The original instrument was prepared by Cheryl Serrett. The following digest, which
does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by Martha Hess.
DIGEST
SB 124 Reengrossed 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 further requires DOE to within 30 days of initial approval or denial of an application
for an approved home school study program and the failure to receive an annual renewal application
for a previously 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 resides. The notification shall include the child's legal name, date
of birth, and physical residential address.
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 collecting and maintaining school attendance data for any child who is enrolled in or has
previously enrolled in an approved home study program, unless and until the parent subsequently
enrolls the child in a public school under the authority of the public 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.
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the engrossed bill
1. Deletes requirement for 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 an approved home study program or a nonpublic school, not seeking state
approval.
2. Requires DOE to within thirty days of initial approval or denial of an application for
an approved home school study program and the failure to receive an annual renewal
application for a previously 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 resides. The
notification shall include the child's legal name, date of birth, and physical residential
address.
3. Provides that no city, parish, or other local public school system shall be responsible
for collecting and maintaining school attendance data for any child who is enrolled
in or has previously enrolled in an approved home study program, unless and until
the parent subsequently enrolls the child in a public school under the authority of the
public school system.