§ 17:167 — Certification of child's age upon entering a parish or city school system or private school for the first time; proof of age to qualify for athletic event participation

A. All children upon entering a parish or city school system or private school in the state of Louisiana for the first time shall be required to present a copy of their official birth record to the school principal. A short-form birth certification card shall be acceptable as a copy of an official birth record. Only records from the local or state registrar of vital statistics will be accepted for children born in Louisiana. Birth verification forms issued by the local registrar of the parish of birth shall be valid and acceptable for entry into parish or city school systems or private schools and for qualifying for all types of athletic participation where proof of age is required, provided that parish and city school boards may require the submission of additional evidence as to age or race, where such is not conclusively established by the birth certificate.
B. Children born out of the state of Louisiana will be required to secure a copy of their official birth record from the authorized person or agencies registering vital statistics in their state of birth.
C. Children born in foreign countries will be allowed to submit birth facts as shown on their passport or citizenship papers in lieu of a birth record if none is available from the country of birth.
D. Children born in Louisiana will be given a fifteen day grace period to secure a copy of their birth record.
E. Children born out of this state will be given thirty days grace in which to produce a copy of their birth record.
F. It shall be left to the discretion of the parish school board superintendent as to whether or not a child shall continue in school upon failure to comply.

Legislative History

Added by Acts 1954, No. 573, §1. Amended by Acts 1956, No. 170, §1; Acts 1960, No. 541, §1; Acts 2000, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 118, §2, eff. April 19, 2000.