2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 163
BY SENATOR HEWITT
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:24.13 and 3996(B)(75), relative to numeracy skills professional
3 development; to require numeracy skills training for certain teachers; to provide
4 reporting on the training; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:24.13 and 3996(B)(75) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 §24.13. Numeracy professional development; purpose; requirements;
8 reporting; funding
9 A. As used in this Section:
10 (1) "Approved professional development course" means a numeracy
11 skills instruction course to be presented during the educator's work day, but not
12 during the statutorily guaranteed planning period, designed for the professional
13 development of educators that includes information on instructing students
14 regarding the vertical alignment of mathematical concepts and the blending of
15 concepts, procedures, strategies, problem-solving, and disposition.
16 (2) "Teacher" means each fourth through eighth grade public school
17 teacher who teaches mathematics.
18 B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law to the contrary, the state
19 Department of Education shall:
20 (1) Not later than March 1, 2024, develop a list of approved professional
21 development courses.
22 (2) Not later than August 1, 2025, require each teacher to successfully
23 complete at least one approved professional development course and provide
24 documentation to the teacher's employing school. A teacher who provides
ACT No. 260
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1 documentation of a successfully completed approved professional development
2 course within five years prior to August 1, 2025, shall be considered in
3 compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph. Courses completed more than
4 five years prior to August 1, 2025, shall not be used to fulfill the requirements
5 of this Paragraph.
6 (3) Require any teacher hired after July 31, 2025, to provide
7 documentation to the employing school of successful completion of an approved
8 professional development course within two years of the date of employment.
9 (4)(a) On May 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, require each city, parish,
10 or other local public school board to report to the department the number and
11 percentage of teachers who have successfully completed an approved
12 professional development course.
13 (b) The data required by Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be
14 included in the department's school progress profiles required by R.S. 17:3911
15 and 3912.
16 C. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt
17 rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the
18 provisions of this Section.
19 D. The effectiveness of the provisions of this Section shall be subject to
20 the designation and allocation of funds by the state Department of Education;
21 however, no state funds or obligated federal funds shall be used to implement
22 the provisions of this Section.
23 E. Nothing in this Section shall be construed to extend the hours in the
24 teacher's work day nor the hours to be worked in a year.
25 * * *
26 §3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
27 * * *
28 B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
29 except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
30 charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
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1 Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
2 exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
3 applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
4 the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
5 * * *
6 (75) Numeracy professional development, R.S. 17:24.13.
7 * * *
8 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
9 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
10 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
11 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
12 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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