Rep. Barbara Freiberg

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force to study school start times and requires the State Department of Education to submit written reports on the findings. The task force will include representatives from various education and business organizations, with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber member serving as chair. The bill mandates that the task force and the department conduct their studies simultaneously and submit their respective reports. This measure directly affects school administrators, educators, and policymakers by creating a formal process to evaluate current start times.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to investigate creating an appeals process for high school students who fail state-mandated end-of-course exams required for graduation. The resolution instructs the board to explore various options, such as using nationally norm-referenced tests, while ensuring that any alternative pathway confirms a student's proficiency in state standards. To prevent conflicts of interest, the bill specifies that this process must be managed by an external entity, such as the state Department of Education or the school's governing authority, rather than the student's own school. The board is required to submit a written report with its findings and any legislative recommendations to the House and Senate Education Committees by March 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis resolution asks the Louisiana Department of Education to study and provide recommendations on using automated systems to track student graduation progress. The goal is to help school districts improve timely high school graduation rates by leveraging technology to monitor credits and transcripts. The bill highlights concerns about high dropout rates and the heavy workload of school counselors, suggesting that automation could assist in these areas. It does not mandate any specific changes but instead seeks guidance to inform future policy decisions for school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to examine how ACT and WorkKeys test scores are currently used in school and district accountability systems. The board is required to complete this study and submit a written report with its findings and recommendations to the House Committee on Education before the start of the 2025 legislative session. A copy of the resolution is also to be sent to the president of the State Board. The measure focuses on gathering information about these specific standardized tests rather than changing how schools are evaluated at this time.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of Interstate 55 in Tangipahoa Parish as the "Trooper Hung Le Memorial Highway" to honor a fallen law enforcement officer. The legislation directly affects the state's transportation infrastructure by officially naming this roadway segment. A key provision involves amending the bill's budget to increase the designated funding amount from $550 to $1,680. This change ensures the memorial designation is properly funded and officially recorded in state records.