HLS 16RS-3988 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 137
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
STUDENTS: Requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study
the prevalence and use of student fees in public schools
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the
3 prevalence and use of student fees in public elementary and secondary schools in
4 Louisiana and to submit a written report of findings and recommendations to the
5 House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later
6 than March 1, 2017.
7 WHEREAS, the Constitution of Louisiana recognizes the importance of public
8education in affording every child an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and
9 WHEREAS, a quality public school education must be available free of charge in
10order to provide an equal opportunity to every child regardless of the child's economic
11status; and
12 WHEREAS, the practice of charging fees to public school students has the potential,
13if overused or used inappropriately, to create economic barriers to equality of opportunity
14in public education; and
15 WHEREAS, students may be assessed fees for various purposes including but not
16limited to fees for academic materials and supplies, extracurricular activities such as band
17and math club, and graduation; and
18 WHEREAS, many are concerned that there is currently no method of tracking and
19regulating the assessment of fees to public school students.
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HCR NO. 137
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
2urge and request the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to conduct a
3thorough study of the prevalence and use of student fees in public elementary and secondary
4schools in Louisiana and to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to
5the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than
6March 1, 2017.
7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study shall include but not be limited to the
8following:
9 (1) A comprehensive survey of the stated purpose and amount of each fee assessed
10to each student and his family in each public elementary and secondary school.
11 (2) Any trends in the prevalence and amount of such fees over time.
12 (3) The existence and use of fee waivers, including hardship and indigency waivers,
13at each such public school and the manner in which the existence of such waivers is
14communicated to students and parents.
15 (4) The total burden of such fees on families at each such public school.
16 (5) The relationship between the amount of such fees and the reasonable costs of a
17quality public education.
18 (6) The manner in which the proceeds of such fees are actually used by the school
19collecting the fees.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all public elementary and secondary schools,
21school boards, and school administrators shall fully cooperate and shall provide such
22information, documents, and assistance to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
23Education as may be appropriate in the completion of the study as provided by this
24Resolution.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
26president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state
27superintendent of education.
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HCR NO. 137
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)]
HCR 137 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Smith
Requests the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the prevalence and
use of student fees in La. public elementary and secondary schools and to submit a written
report of its findings and recommendations to the House and Senate education committees
not later than March 1, 2017. Provides for matters to be included in the study.
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