Overall Budget
- Shortfall for teacher pay, federal funding uncertainty, funds for new prisons and keeping in prison; State police pay, DCFS needs 30 million, LDH cut 86 million, Medicaid
- Not until May Revenue Estimating will they know exactly what to spend on what
2025-2026 Non-Public Assistance
- 20 million in Non-Public Assistance Remains; minus less than $4000 from Lake Charles
- Amendment 2 did not pass; standstill budget from last year; EEF and 8 g protected until next ballot measure; See HB 473
GATOR
- 33000 applicants; 80% poverty; about 26,000
- Non-Publics- discussion about how many seats are available; how do we want to address?
- Senator Henry challenges 50 million; miscommunication with Governor, where are the seats; not agreed on the extra 50 million; estimate 2/3 seats can not be filled; DOE study?
- Continued discussion at Appropriations “Where’s the Seats”; cart before the horse from Appropriations Chair McFarland
- Non publics will need to know after April 15
Public School Environment
- Need 198 million for teacher stipend and support staff
- Increase in students from disadvantaged families up to 74%
Review of Legislation
| Bill # | TOPS Related
|
Position | |
| HB 77 | Rep Turner | Creating the TOPS Educational Excellence Award | Neutral |
| HB 70 | Rep. Brass | Expands Tops Tech Eligibility | Neutral |
| HB 378 | Rep Wilder | Lowers ACT score for TOPS | Neutral |
| Saving Contributions
|
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| SB 13 | Sen. Foil | Encourage contributions for college saving plan | Support
|
| SB 12 | Sen. Foil | Improve financial planning to support persons with disabilities | Support |
| School Tuition Organizations
|
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| SB 27 | Sen. Talbot | Stacks TDC onto other public funds | Support |
| HB 482 | Rep Zeringue | Adds students with disabilities to that list of qualified students eligible to participate in the STO tuition tax credit program; Compare with Students with Exceptionalities. | Support
|
|
Curriculum Related
|
|||
| HB 52 | Rep. Willard | Adds requirements for financial literacy
|
Neutral |
| HB 372 | Rep. Hughes | Delays implementation of Computer Science Requirements; need to ensure that DOE and BESE support this | Support |
| SB 198 | Sen Stine | Nonpublic school students can participate in extracurricular activity and try out according to public school criteria | Neutral |
| Nutrition Related | |||
| SB 14 | Sen. McMath | No ultra processed foods in non-public schools that receive state funds | Neutral |
| SB 177 | Sen
Boudreaux |
Food allergens training certification for Food Service operator
|
Neutral |
| Teacher Certification/Testing/Evaluation/Grading
|
|||
| SB 105 | Sen
Abraham |
Use nationally normed test not LEAP | Support |
| HB 243 | Rep. Landry | Standardized testing and creates cohorts of performance scores | Oppose |
| HB 327 | Rep Chaisson | Requires 10 Point Granding Scale to assign grades used in the calculation of the students GPA for initial TOP award | Oppose |
| Funding
|
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| HB 473 | Rep Emerson | Repeals EFF and 8 g funds, On ballot November 3, 2026. Current funds in place; Keeps current funds in place till 2027 school year | Oppose |
| Mandatory Reporting and Licensing
|
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| SB 41 | Sen Barrow | Changes to mandatory reporting; background checks; Parent or guardian of a child who has been sexually abused at school can be awarded damages including medical and behavioral | Pending Review |
Other Bills to Monitor
- HB103-Superintendents need to be aware of this. Safe Environment related depiction of minors
- HB111-Another obligation to the school
- HB201-Expands student eligibility for participation in READ program. Could this be expanded to non-publics?
- HB225-Authorizes public school personnel to conduct weapon screenings of students upon entry onto a school campus. Be aware.
- HP344-Provides for the transfer of school disciplinary records and for school personnel’s access to certain juvenile court records.
- HP384-Provides relative to disciplinary penalties for certain public-school students found to be in possession of certain substances on school property.
- SB123-Authorizes an income tax credit for donations to certain public schools. I have in my notes (non-public schools)
- HB473-State funds for teacher retirement-Provides for the application of state money to the unfunded accrued liability of the Teachers Retirement System of LA
- HB521-Provides for the unemployment eligibility for certain school employees.
- 614 Requires ACT scores as a prerequisite for HS graduation.
- 570 children internet
- HB 614 Requires ACT scores as a prerequisite for HS graduation.
- HB 570 children internet