Louisiana § RS 17:1944.1 - Local special education advisory councils; creation; purpose

§ RS 17:1944.1. Local special education advisory councils; creation; purpose

            A. Each local public school superintendent and the administrative head of each charter school or other public school shall create a special education advisory council to provide advice and feedback regarding special education policies, procedures, and resources. The council shall also engage in outreach activities to the community at large to increase the level of knowledge, support, and collaboration with respect to special education.

            B.(1) The number of council members and composition of the council shall be determined by the local public school superintendent or the administrative head of each charter school or other public school. However, the council's membership shall be composed as follows:

            (a) Except as otherwise provided by this Subparagraph, at least fifty percent of the membership shall be parents or legal guardians of students with an exceptionality, other than gifted and talented, who are enrolled in a school under the jurisdiction of or who are receiving special education services from the public school governing authority, none of whom shall be employees of the public school governing authority. One high school student with an exceptionality, other than gifted and talented, and one person who represents an entity that serves students with disabilities or families of students with disabilities and who is not an employee of the school governing authority may be counted to meet the requirement of this Subparagraph.

            (b) At least ten percent of the membership shall be special education stakeholders who are not represented by council members selected under the provisions of Subparagraphs (a) and (c) of this Paragraph.

            (c) At least one member shall be a teacher, principal, or paraprofessional who serves students with disabilities and who works in a school under the jurisdiction of the public school governing authority.

            (2) The local public school superintendent or administrative head of the charter school or other public school shall designate the chairperson of the council and the chairperson shall call the council's meetings, preside over the meetings, and establish the agendas for the meetings.

            (3)(a) Each local public school superintendent and administrative head of a charter school or other public school shall seek applications for council membership from parents of students with an exceptionality other than gifted and talented, teachers, principals, paraprofessionals, and other stakeholders.

            (b) In selecting council members, an effort shall be made to include parents of students in elementary, middle, and high school grades.

            (c) A council should be comprised of at least eight members. If a council has fewer than eight members, the superintendent or administrative head of a charter school shall provide an explanation of his decision to establish a council with fewer than eight members. The explanation shall be provided to the council, and the council shall include it as an addendum to the report required by Subsection C of this Section.

            C. Each special education advisory council shall meet at least three times per year and shall submit a written report to the local public school superintendent or the administrative head of the charter school or other public school and the Special Education Advisory Panel in May of each year regarding its activities. The local public school superintendent or the administrative head of the charter school or other public school shall ensure that the report is posted on the district's or the school's website, and all such reports shall be submitted to the state Department of Education and published on its website.

            D.(1) Each local public school superintendent and the administrative head of each charter school shall provide an annual report to its special education advisory council, which shall contain, including but not limited to the following information, as applicable:

            (a) Special education financial data, including federal, state, and local funding.

            (b) Subgroup academic data on students receiving special education and related services.

            (c) Compliance violations relative to special education requirements.

            (d) The number of designated seclusion rooms as defined by R.S. 17:416.21.

            (2) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules for the implementation of this Subsection.

             E. There shall be no liability or cause of action against the public school district, public charter school or other public school, or any officer or employee thereof for any action taken by members of the council.

            Acts 2019, No. 274, §1, eff. June 11, 2019; Acts 2022, No. 576, §1; Acts 2024, No. 198, §1; Acts 2025, No. 479, §1, eff. Dec. 1, 2025.