SB 504

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
  ACT No. 523
 SENATE BILL NO. 504
 BY SENATOR CARTER AND REPRESENTATIVES BROUSSARD, CARVER,
  FREIBERG, TERRY LANDRY, MARTINEZ, SCHLEGEL AND
  TAYLOR
1AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:2925(A)(2) and (4) through (7) and to enact R.S.
317:2925(A)(8) and (9) and (D), and 3996(B)(92), relative to Individual Graduation
4Plans; to provide relative to requirements pertaining to such plans for students
5attending certain charter schools; to provide relative to information on vocational
6training opportunities; to provide for parent and legal guardian requesting authority;
7to provide relative to resources; and to provide for related matters.
8 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9Section 1. R.S. 17:2925(A)(2) and (4) through (7) are hereby amended and reenacted
10 and R.S. 17:2925(A)(8) and (9) and (D), and 3996(B)(92) are hereby enacted to read as
11 follows:
12§2925. Individual graduation plans
13A.(1)  *      *       *
14(2)(a) By Except as provided in Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, by
15the end of the eighth grade, each student's Individual Graduation Plan or the student's
16Individualized Education Program, if applicable, shall list the required core courses
17to be taken through the tenth grade and shall identify the courses to be taken in the
18first year of high school. Students who fail to meet the standard for promotion to the
19ninth grade, pursuant to policies adopted by the State Board of Elementary and
20Secondary Education, shall have any necessary remedial courses included in their
21Individual Graduation Plan.
22(b)(i) A charter school that terminates in the eighth grade shall provide
23written notice to each eighth grade student and his parent or legal guardian of
24the purpose of an Individual Graduation Plan, an explanation of the different
25types of high school diplomas, and the courses required for each type of diploma
26so that the student is prepared to complete his plan with the list of required
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
 SB NO. 504  ENROLLED
1courses to be taken upon the student's enrollment in high school but no later
2than October first of the student's ninth grade year.
3(ii) A charter school that terminates in the eighth grade may partner
4with a high school that an eighth grade student plans to attend for assistance in
5providing for the student's Individual Graduation Plan or Individualized
6Education Program, if applicable, as provided in Subparagraph (a) of this
7Paragraph.
8*        *     *
9(4) The parent or legal guardian of a student entering into the eleventh
10grade may request the student's Individual Graduation Plan or the student's
11Individualized Education Program, if applicable, be updated.
12(5) Each student, with the assistance of his parent or legal guardian and
13school counselor, shall be offered available vocational training opportunities.
14(4)(6) The Individual Graduation Plan shall be sufficiently flexible to allow
15the student to, with the written approval of a parent or legal guardian, change his
16program of study, yet be sufficiently structured to ensure that the student will meet
17the high school graduation requirements for his chosen major or the requirements of
18the student's Individualized Education Program, if applicable, and be qualified for
19admission to a postsecondary education institution or to enter the workforce.
20(5)(7) Each student's Individual Graduation Plan shall be reviewed annually
21and revised as necessary to identify the courses to be taken each year until all
22required core courses are completed.
23(6)(8) Upon completion of the review, the plan shall be signed by the student,
24his parent or legal guardian, and the school counselor.
25(7)(9) Prior to revising a student's Individual Graduation Plan, the school
26counselor shall meet with the student's parent or legal guardian either in person or
27virtually to explain the possible impacts the revisions to the plan might have on the
28student's graduation requirements and postsecondary education goals. Any revisions
29to a student's plan shall be approved in writing by the student's parent or legal
30guardian.
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1*       *      *
2D. To effectuate the provisions of this Section, schools shall use existing
3school staff and counselors and any other available resources.
4*       *      *
5§3996. Charter schools; exemptions; requirements
6*       *      *
7B. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and
8except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a
9charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this
10Chapter and its approved charter and the school's officers and employees shall be
11exempt from all statutory mandates or other statutory requirements that are
12applicable to public schools and to public school officers and employees except for
13the following laws otherwise applicable to public schools with the same grades:
14*       *      *
15(92) Individual graduation plans, R.S. 17:2925.
16*       *      *
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
 APPROVED:
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  Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
  words in boldface type and underscored are additions.