This bill requests the Louisiana Department of Health and Department of Education to create a comprehensive report on the current state of autism support services in Louisiana. The report will examine diagnostic practices, service availability, and access barriers across healthcare and education sectors, involving collaboration with the Louisiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It will assess diagnostic tools, provider training, wait times, and compare Louisiana's services to other states to identify gaps and areas for improvement. The final report must be submitted to the legislature by January 1, 2027, to inform future policy decisions regarding autism support.
This resolution asks the state Department of Education and local school districts to submit a report by January 1, 2027, on how they are helping students with seizure disorders in schools. The report must cover how seizure action plans are being used, whether staff have completed required training, and how access to prescribed seizure rescue medications is being managed. While existing law already requires seizure training and action plans, this bill seeks to gather data on implementation to identify gaps and improve consistency across the state. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but instead requests information to help the legislature evaluate how well current policies are working.
This resolution designates Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. It directly affects Louisiana's eight HBCUs by formally recognizing their contributions to education, community development, and state leadership. The bill highlights specific achievements of each institution, including academic programs, research centers, and notable alumni like Dr. Norman C. Francis. This is a commemorative measure that acknowledges past and ongoing contributions without changing laws or policies.
This bill requests the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to update science and health education standards to include the science of human growth and development, specifically covering prenatal growth and fetal development. It asks the board to provide age-appropriate instructional materials, such as high-definition ultrasound videos or computer-generated animations, on its website to support teaching these topics. The resolution also requires the board to submit a written report to state education committees by March 1, 2027, detailing any actions taken in response to these requests. This is a non-binding concurrent resolution that urges the board to consider these changes rather than mandating them.
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 requires that children enrolled in certain early childhood education programs receive unique identification numbers assigned by the state Department of Education. The key provision mandates that local public school boards link these early childhood education identification numbers to students' regular student identification numbers by December 31, 2027, specifically for research and analysis purposes. The legislation applies to prekindergarten programs at public schools and aims to improve data tracking across early childhood education systems.
This bill updates the mathematics course requirements for students to qualify for Louisiana's TOPS scholarship awards, including Opportunity, Performance, Honors, Excellence, and TOPS-Tech programs. It establishes specific math course sequences that students must complete, allowing them to choose between traditional Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II or an alternative integrated mathematics sequence. The law sets different requirements based on graduation year, with some students needing three math units while others need four, and it expands course options for TOPS-Tech recipients to include applied math and computer science classes. These changes directly affect high school students graduating between 2021 and 2030 who wish to receive state scholarship funding.
This bill is a Senate resolution that designates March 23, 2026, as Thrive Day at the Louisiana State Capitol. It formally recognizes and commends Thrive Academy and the Thrive Foundation for their work in expanding educational opportunities for students across Louisiana. The resolution highlights the school's role in serving students from nineteen parishes and its partnerships aimed at supporting student well-being and academic success. The bill does not create new laws or funding but serves to acknowledge the contributions of these organizations to education in the state.
This bill allows Louisiana public school governing authorities to create learning pods, which are small groups of at least ten students receiving instruction together as an extension of their school. The law requires that most learning pods be located within the geographic boundaries of the school system, though existing pods established before August 1, 2026, may operate outside these boundaries. The legislation also outlines procedures for assigning students to these pods and sets limitations on how they can be established.
This bill requires Louisiana school districts to create policies for identifying and addressing overcapacity, where too many schools exist relative to student enrollment and facility needs. It mandates that superintendents annually report on overcapacity status and recommend specific actions, such as closing schools or terminating charter contracts, to reduce the number of operating schools. The law allows school boards to end charter agreements early if overcapacity exists and prohibits new schools from opening in areas already facing excess capacity. Additionally, the bill clarifies that school districts can lease or sell vacant properties to charter schools without being subject to certain state requirements when these actions are taken to resolve overcapacity.
