Education

This bill requires Louisiana's Board of Regents to create a data system for collecting consistent information on all state financial aid programs. It directly affects postsecondary institutions that accept students receiving Taylor Opportunity Program for Students awards, as they must submit the required data. The system will track financial aid trends, effectiveness, and student outcomes to help evaluate how well these programs work. Institutions must follow the specific data format determined by the administering agency to ensure uniform reporting across the state.

This bill establishes and regulates prekindergarten programs in Louisiana by setting child safety and welfare standards for both public and nonpublic schools. It requires all prekindergarten programs to maintain specific staff-to-child ratios and ensure at least two staff members are present when more than four children are in a facility. The legislation also mandates that nonpublic prekindergarten programs be licensed as early learning centers and requires parents to acknowledge that these programs are not subject to federal daycare regulations. Additionally, the bill directs local school boards to develop mixed provider delivery models for full-day, year-round prekindergarten instruction starting in the 2023-2024 school year.

SB 304 establishes new rules for accrediting Louisiana's public colleges and universities, giving the Board of Regents authority to set accreditation policies. It directly affects all public postsecondary institutions and their management boards (like those for LSU, Southern University, and community colleges). Key provisions require institutions to get management board approval before switching accreditors, mandate that new accreditors must prioritize student success, educational quality, affordability, and financial stability, and prohibit any accreditor from conditioning accreditation on legal violations. The bill also requires institutions to publicly post accreditation status updates on their websites.

HB 351 repeals two specific provisions related to Louisiana's reentry preparation program for formerly incarcerated individuals. It removes a requirement (R.S. 15:827.1(E)) about reentry programs and eliminates an entrepreneurial educational curriculum component within that program. This bill directly affects inmates participating in Louisiana's reentry programs by removing these specific policy requirements from state law. The change is procedural, with no new requirements or funding added.

This bill amends Louisiana laws governing prekindergarten programs by removing the requirement that nonpublic prekindergarten programs be licensed as early learning centers, while applying child safety and welfare standards to all school-based prekindergarten programs. The legislation allows the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to approve nonpublic prekindergarten programs and authorizes the board to adopt emergency rules when necessary. Key provisions include revised child-to-staff ratios that vary by age group and a phased implementation schedule, with stricter ratios taking effect starting in the 2027-2028 school year. The bill also clarifies definitions for "camp" and "early learning center" to distinguish between standalone programs and those attached to schools.

SB 13 modifies how Louisiana's Teachers' Retirement System calculates employer contributions and handles investment returns. It changes the method for applying excess investment returns to reduce the system's debt, specifically requiring reamortization (resetting payment schedules) when the system reaches 80% funding or every five years starting in 2019. This affects the state's payments into the retirement fund and directly impacts public school teachers' retirement benefits. The bill repeals outdated calculation rules and clarifies how future contributions will be applied to the system's debt.