2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 17 — Education
RS 17:235.1 — Parent orientation; mandatory for school entrance; city and parish school boards; guidelines; employer responsibilities


LA Rev Stat § 17:235.1 What's This?

§235.1. Parent orientation; mandatory for school entrance; city and parish school boards; guidelines; employer responsibilities

A. Beginning with the 1997-1998 school year, each child entering public school within the state for the first time, including kindergarten, shall present at the time of registering or entering satisfactory evidence that at least one of his parents or guardians has completed the orientation course required by this Section. The certificate of completion required by this Section shall constitute satisfactory evidence.

B. Each city and parish school board shall conduct a parent orientation course according to the following guidelines:

(1) The program shall be not less than three hours in duration and shall be scheduled to accommodate the attendance of the parents or guardians without the loss of work.

(2) All parents or guardians shall be encouraged to attend as many times as they wish.

(3) The school board shall provide every parent or guardian who attends the program a certificate verifying completion of the course.

(4) At the parent orientation meeting, the school board or its representative shall provide each parent or guardian a copy of and shall explain school board policies which:

(a) Govern the discipline of students, including but not limited to corporal punishment, detention, suspension, and expulsion of students.

(b) Govern the attendance of students and truancy sanctions.

(c) Govern the behavior and decorum expected of students at all times.

(d) Govern dress codes for students for all school functions, including but not limited to in-school and out-of-school functions, including but not limited to dances.

(e) Address any other such matters as the school board may deem appropriate.

(5) At the parent orientation meeting, the school board or its representative shall explain:

(a) Existing school board grading systems.

(b) Standardized test procedures in effect, including but not limited to preparation for tests, procedures to be followed on the testing days, and an explanation of the assessment of the test results.

(c) Policies governing promotion of students from grade to grade and procedures implemented when a student fails to attain sufficient standards for promotion.

(d) Other such matters as the school board may deem appropriate.

C. The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to any parent or guardian whose child or children were enrolled in the public school system in the state prior to the 1997-1998 school year. Completion of one orientation course shall be satisfactory for the enrollment or registration of all children of a parent or guardian.

D. A city or parish school board shall schedule not less than three orientation meetings during a school year, and at various times during the day, in order to facilitate attendance with as little inconvenience to the parents or guardians as possible. In order to carry out the intent and purpose of this Section, a school board shall schedule not less than three orientation meetings between March and September of each year, and shall publish notice and otherwise seek to notify parents or guardians whose children may enter a school in the system of the attendance requirements.

E. If any teacher of any public school system is required to attend an orientation meeting as part of his job responsibilities on a day or at a time when the teacher would not otherwise have been required to work, then the teacher shall be compensated at his usual rate of pay on a pro rata basis.

F. Under no circumstances shall a child be denied entry into school because of noncompliance by a parent or guardian with the provisions of this Section.

G. The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to the Webster Parish School Board.

Acts 1997, No. 418, §1, eff. June 22, 1997.

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. Louisiana may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.