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LAW |
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Year Passed |
1995; last amended in 2010.
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Rank |
13th strongest of the nation's 41 charter laws. |
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Grade |
C |
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GENERAL DATA |
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• Five different types of charter schools complicate the application process and results in inequity
• Charter school leaders complain of highly regulatory oversight
• Bright spot New Orleans has a 61 percent market share, but other districts still fight charters
• Recovery District successful in converting failing schools to charters |
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INDEPENDENT OR MULTIPLE AUTHORIZERS - YES (2) |
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Approval |
School boards and State Board of Education. The state charters directly in
the State Recovery District (RSD—Type 5), which currently includes New
Orleans and other cities with a history of failing schools. |
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Appeal |
Yes. Applications denied by the school board may be appealed to the State
Board of Education. If application is approved, the state board becomes the
sponsor. (Type 2) |
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NUMBER OF SCHOOLS ALLOWED |
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Cap |
No cap. |
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OPERATIONAL AUTONOMY |
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State |
Yes. There is a blanket waiver, however, exceptions are specified in the law.
Specific rules for each of the five types of charter school, so autonomy
varies. Virtual schools not permitted.Management contracts with ESPs are
not restricted. |
|
Local |
Limited. Charter schools in some districts experience heavier regulation.
Charter schools (except Type 2) are not LEAs for the purpose of funding or
special education. |
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Teacher Freedom |
Yes in the Recovery District. Teachers may organize as a separate bargaining
unit. No for all other types. Teachers are covered by district bargaining
agreement, unless exemption is negotiated with sponsor and specified in
charter. Charter schools must participate in the state's retirement system. |
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EQUITY |
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Student Funding |
• Funds often vary by district and by type.
• Law was changed in 2008 to give Type 2 charters state funding, and also a
share of local sales and property taxes.
• For schools authorized by local boards, funds pass through district. For
schools authorized by state, funds pass through state.
"Except as otherwise provided by this Subsection, for the purpose of funding, a Type 1, Type 3, and Type 4 charter school shall be considered an approved public school of the local school board entering into the charter agreement and shall receive a per pupil amount each year from the local school board based on the October first membership count of the charter school. Except as otherwise provided by this Subsection, Type 2 charter schools shall receive a per pupil amount each year from the state Department of Education using state funds specifically provided for this
purpose." [La. R.S. § 17:3995] |
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Facilities Funding |
Yes. Charter School Start-Up Loan Fund provides no interest loans up to
$100,000 to schools that can be used for facilities. Only Types 1–3 are
eligible, but the majority of charters are Types 4–5. [LA stat. 3971.4001
Part VI (2)] |
