it or to the school, subject to
8 approval of the commissioner of administration and in accordance with law.
9 (4) Sell or exchange land or other real property not needed for school
10 purposes, but only when specifically authorized by law and then only in accordance
11 with the procedures provided in R.S. 41:892 for the sale of unused school lands. The
12 sale shall be authorized by resolution adopted by the board, and the act of sale shall
13 be signed by the president of the board or such other person to whom the signing
14 may be delegated by the board in the authorizing resolution.
15 (5) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies necessary or proper for the conduct
16 of the business of the board.
17 (6) Award certificates and issue diplomas for successful completion of
18 programs of study.
19 (7) Enter into contracts and agreements which have been recommended by
20 the director, in accordance with applicable law, and to the extent that funds are
21 specifically appropriated therefor, with other public agencies with respect to
22 cooperative enterprises and undertakings related to or associated with an educational
23 purpose or program affecting education in the school. This shall not preclude the
24 board from entering into other such contracts and agreements that it may deem
25 necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
26 (8) Perform such other functions as are necessary for the supervision and
27 control of the school.
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1 (9) The board shall delegate to the director such of its powers and duties as
2 it deems appropriate to aid the director in the efficient administration of his
3 responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the board.
4 E. In addition to the authorities granted herein and any powers, duties, and
5 responsibilities vested by any other applicable laws, the board shall:
6 (1) Adopt rules, regulations, and policies, including a student handbook, that
7 are necessary for the efficient operation of the school.
8 (2) Establish criteria to be used in determining eligibility of applicants for
9 enrollment.
10 (3) Prescribe and select for use in the school free textbooks and other
11 materials of instruction for children enrolled in the school and programs under its
12 jurisdiction for which the legislature provides funds.
13 (4) Enter into an agreement, as recommended by the director, with a city,
14 parish, and other local public school system for the enrollment of a student who
15 otherwise would have attended school in the local public school system.
16 (5) Select a director who shall be the chief administrative officer of the
17 school and who shall administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the
18 board. The director shall be responsible for all the administrative functions, duties,
19 and needs of the board including but not limited to the following:
20 (a) Prepare an annual budget necessary for the continued operation of the
21 school and submit such budget to the board for adoption.
22 (b) Pay the expenses of the board and its members and the salaries and
23 expenses, including but not necessarily restricted to facilities, equipment, and
24 supplies of the faculty and staff of the school out of funds appropriated or otherwise
25 made available for the operating and administrative expenses of the board and the
26 school.
27 (c) Exercise budgetary responsibility and allocate for expenditure by the
28 school all monies appropriated or otherwise made available for purposes of the board
29 and the school.
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1 (d) Develop and annually update a student handbook including but not
2 limited to all rules, regulations, and policies for the disciplining of students and
3 submit such handbook to the board for adoption as provided in Paragraph (1) of this
4 Subsection.
5 (e) Determine faculty and staff positions necessary for the efficient operation
6 of the school and select personnel for such positions.
7 (6) Create an advisory panel consisting of a representative from each city,
8 parish, and other local public school system that has entered into an agreement with
9 the board for the enrollment of a student who otherwise would have attended school
10 in the local public school system. The representative shall be selected by the local
11 superintendent of the system. The advisory panel shall advise and provide assistance
12 to the board on matters affecting the school as determined by the board.
13 F. Members of the board shall not receive any compensation for their
14 duties as members.
15 G. The board of directors shall serve as the local educational agency for the
16 school.
17 §1975. Extracurricular activities
18 A. Whenever possible, the school shall offer such extracurricular activities
19 as may be found in other public schools in the state. The East Baton Rouge Parish
20 public school system shall, to the extent practicable, allow the students of the school
21 to participate in any extracurricular activities the system may offer which the school
22 cannot, particularly music and varsity athletics.
23 B. Any student attending the school shall be eligible to participate in any
24 extracurricular activity at any nonpublic school that is located within the attendance
25 zone of the school if such nonpublic school is approved by the State Board of
26 Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:11 and is in compliance
27 with the criteria set forth in Brumfield, et al. v. Dodd, et al., 425 F. Supp. 528.
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1 §1976. Funding; inclusion in the minimum foundation program formula; other
2 appropriated state funds
3 A.(1) The board of directors of the school annually shall prepare and adopt
4 a recommended formula to adequately fund the educational programs at the school.
5 The formula shall have as its goal to provide state funding for the school which shall
6 not be less than the average funding on a per student basis at peer institutions in other
7 states having similar programs and enrollments and may provide for achieving its
8 goal over a multi-year period. The recommended formula shall be submitted to the
9 division of administration as the total budget request for the school.
10 (2) Funding for the school shall be provided through legislative
11 appropriations made directly to the school from the state general fund and through
12 funds appropriated for the minimum foundation program and allocated to the school
13 by the department.
14 B.(1) For the purposes of this Section, the school shall be considered a public
15 secondary school and, as such, shall be included by the state board in the minimum
16 foundation program formula required by Article VIII, Section 13 of the Constitution
17 of Louisiana.
18 (2) Minimum foundation program funds allocated to the school shall be
19 based upon the school's enrollment, which shall be determined in the same manner
20 as for other public schools and the amount allocated shall be equal to the per pupil
21 amount provided through the minimum foundation program formula including both
22 the state and local per pupil weighted allocations based on student characteristics or
23 needs.
24 C. The amount of funding for any budget request submitted as provided in
25 this Section that is not provided through the minimum foundation program formula
26 shall be determined by the legislature.
27 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(D)(9) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
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1 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department
2 of Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
3 Education
4 * * *
5 D. The following agencies, as defined by R.S. 36:3, are transferred to and
6 hereafter shall be within the Department of Education as provided in R.S. 36:801.1:
7 * * *
8 (9) The Thrive Academy and its board of directors (R.S. 17:1971 et seq.).
9 * * *
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 887 Original 2016 Regular Session Steve Carter
Abstract: Creates an independent, residential school (Thrive Academy) in Baton Rouge as
a pilot school for certain at-risk students in grades six through 12; provides for a
board of directors for the school; provides for funding.
Proposed law establishes an independent, residential school (Thrive Academy) in Baton
Rouge as a pilot school for certain at-risk students in grades six through 12. Provides for the
enrollment of "at-risk" students who meet at least one of the following:
(1)Is eligible for health benefits under Medicaid.
(2)Is in the eighth grade or below and is reading two or more grade levels below grade
level as determined by any test required pursuant to present law.
(3)Has a documented history of truancy.
(4)Is in foster care pursuant to placement through the Dept. of Children and Family
Services.
(5)Meets the criteria for a homeless student as defined in the federal McKinney-Vento
Homeless Assistance Act.
(6)Is referred by a teacher, counselor, or principal.
Proposed law provides for a board of directors for the school and provides for membership
and terms. Provides that the members shall not receive any compensation. Provides for
powers and duties of the board including but not limited to adopting necessary rules,
regulations, and policies for the operation of the school, annually preparing and adopting a
formula to adequately fund the educational programs at the school, awarding certificates and
issuing diplomas, determining student eligibility, and selecting a director for the school.
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Proposed law provides that the director shall be the chief administrative officer and shall
administer the rules, regulations, and policies adopted by the board. The director shall be
responsible for all the administrative functions, duties, and needs of the board including but
not limited to preparing an annual budget, exercising budgetary responsibility and allocating
funds appropriated for the school, developing a student handbook, and determining faculty
and staff positions.
Proposed law requires the board to create an advisory panel to advise and provide assistance
to the board on matters affecting the school as determined by the board. Provides for panel
membership to consist of a representative from each local public school system that has
entered into an agreement with the board for the enrollment of a student who otherwise
would have attended school in the local public school system.
Proposed law provides that funding for the school shall come from legislative appropriation
made directly to the school from the state general fund and through funds appropriated for
the minimum foundation program and allocated to the school by the state Dept. of
Education. Permits the board to accept federal and private funds. Specifies that the minimum
foundation program funds allocated to the school shall be based upon the school's
enrollment, which shall be determined in the same manner as for other public schools and
the amount allocated shall be equal to the per pupil amount provided through the minimum
foundation program formula including both the state and local per pupil weighted allocations
based on student characteristics or needs.
Proposed law provides that the school shall offer extracurricular activities. Provides that the
East Baton Rouge Parish public school system shall, to the extent practicable, allow the
students of the school to participate in any extracurricular activities the system may offer
which the school cannot. Further provides that students shall be eligible to participate in any
extracurricular activity at a nonpublic school that is located within the attendance zone of
the school provided that such nonpublic school is approved by the State Board of Elementary
and Secondary Education.
Proposed law provides that the school shall be subject to the same laws, rules, regulations,
and other requirements applicable to charter schools and traditional public schools as
specifically provided for in present law (relative to charter schools).
(Adds R.S. 17:1971-1976 and R.S. 36:651(D)(9))
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