RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
Act 398 (HB 321) 2019 Regular Session Simon
Existing law requires that a student who is habitually absent from or tardy to school be
reported to the family or juvenile court as a truant child. Defines a "virtual school" as a
public school, including a charter school, that has a unique site code assigned by the state
Dept. of Education and delivers all or a majority of instruction through the internet or other
electronic medium such that a student is not necessarily required to be at a specific location
in order to receive instruction from a teacher. New law adds the following relative to
defining attendance at virtual schools:
(1)Authorizes each local public school board to adopt a policy defining attendance for
purposes of compliance with existing law relative to students who are habitually
absent or tardy.
(2)Authorizes each chartering authority to adopt in policy or include in charter
agreements a definition of attendance, which may include provisions for addressing
excessive absences, such as parental notification; student engagement and withdrawal
from the school for failure to engage; and referrals to child welfare and attendance
officers and family and juvenile courts.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 17:236.3)