LaTEACH members thanked staff of the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE) for providing BESE with revised recommendations to the main policy for implementing Act 833 and thanked BESE members for their favorable consideration of those revisions.  

What changed?

All students, including students with the most significant disabilities (i.e., students on LAA-1), can graduate with a diploma.

• Language approved by BESE yesterday for Bulletin 1503: Louisiana's IEP Handbook for Students with Exceptionalities

The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) raised concerns about Act 833 possibly violating federal laws.  The main federal education law, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), requires States to develop content standards, proficiency levels and assessments for state, district and school accountability purposes.  But States are not required to use the proficiency levels or assessments under ESEA for student promotion or graduation requirements or decisions.  Representative John Schroder, author of Act833/HB1015, held a phone conference with USDOE representatives and Congressman Steve Scalise on Tuesday (8/12/14).  Representative Schroder also sent USDOE the letter below requesting USDOE's interpretation and perspective on promotion and diploma determinations indicated in Act 833 and how these relate to precedent established through similar practices across the nation.

 

• Representative Schroder letter to USDOE; 8/12/14

• USDOE letter to Superintendent White; July 2, 2014