Louisiana § RS 17:151 - Public schools; establishment by parish boards; pupil-classroom-teacher ratios

§ RS 17:151. Public schools; establishment by parish boards; pupil-classroom-teacher ratios

A.  Parish and city school boards may establish such public schools as they may deem necessary to provide adequate school facilities for the children of the parish, and also trade schools, evening schools, schools for adults, schools and classes for exceptional children, and such other schools or classes as may be necessary to meet all special or exceptional requirements.  Central or high schools may be established when necessary, but no high school shall be established without the sanction of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Practical, industrial, and agricultural courses shall be fostered by the public school officials, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education may extend special financial aid to schools meeting required standards in such courses, with such funds as may be available for such purposes.

B.(1)  Except as otherwise provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, no parish or city school board shall have a systemwide pupil-classroom-teacher ratio in kindergarten through grade three in excess of twenty pupils to one classroom teacher.

(2)  Effective with the 2012-2013 school year and thereafter, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt necessary rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Subsection to ensure compliance by city, parish, and other local public school boards. Such rules and regulations shall include but not be limited to provisions that allow a local public school board to request a limited waiver from the state superintendent of education from complying with the provisions of this Subsection relative to student-teacher ratios, provided that the teacher has demonstrated effectiveness as defined by the state board, pursuant to R.S. 17:3881 through 3905.

(3)  Not later than September first of each year, the Department of Education shall submit a written report to the Senate Committee on Education and the House Committee on Education detailing all waiver requests submitted by city, parish, and other local public school boards for the prior school year and the disposition of each request.

Acts 1989, No. 465, §1, eff. June 30, 1989; Acts 2012, No. 659, §1.