Education Committee — Committee Page

Education Committee 4

Official committee page
4 bills pending

Members

🥇 Rick Edmonds (R)

🥈 Valarie Hodges (R)

👤 Jimmy Harris (D)

👤 Katrina Jackson-Andrews (D)

👤 Blake Miguez (R)

👤 Beth Mizell (R)

👤 Bob Owen (R)

Pending Bills

Committee Legend: 🥇 Chair 🥈 Vice Chair 👤 Committee Member ⏳ Interim Member 🛡️ Ex Officio

SCR2: Provides for legislative approval of the MFP formula for the 2025-2026 school year. (7/1/25) (OR +$49,880,040 GF EX See Note)

Last Action: Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Education.
Date: 2025-04-14

Author: 🥇 Rick Edmonds (R)

LAFC bill breakdown:

Approves the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP) formula for the 2025–2026 school year, as adopted by BESE on March 12, 2025. The MFP determines per-pupil funding for Louisiana public elementary and secondary schools and allocates funds among city, parish, and other public school systems.

Key Provisions:

Establishes a base per-pupil funding rate of $4,015.
Uses weighted student counts to account for special education, gifted/talented, low-income, English learners, CTE participation, and small district size.
Allocates state and local cost shares based on district ability to generate revenue from property and sales taxes, with caps on growth.
Provides incentive funding for districts that raise more local revenue above the base requirement (Level 2).
Continues funding for past pay raises and historical allocations (Level 3).
Adds supplemental allocations (Level 4) for teacher stipends, tutoring, career development, special education, mentoring, internships/apprenticeships, and course access.
Adjusts funding mid-year based on enrollment changes.
Ensures funding for charter schools, lab schools, and specialized state-run schools based on where students reside.

This resolution constitutes legislative approval of the MFP formula, as required by the Louisiana Constitution.

📄 Details 🔍 View Bill on Legislature Website

SB198: Authorizes nonpublic school students to participate in public school activities. (8/1/25)

Last Action: Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Education.
Date: 2025-04-14

Author: Jeremy Stine (R)

LAFC bill breakdown:

Allows students from BESE-approved nonpublic schools to participate in public school extracurricular activities or sports if the nonpublic school does not offer the activity and the student lives in the public school’s attendance zone.

Nonpublic students must try out and maintain the same academic and disciplinary standards as public school students. Failure to meet requirements may result in removal from the activity or team.

Effective August 1, 2025.

Likes:

📄 Details 🔍 View Bill on Legislature Website

SB215: Provides for mental health days for faculty, staff, and students in public education institutions. (8/1/25) (OR INCREASE GF EX See Note)

Last Action: Introduced in the Senate; read by title. Rules suspended. Read second time and referred to the Committee on Education.
Date: 2025-04-14

Author: Larry Selders (D)

Important: Cultural Marxist Democrats constantly trying to focus everyone on how they feel about everything. Stop with conditioning our kids on feelings and TEACH them reading, writing and math.

LAFC bill breakdown:

- Requires public K-12 schools and colleges to allow up to two “mental health days” per semester as excused absences for students, faculty, and staff.

- Notice must be provided 24 hours in advance unless due to emergency.

- No doctor’s note required unless more than two days are used per semester.

- Mental health days cannot be used on test days or project deadlines unless there's a documented emergency.

- Defines “mental health day” as time off for stress, anxiety, or emotional exhaustion.

- Effective August 1, 2025.

Dislikes:

📄 Details 🔍 View Bill on Legislature Website

SR92: Directs the state Department of Education to provide specific information in a report to the Senate committees on finance and education relative to the original Charter School Demonstration Programs Law.

Last Action: Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
Date: 2025-05-08

Author: Joseph Bouie (D)

LAFC bill breakdown:

Directs the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) to submit a detailed report to the Senate Committees on Education and Finance by December 31, 2025, evaluating the Charter School Demonstration Programs Law enacted in 1995. The report must include evidence-based approaches used, analytical mechanisms, positive and negative results, the number of charter schools opened and closed, and total state expenditures on charter schools from 2005 to 2025. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor will review the department's report and assess resource use, reporting back by April 1, 2026.

📄 Details 🔍 View Bill on Legislature Website