HB 973

HLS 26RS-1542  ORIGINAL
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 973
 BY REPRESENTATIVE BAMBURG
 STUDENTS: Provides for the development, review, and revision of student high school
  graduation plans
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:2925(A)(1), (3), (6), and (7), relative to student high school
3graduation plans; to allow certain responsibilities of school counselors with respect
4to the development, review, and revision of the plans to be fulfilled by a career
5coach; to provide for meetings pertaining to plan revision; and to provide for related
6matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8Section 1. R.S. 17:2925(A)(1), (3), (6), and (7) are hereby amended and reenacted
9 to read as follows:
10§2925. Individual graduation plans
11A.(1) By the end of the eighth grade, every student, with the assistance of his
12parent or legal guardian and school counselor or career coach, and for a student with
13an exceptionality as defined in R.S. 17:1942, except a student identified as gifted or
14talented and who has no other exceptionality, the student's Individualized Education
15Program team, if applicable, shall begin to develop an Individual Graduation Plan
16to guide the next academic year's course work and to assist the student in exploring
17educational and career possibilities and in making appropriate secondary and
18postsecondary education decisions as part of an overall postsecondary plan.
19*       *  *
  Page 1 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
 HLS 26RS-1542  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 973
1(3) By the end of the tenth grade, each student's Individual Graduation Plan,
2based on the student's academic record, talents, and interests, shall outline high
3school graduation requirements relevant to the student's chosen postsecondary goals.
4Each student, with the assistance of his parent or legal guardian and school counselor
5or career coach, shall choose the high school curriculum framework and related
6graduation requirements that best meet his postsecondary goals. Each student's
7Individual Graduation Plan or the student's Individualized Education Program, if
8applicable, shall include the recommended sequence of courses for successful
9completion of a standard diploma.
10*       *  *
11(6) Upon completion of the review, the plan shall be signed by the student,
12his parent or legal guardian, and the school counselor or career coach.
13(7) Prior to revising a student's Individual Graduation Plan, the school
14counselor or career coach shall meet individually with the student's parent or legal
15guardian either in person or virtually to explain the possible impacts the revisions to
16the plan might have on the student's graduation requirements and postsecondary
17education goals unless notified by the parent or legal guardian that the parent or legal
18guardian chooses not to have this meeting. Any revisions to a student's plan shall be
19approved in writing by the student's parent or legal guardian.
20*       *  *
  DIGEST
 The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
 of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
 part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
 HB 973 Original  2026 Regular Session  Bamburg
 Abstract: Provides for the development, review, and revision of student high school
  graduation plans.
 Present law provides for the preparation of individual high school graduation plans for
 students. Proposed law revises present law as follows:
 (1)    Present law requires the assistance of a student's parent or legal guardian and school
  counselor throughout the development of certain plan components by the end of the
  Page 2 of 3
 CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
 are additions.
HLS 26RS-1542  ORIGINAL
  HB NO. 973
   eighth grade and by the end of the 10th grade. Proposed law assigns the school
   counselor's responsibility to either the counselor or a career coach.
(2)    Present law provides for annual plan review and requires that the plan be signed by
   the student, his parent or legal guardian, and the school counselor upon the
   completion of the review. Proposed law assigns the school counselor's responsibility
   to either the counselor or a career coach.
(3)    Present law requires the school counselor to meet with the student's parent or legal
   guardian prior to plan revision either in person or virtually. Proposed law assigns the
   school counselor's responsibility to either the counselor or a career coach, specifies
   that this person meet with the parent or legal guardian individually, and provides that
   the meeting requirement applies unless the counselor or coach is notified by the
   parent or legal guardian that the parent or legal guardian chooses not to have this
   meeting.
(Amends R.S. 17:2925(A)(1), (3), (6), and (7))
  Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.