HLS 24RS-1681 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 44
BY REPRESENTATIVES MELERINE, CARVER, FREIBERG, TARVER, AND YOUNG
SCHOOLS/HIGH SCHOOL: Directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education to explore the creation of an appeals process for certain students who do
not pass state-administered, end-of-course assessments required for high school
graduation
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To direct the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to explore the creation of
3 an appeals process for certain students who do not pass the state-administered,
4 end-of-course assessments required for high school graduation and to submit a
5 written report to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on
6 Education, which includes a status update and any recommendations for related
7 legislation, not later than March 1, 2025.
8 WHEREAS, current law, R.S. 17:24.4, requires the state Department of Education
9to implement the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) with the approval of
10the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); and
11 WHEREAS, the law further requires that BESE implement standards-based
12assessments in English language arts, math, science, and social studies and requires BESE
13to establish by rule the adequate test score to determine successful performance of the
14student on each test; and
15 WHEREAS, successful performance on certain LEAP tests is required to obtain a
16high school diploma; and
17 WHEREAS, in 2023, BESE adopted a policy establishing an appeals process
18involving the submission of a portfolio for high school seniors unable to meet the state's
19LEAP test requirements for graduation; this policy was overturned by an executive order in
20January of 2024; and
Page 1 of 3 HLS 24RS-1681 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 44
1 WHEREAS, House Bill No. 8 of this 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature
2prohibits an appeals process allowing a student who has not passed LEAP tests required for
3high school graduation to become eligible for graduation through the submission of a
4portfolio; however, there is strong interest in discussing other avenues through which certain
5students may be eligible to participate in a graduation appeals process developed by BESE.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
7direct the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to explore the creation of an
8appeals process for certain students who do not pass the state-administered, end-of-course
9assessments required for high school graduation.
10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE should explore a variety of options for
11students to become eligible for graduation, including but not limited to the use of nationally
12norm-referenced testing, and should ensure that students eligible for graduation have
13successfully demonstrated proficiency relative to the applicable state content standards.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE should not allow the appeals process to
15be administered by the school in which the student was enrolled when he failed to pass the
16assessments required for graduation but rather require that the process be administered by
17another entity such as the school's governing authority or the state Department of Education.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that BESE shall submit a written report to the House
19Committee on Education and Senate Committee on Education, which includes an update on
20the status of the appeals process development and any recommendations for related
21legislation, not later than March 1, 2025.
22 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
23president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state
24superintendent of education.
Page 2 of 3 HLS 24RS-1681 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 44
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)]
HCR 44 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Melerine
Directs the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education to explore the creation of an
appeals process for certain students who do not pass the state-administered, end-of-course
assessments required for high school graduation and to submit a written report to the House
and Senate education committees, which includes a status update and any recommendations
for related legislation, by March 1, 2025.
Page 3 of 3