RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 420 (HB 211) 2021 Regular Session Wright
Existing law allows parents to enroll their children in the public school of their choice,
regardless of residence, school system geographic boundaries, or attendance zones, if both
of the following apply:
(1)The public school in which the student was most recently enrolled or would
otherwise attend received a school performance letter grade of "D" or "F" for the
most recent school year.
(2)The school in which the student seeks to enroll received a school performance letter
grade of "A", "B", or "C" for the most recent school year and has sufficient capacity
at the appropriate grade level.
New law authorizes the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to review
transfer request denials to determine if the school's capacity policy was followed.
Existing law requires each public school governing authority to adopt a policy to govern
student transfers that are authorized by existing law.
New law requires such policy to include an annual transfer request period from at least
March 1 to March 28 and a definition of capacity for each school.
New law requires the school governing authorities to annually inform parents of students
enrolled in schools that received a "D" or "F" school performance letter grade for the most
recent school year regarding:
(1)The provisions of existing law and new law.
(2)The schools under the jurisdiction of the governing authority that received an "A",
"B", or "C" school performance letter grade.
(3)The process for submitting student transfer requests.
(4)The page on the state Dept. of Education's website that contains school performance
data.
New law requires BESE to submit a report to the legislative committees on education by
Oct. 31 annually that includes data relative to student transfers during the most recent school
year.
Effective August 1, 2021.
(Amends R.S. 17:4035.1(C) through (E); Adds R.S. 17:4035.1(F),(G), and (H))