2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 23
BY SENATORS FIELDS, BARROW, CATHEY AND MILLIGAN
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To suspend certain laws to address the circumstances related to the closing of schools due
to COVID-19, including laws relative to required instructional minutes, teacher work
days, student assessments used in determining student proficiency and progression,
school and district performance scores and letter grades, and teacher evaluations.
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2020, the governor of Louisiana declared a public health
emergency in response to COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, at present there is no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and there
is a high probability of widespread exposure and the disease poses an imminent threat to
Louisiana citizens; and
WHEREAS, to ensure the health and safety of the children of Louisiana the governor
issued an executive order on March 13, 2020, to close all public school facilities until
April 13, 2020, and suspend the instructional minute requirement for the 2019-2020 school
year; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's mandated annual statewide student assessments are fast
approaching; and
WHEREAS, such assessments are used in determining student proficiency and
progression, school and district performance scores and letter grades, and teacher
evaluations; and
WHEREAS, the closure of schools will disrupt the normal learning environment and
prevent teachers from imparting valuable information to students prior to testing; and
WHEREAS, student anxiety over COVID-19 and unrest caused by school closures
are expected to have negative ramifications on student test performance; and
WHEREAS, results from these assessments significantly impact students, teachers,
schools, and districts; and
Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 23 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, the health of Louisiana's students, teachers, and other school employees,
and not test results, should be of the utmost concern during these unprecedented, challenging
days.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby suspends
the provisions of R.S. 17:154.1 and 154.3, effective upon adoption of this Resolution.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana hereby suspends
the provisions of R.S. 17:10.1, 24.4, 391.2 et seq., 3881 et seq., 3901 et seq., 3997(D), and
4023 effective upon the receipt of notification from the United States Department of
Education that the state has been granted a waiver from certain student assessment-related
requirements in the state's Every Student Succeeds Act plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education (BESE) is hereby directed to immediately apply to the United States Department
of Education for such waiver to ensure that suspension of the specified statutes does not
negatively impact the state's eligibility for federal programs or funding.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE is hereby directed to adopt such
emergency rules as necessary to implement the suspension of student assessments and the
listed statutes in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this suspension shall apply to the 2019-2020
school year.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Page 2 of 2