Louisiana Administrative Code

A. The words defined in this Section shall have the meanings set forth below whenever they appear in this policy, unless: 1. the context in which they are used clearly requires a different meaning; or 2. a different definition is prescribed for a particular provision. Appropriate…

A. A non-material amendment to a charter is an amendment that makes non-substantive changes to a school's charter. Non-material amendments may include: 1. changes to the name, mailing address, telephone, and/or facsimile number of the charter school; 2. the removal of one or more…

A. Local school boards have the following duties relating to charter schools: 1. to report any charter entered into; and to report the number of schools chartered, the status of those schools, and any recommendations relating to the charter school program to BESE no later than Ju…

A. A nonprofit corporation may be formed for the purpose of submitting an application for a charter school by: 1. a group of three or more teachers; 2. a group of 10 or more citizens; 3. a public service organization; 4. a business or corporate entity registered to do business in…

A. A charter school shall not enroll more than 120 percent of the total number of students that it is authorized to enroll pursuant to its approved charter contract unless approved to do so pursuant to §1902 of this bulletin. B. In determining the enrollment permitted in each sch…

A. Application Cycle 1. Local school boards shall accept charter applications from applicants according to the local district timeline established by the department and approved by BESE. BESE shall approve at least one charter application cycle for the local district timeline per…

A. BESE authorizes the operation of charter schools to provide schools with increased educational and operational autonomy in exchange for accountability for performance. B. The performance of type 2, type 4, and type 5 charter schools will be reviewed and/or evaluated annually i…

A. Each charter operator shall have an annual independent audit to be conducted by a certified public accountant in accordance with R.S. 24:513 et seq., and 17:3996(F), the cost of which shall be borne by the charter operator. Notes La. Admin. Code tit. 28 , § CXXXIX-2507 Promulg…

A. Local school boards shall carefully review each type 1 and type 3 charter school application they receive and may approve a charter application only after it has made a specific determination whether each proposed charter complies with the law and rules, whether the proposal i…

A. Each charter school shall be reviewed by its chartering authority after the completion of the fourth year of operation. If the charter school is achieving its stated goals and objectives pursuant to its approved charter, then the chartering authority shall extend the duration …

A. The board of directors of each charter operator shall be responsible for implementing the public charter school program proposed in its charter application, complying with and carrying out the provisions of the charter school contract and complying with all applicable federal …

A. All rules, requirements, and regulations established in this Bulletin 126 - Charter Schools shall apply to the authorization and operation of any virtual charter school, except as specifically set forth in Bulletin 741 - Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators , Section 9…

A. A charter school shall comply with state and federal laws and regulations otherwise applicable to public schools with respect to civil rights and individuals with disabilities. B. Each local public school superintendent or the administrative head of a charter school shall crea…

A. Any teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator may search any building, desk, locker, area, or school grounds for evidence that the law, a school rule, or parish or city school board policy has been violated. B. The teacher, principal, school security guard, o…

A. At the conclusion of a charter school's fifth year of operation and the expiration of its initial charter contract, a charter operator no longer has a continuing right to operate a charter school. B. No charter shall be renewed unless the charter can demonstrate, at a minimum,…

A. To be eligible to submit a type 2 charter school application, a group must: 1. be organized as a nonprofit corporation under Chapter 2 of Title 12 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes , Nonprofit Corporation Law; 2. be recognized as or have applied for recognition as a nonprofit …

A. For each BESE-authorized charters school in the final year of operation under its current charter term, the state superintendent shall make a recommendation to BESE as to whether the charter should be renewed, and if so, the length of the proposed renewal term. B. A BESE-autho…

A. A school shall be labeled a "Purple Star School" if it has exhibited a major commitment to military-connected students and families, as demonstrated by meeting the following requirements. 1. The school has designated a staff member as a military liaison to serve as the primary…

A. All potential charter school employees shall be notified of the specific benefits they will be offered, as specified in the charter operator's charter. B. Charter school employees shall be eligible for participation in any or all benefits which would otherwise accrue to employ…

A. An authorizer may revoke a school's charter any time prior to the expiration of a charter operator's five-year term following initial approval or prior to the expiration of its subsequent renewal, if such is granted pursuant to Chapter 15 of this bulletin, upon a determination…

A. A charter school may have admission requirements that are consistent with the school's role, scope, and mission. B. Admission requirements imposed by a school must be set forth in the charter school's approved charter contract and shall be specific and shall include a system f…

A. Each operator of a BESE authorized charter school shall offer free daily transportation to and from school to any student meeting both of the following conditions: 1. the student resides more than one mile from the school where the student is enrolled; 2. the student resides w…

A. Unless otherwise provided by law, the per pupil amount provided to a type 1, 2, 3, 3B, or 4 charter school shall be computed at least annually and shall be equal to the per pupil amount provided through the Minimum Foundation Program formula, determined by the allocation weigh…

A. Each charter operator shall request in writing that the Louisiana Bureau of Criminal Identification (LBCI) and Information supply information to ascertain whether an applicant for employment as a teacher, substitute teacher, school bus operator, substitute school bus operator,…

A. A corporate partner is any legal entity except for a corporation identified in R.S. 18:1505.2(L)(3) , whether for profit or not for profit, registered with the secretary of state, a regional airport, or any federal or state agency, including a public postsecondary education in…

A. An approved charter shall be valid for an initial term of five years. B. A charter operator shall have a right to operate a charter school during its initial five year term unless the charter is revoked or surrendered. C. A charter operator's right to operate a charter school …

A. Each charter operator shall submit quarterly reports to the department listing year-to-date revenues and expenditures through that quarter and budgeted revenues and expenditures for the fiscal year, using forms provided by the department and on dates specified by the departmen…

A. To be eligible to submit a type 4 charter school proposal, a group must: 1. be a local school board; 2. include three or more persons holding valid and current Louisiana teaching certificates in the development of the charter application; and 3. have met the requirement set fo…

A. The members of the board of directors shall receive no compensation other than reimbursement of actual expenses incurred while fulfilling duties as a member of such a board. B. A charter school shall be prohibited from employing, in any manner, any member of the governing or m…

A. Each charter school board shall create and adopt a policy and implement procedures regarding cash management and investments of public funds. The policy shall protect public funds by minimizing the amount of unsecured funds to the extent practical. B. Best practices identified…

A. BESE, as the authorizer of type 2, type 4, and type 5 charter schools, has the following authorizing responsibilities: 1. to implement a comprehensive application process with fair procedures and rigorous criteria that results in applications recommended for approval that demo…

A. Any approved charter school shall be eligible for any other federal, restricted state, and unrestricted state funding for which the school or its pupils qualify. B. Each charter school shall receive, at a minimum, its per pupil share for any state or federal grant program such…

A. All charter operators shall comply with the provisions of the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act, R.S. 39:1301 through 1315. B. Charter operators shall budget on a fiscal year basis, July 1-June 30. C. Type 4 charter operators shall annually submit a budget to the Superinte…

A. Each charter application process shall be approved by BESE on an annual basis. B. Application Evaluation by Team of Evaluators 1. Teams of local, state, and national evaluators with expertise in charter schools and charter school authorizing, curriculum and instruction, govern…

A. Prior to each school year, a charter school shall establish a designated student application period. Application information shall be made available to all applicants and posted on the school website, to include at least the following: 1. enrollment eligibility; 2. program enr…

A. Any school employee or school resource officer having reasonable cause to believe that a student has been mentally, physically, or sexually abused shall report these facts to the appropriate authorities. B. Any person making a report in good faith regarding child abuse shall h…

A. BESE has the following duties relating to charter schools: 1. subject to the availability of funds, to administer loans pursuant to the Charter School Law for assisting in meeting the costs required to establish a charter school as well as the costs of operation; 2. to determi…

A. Recommendation to Revoke Charter for BESE-Authorized Charter Schools 1. A recommendation to revoke a charter shall be made to BESE by the state superintendent of education based on information provided by the Department of Education, at least one BESE meeting prior to the BESE…

A. A charter school shall have discretion with respect to the use of corporal punishment; however, no form of corporal punishment shall be administered to a student with an exceptionality, excluding gifted and talented, as defined in R.S. 17:1942 , or to a student who has been de…

A. The charter school law was enacted by the Louisiana Legislature to create a structure whereby city, parish, and other local public school boards and BESE can authorize the creation of innovative kinds of independent public schools for students in Louisiana. B. The Charter Scho…

A. For initial renewals during the 2018 and beyond renewal processes, a BESE-authorized charter school receiving a letter grade of "F" in the prior academic year will not be eligible for renewal, unless one of these conditions are met: 1. the charter school is a school approved b…

A. The virtual charter school shall ensure that all course content is being used under an appropriate and valid license and shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless BESE, the department, and the students and parents for any claims of non-compliance. B. The virtual charter school…

A. A charter agreement may provide, initially or by amendment, for a corporate partner to have representation on its governing or management board; however, such representation may not constitute a majority of the board. Such membership is subject to all other provisions of law e…

A. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and its approved charter and the scho…

A. Notwithstanding any state law, rule, or regulation to the contrary and except as may be otherwise specifically provided for in an approved charter, a charter school established and operated in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and its approved charter and the scho…

A. This Chapter provides minimum health and safety standards regarding the reopening of school facilities for the 2020-2021 school year in response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in order to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and others on school property are p…

A. Each charter school shall adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to implement and control any disorderly conduct in the school or on the playground of the school, on any school bus, on the street or road while going to and from school, or during intermission an…