2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 353
BY SENATOR BISHOP AND REPRESENTATIVES ARMES, BAGNERIS, BOUIE,
GARY CARTER, ROBBY CARTER, HILFERTY, TERRY LANDRY,
MARCELLE, MORENO, PIERRE, RICHARD AND SMITH
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:221.7 and 3996(B)(42), relative to dropout prevention programs for high
3 school students; to provide for the Louisiana Expectant and Parenting Students Act;
4 to provide for a purpose for the Act; to require public high school governing
5 authorities to adopt policies that support expectant and parenting students; to provide
6 for reporting requirements and criteria; to provide for an effective date; and to
7 provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 17:221.7 and 3996(B)(42) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §221.7. Dropout prevention and recovery for expectant and parenting students
11 A. The Louisiana Legislature recognizes the need to ensure that all
12 students graduate from high school, despite the many challenges they may face.
13 The legislature acknowledges that pregnancy is consistently the most common
14 family-related reason given by female students who drop out of high school.
15 Further, the legislature finds that federal Title IX of the Education
16 Amendments of 1972 protects the rights of expectant and parenting students,
17 and encompassed in that protection is the right to a safe and supportive school
18 environment that promotes high school graduation.
19 B. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 establishes basic legal
20 obligations of any educational program receiving federal assistance.
21 C.(1) Each governing authority of a public secondary school receiving
22 federal financial assistance shall adopt a policy that complies with the
23 requirements of federal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
24 (2) In addition to the basic legal obligations under federal Title IX of the
ACT No. 523
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1 Education Amendments of 1972, the following key provisions shall be included
2 in a school governing authority's policy regarding expectant and parenting
3 students:
4 (a) Maintaining student confidentiality.
5 (b) Ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment.
6 (c) Promoting academic success.
7 (d) Implementing sensible attendance policies.
8 (3) Such policy shall be readily available to the public by posting on the
9 website of the school or school governing authority, or by other appropriate
10 means.
11 (4) The state Department of Education shall submit a written report to
12 the Senate and House committees on education and health and welfare at least
13 sixty days before the 2017 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature which
14 shall include a summary of the aggregate data related to the graduation rate of
15 expectant and parenting students, and any recommendations for changes in
16 policy or legislation. However, in no case shall personally identifiable student
17 information be reported.
18 * * *
19 §3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
20 * * *
21 B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
22 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
23 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
24 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
25 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
26 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
27 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
28 * * *
29 (42) Louisiana Expectant and Parenting Students Act, R.S. 17:221.7.
30 * * *
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1 Section 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the Louisiana Expectant and
2 Parenting Students Act.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.