2006 Louisiana Laws - RS 23:1828 — Basic education services

§1828.  Basic education services

A.  Funds made available under Section 1826(B)(2) of this Chapter shall be used to develop, implement, and carry out effective programs for improving the basic education skills of eligible youths participating in employment and training programs under this Chapter.  Such programs may include provision of alternative educational services, such as instruction leading to the acquisition of a general equivalency diploma, and necessary remediation.

B.  The administrative entity shall contract for services authorized under Subsection (A) with any of the following:

(1)  The local educational agency or with more than one such agency, if more than one local educational agency serves the geographic area contained within the boundaries of a workforce investment area.

(2)  Where clearly appropriate, a public agency or agencies or a private nonprofit organization or organizations, or both, including community-based organizations, for the provision of alternative educational programs.

(3)  A local educational agency and a public or private nonprofit organization acting in concert to provide educational services.

C.(1)  No contracts may be entered into under this Section unless:

(a)  An application is submitted at such time, in such manner and containing such information as the administrative entity deems necessary;

(b)  The proposal was submitted to the appropriate state educational agency for an opportunity to review and comment on its contents prior to submittal to the administrative entity; and

(c)  The proposal was prepared with the participation of parents, teachers, and administrators of programs for eligible youths.

(2)  The secretary shall establish guidelines for submission of the data required under Subparagraph (1)(a) of the Subsection to assure sufficient uniformity to facilitate the statewide evaluation of programs under this Chapter.

D.  Educational providers that enroll students who are also enrolled in employment and training programs under this Chapter shall assign to an individual the supervision of the following program functions:

(1)  Recruitment of eligible participants;

(2)  Enforcement of attendance and performance standards;

(3)  Development of flexible class schedules, as necessary;

(4)  Facilitation of coordination between the education program and the worksite and administrative entity; and

(5)  Counseling of youth participants.

E.  Any agency which desires to receive funds under this Section shall file with the administrative entity an application containing assurances that:

(1)  The agency will be designated as the agency responsible for the administration and supervision of programs assisted under this Section; and

(2)  The agency will use funds made available under this Section:

(a)  So as to supplement the level of funds that would, in the absence of such grants, be made available from other sources for the purposes of the program for which assistance is sought; and

(b)  In no case to supplant such funds from other sources.

F.  To be eligible to receive a contract for funds under this Section, the agency shall submit an application for each year of expected funding.  Applications subsequent to the initial application need only be updates and amendments to the initial application.  The initial application shall:

(1)  Describe the eligible agency and the programs to be conducted for carrying out the purposes of this Section;

(2)  Provide assurance that the program for which assistance is sought is of sufficient size, scope, and quality to give reasonable promise of substantial progress toward improving the basic education skills of eligible youths;

(3)  Describe the procedures which the agency will follow: (a) For carrying out any program or activity to be conducted in an eligible school for eligible youths, and

(b)  With respect to subcontracting with any private nonprofit organization, if the agency determines that the alternative education program to be offered by a private nonprofit organization will best serve the needs of such youths;

(4)  Provide assurances that the agency will cooperate with federal efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of the programs assisted under this Chapter;

(5)  Provide assurances that the agency will monitor compliance with provisions contained in this Chapter.

G.(1)  Once a contract is agreed to, the administrative entity shall make payments as expeditiously as possible after the approval of applications under this Section.

(2)  No funds shall be awarded to fund an education program for more than two years unless:

(a)  There is improved performance of youths who are enrolled in employment programs described under this Chapter on a state or locally approved test of basic academic skills, or

(b)  There is a decrease in the drop-out rate of students enrolled in programs described under this Chapter.

Acts 1986, No. 612, §1; Acts 1999, No. 386, §1.