HLS 21RS-3896 ORIGINAL
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 190
BY REPRESENTATIVE WRIGHT
SCHOOLS/CHOICE: Requests that the state Department of Education develop a written
plan for a statewide education savings account program
1 A RESOLUTION
2To urge and request the state Department of Education to develop a written plan for the
3 implementation and administration of a statewide education savings account program
4 and to submit a copy of the plan to the House Committee on Education and the State
5 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education not later than sixty days prior to the
6 beginning of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature.
7 WHEREAS, Louisiana has established programs that enable parents to enroll their
8children in the elementary or secondary school that best meets their individual needs; and
9 WHEREAS, through the Course Choice program, the state has supported students
10in accessing secondary courses not offered at their high schools; and
11 WHEREAS, Louisiana has supported parents in saving for elementary, secondary,
12and postsecondary education through individual savings accounts that enable them to direct
13funds to institutions of their choice; and
14 WHEREAS, House Bill No. 85 of the 2021 Regular Session empowers parents to
15access funds to support early literacy and reading supports and interventions provided by
16authorized providers; and
17 WHEREAS, several states have authorized programs to enable parents of school-age
18children to receive a deposit of public funds into a state-authorized education savings
19account and to use those funds for tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, virtual education,
20and early college courses; and
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HR NO. 190
1 WHEREAS, these can serve as models for this state in terms of implementing and
2administering such a program in Louisiana.
3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
4Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the state Department of Education to
5develop a written plan for the implementation and administration of a statewide education
6savings account program through which state funding is provided for eligible students to
7receive authorized educational services from approved providers.
8 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such plan shall provide for the program to begin
9not later than the 2022-2023 school year and provide for eligibility for each student who
10meets at least one of the following criteria:
11 (1) He has a parent or legal guardian who is an active duty military service member.
12 (2) He has a parent or legal guardian who submitted an enrollment request for an
13interdistrict or intradistrict transfer pursuant to R.S. 17:4035.1 during the most recent
14transfer request period and the request was denied.
15 (3) Pursuant to foster care placement through the Department of Children and
16Family Services, he is residing with a prospective permanent placement or has achieved
17permanency through adoption or permanent guardianship.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in developing the plan, the department shall seek
19to maximize efficiencies through the use of existing processes used to administer and
20implement current school choice programs that involve the use of state-approved educational
21service providers.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of the plan be transmitted to the House
23Committee on Education and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education not
24later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2022 Regular Session of the Legislature.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
26state superintendent of education and the president of the State Board of Elementary and
27Secondary Education.
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HR NO. 190
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)]
HR 190 Original 2021 Regular Session Wright
Requests that the state Dept. of Education develop a written plan for the implementation and
administration of an education savings account program to begin not later than the 2022-
2023 school year and submit the plan to the House Education Committee and the State Bd.
of Elementary and Secondary Education by not later than 60 days prior to the 2022 R.S.
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