The goals coming into the session were to (1) increase Required Services, (2) increase Scholarships and to (3) monitor publics for impact on non-publics.

Increase Required Services

  • We were able to increase Required Services by $1,000,000 from the State General Fund. This will be used for Continuing Education; data used 56% vs 36% by DOE; four years since last increase.

Increase Scholarships

  • The Student Scholarship for Educational Excellence Fund remained at 46.3 million.
  • We made efforts to pass HB 98 which would have allowed $5400 to follow the child. It did not pass but the legislation now is in place with a religious freedom clause and testing like what schools’ use. The thought is to continue to work for the next session.

Other Funding Notes

  • ACT 305 Those eligible for the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program increased by $860,000. (Reimbursement difference between free meal and reduced-price meal)
  • Also, the Education Excellence Fund increased about $1,270,129 as well.

Some Public Schools Legislation with Implications for Non-Publics

  • We were successful, by working collaboratively, in removing a last-minute amendment that would have required more reporting by private schools of all funds received. It was a late-night amendment that we worked with Senator Talbot the next morning to remove.
  • We were able to amend the bullying policy for non-public schools

Curriculum

  • Act 267 Requires Financial Literacy for HS graduation. TOPs; Graduating class of 2026-2027
  • Act 466 will require testing and remediation and holding back students from moving to the fourth grade if not reading at level by the time school starts in the Fall. There will be a year of planning before it comes into effect; Exceptions for dyslexia; good cause.
  • Act 266 will require a brief dyslexia test before leaving kindergarten to screen. 2nd half of kindergarten; establishes reporting requirements.

 

  • Act 56 will protect teachers involved in aggressive behavior by students and protect them from civil liability or criminal liability (applies to approved non-public schools)
  • Act 268 prohibits corporeal punishment unless allowed by parents in public schools.

School Safety

  • Act 362 carpool safety policies and procedures; applies on non-publics if provided by city, parish, or local school board.
  • ACT 348 improves notification procedures of threats to schools or students; applies to non-public schools.; mandatory reporting to law enforcement; inform targets; reasonable efforts to protect students and notify parents.
  • Act 334 Establishes the School Safety Act; allocates funding for staff and 5 million seed money for grants to schools for improved safety measures. BESE and Non-Public School Commission to develop rules. Establishes Louisiana Center for Safe Schools
  • Act 234 will require automatic defibrillators at school athletic events. Creates Jump Start Fund
  • Act 56 will protect teachers involved in aggressive behavior by students and protect them from civil liability or criminal liability (applies to approved non-public schools)
  • Act 268 prohibits corporeal punishment unless allowed by parents in public schools.

Other

  • Act 63 allows or relaxes some rules for teacher certification to address the teacher shortage.
  • Act 89 will allow for a limited raffle license with limited reporting if a single event is under $10,000.
  • The high-profile bills addressing students with the pronoun of the birth certificate and prohibiting discussion of gender or sexual orientation during class time passed but were vetoed by the Governor.