Education (Curriculum)

HB 262 removes a requirement for Louisiana high school students to pass state-administered end-of-course tests (like the LEAP assessments) to earn a diploma. It states that students who successfully complete all required coursework (Carnegie units) for graduation will automatically receive a high school diploma, regardless of their test scores. The bill directly affects all Louisiana public high school students by eliminating a barrier to graduation tied to standardized testing. This policy change shifts graduation eligibility solely to course completion, not test performance, for the first time under Louisiana's current framework.

HB 350 creates École Pointe-au-Chien as a public French immersion school serving students in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Terrebonne Parish. The bill establishes the school as independent from state education boards, operating under its own board of directors. It specifies the school’s grade levels and location while requiring French immersion instruction as part of its curriculum. This directly affects students enrolled at École Pointe-au-Chien and its governing board.

HB 448 expands existing scholarship programs to allow firefighters injured in the line of duty (or their spouses if the firefighter was killed or seriously injured resulting in inability to work) to use their benefits for master's degree programs, not just bachelor's degrees. The bill maintains full tuition and fee waivers (including room and board) and a $250-per-semester book stipend for qualifying individuals who maintain a "C" average. Eligibility requires meeting college entrance requirements and academic standards as full-time students. The policy change, funded by Louisiana's general state fund, applies to both injured firefighters and their spouses directly affected by on-duty injuries or fatalities.

HB 935 amends Louisiana's TOPS scholarship program to allow students who complete undergraduate degrees early (in under eight semesters) to continue receiving full scholarship benefits for graduate medical sciences programs. It applies only to nonpublic colleges or universities that meet four specific criteria: offering graduate medical sciences programs, being physically collocated with a public university since 2020, billing tuition through that public institution, and not being part of Louisiana's independent colleges association. Students must maintain academic standards to retain the award. This policy change expands TOPS coverage to graduate medical education at qualifying institutions without altering the core scholarship structure.

HB 827 creates the Louisiana Plumbing Workforce Access Act, establishing a new pathway for obtaining plumbing licensure through community colleges and vocational schools instead of requiring employer sponsorship. It directly affects aspiring plumbers, particularly those from low-income communities, rural areas, and returning citizens (formerly incarcerated individuals), by providing structured classroom training, competency assessments, and supervised work experience (industry rotation) at participating employers. Key provisions include mandatory curriculum standards covering plumbing codes and safety, independent competency checkpoints to verify skills, and a requirement for students to complete 2,000 hours of hands-on work across multiple employers. The bill maintains existing exam standards and licensing requirements while expanding access to the profession to address a statewide shortage of licensed plumbers.

SB 27 requires Louisiana schools to provide high-dosage tutoring to K-5 students who failed statewide reading/math assessments or scored below grade level in literacy/numeracy screenings. Schools must offer tutoring within 30 days of identification, using direct instruction aligned to grade-level content and formative assessments. Tutoring providers must use qualified tutors (with background checks and subject-specific training) using high-quality instructional materials focused on core grade-level skills. Schools must report student participation data to the state by June 30, with the Department of Education publishing annual reports by July 1. This applies directly to eligible students and school districts implementing the requirement.

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.