The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 124 Engrossed 2022 Regular Session Abraham
Present law requires compulsory school attendance.
Present law requires the parent or legal guardian of a child who is attending an approved home study
program or a nonpublic school not seeking state approval to report the attendance of the child in such
program or school to the state Department of Education (DOE). Present law only requires the parent
to submit the number of children in attendance at the nonpublic school not seeking approval for
attendance purposes.
Proposed law retains present law. Proposed law requires the parent to submit the name, date of birth,
and physical address when reporting attendance.
Proposed law further requires DOE to immediately upon receipt of a report of attendance or an
application for an approved home study program to notify the city, parish, or other public school
system in which the child was most recently enrolled, and, if different, the public school system of
the public school which the child's home address is located of the attendance or application. Further
defines "immediately".
Proposed law also provides that DOE shall not record such a child as a dropout attributable to the
public school where he was most recently enrolled or to the public school which he would otherwise
attend, unless the child is subsequently enrolled in and attends the public school.
Proposed law provides that no city, parish, or other local public school system shall be responsible
for ensuring the attendance of such students, even if such application or report of attendance is not
resubmitted each year to the department, unless and until the parent subsequently enrolls the child
in a public school under the authority of the school system.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:221(E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill
1. Requires a parent to include the name, date of birth, and physical address of each
child who is reported to the department by his parent that he is attending a nonpublic
school, not seeking state approval. 2. Defines when the department shall report such attendance information to the local
school system.
3. Removes language requiring the department to be responsible for ensuring the
compulsory attendance of such a child.
4. Provides that the local school system shall not be responsible for ensuring the
compulsory attendance of such a child.
5. Makes technical corrections.