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)]
HB 550 Original 2024 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Terminates approval of home study programs by the State Bd. of Elementary and
Secondary Education and provides for the authority of parents with respect to home schools.
Present law provides for the approval of home study programs by the State Bd. of Elementary and
Secondary Education (BESE). Proposed law terminates BESE approval of these programs as of July
1, 2024, and instead provides for students enrolled in home schools as follows:
(1)Defines home school as the private instruction of a child directed by his parent.
(2)Requires parents, within 30 days of enrollment, to submit a one-time notification to BESE
that includes the parent's name and address and the number of enrolled students.
(3)Provides that parents are solely responsible for all aspects of the home school's educational
program.
(4)Exempts home schools from present law applicable to nonpublic schools unless provided
otherwise by law.
(5)Provides that enrollment satisfies present law compulsory attendance requirements.
(6)Grants home school diplomas the same weight granted to approved nonpublic school
diplomas.
Proposed law applies present law to home schools instead of approved home study programs as
follows:
(1)That nothing in present law relative to required kindergarten shall be construed to prohibit
children from attending kindergarten at a home school.
(2)The requirement that BESE provide by rule for home school students admitted or readmitted
to public school.
(3)That the prohibition on tobacco in schools does not apply to home schools.
(4)The prohibition against a charter school resulting from the conversion of a home school. (5)That home school students are eligible to participate in the Course Choice program.
(6)That present law relative to learning pods does not apply to home schools.
Proposed law repeals the following present law as applicable to students enrolled in approved home
study programs:
(1) The requirement that 11-year-olds and 16-year-olds provide satisfactory evidence of current
immunization against meningococcal disease.
(2)The requirement that DOE provide influenza immunization information to parents.
(3)The requirement that DOE notify local school boards relative to home study applications.
(4)The requirement that BESE provide by rule for the supply of textbooks to home study
students.
(5)Duplicative compulsory attendance provisions.
Effective July 1, 2024.
(Amends R.S. 17:151.3(D)(3), 221(E)(3), 232(C), 236(A), 236.2(A), 240(D), 3991(E)(2),
4002.3(3)(c), and 4036.1(F); Adds R.S.17:236.1(H) and 236.4; Repeals R.S. 170.4(A)(1)(c),
170.5(A)(2), 221(E)(1) and (2), and 351.1(A)(2))