§ 17:3973 — Definitions

§3973. Definitions
As used in this Chapter, the following terms have the following meanings unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
(1) "Autonomy" means that unless mutually agreed upon by the chartering authority
and charter school, or otherwise required or prohibited by law, the charter school shall have
independent operational decisionmaking authority in the areas including but not limited to:
(a) School programming, instruction, curriculum, materials, texts, calendars, and
schedules.
(b) Personnel, employment, salaries and benefits, educator certification and
evaluation, performance management, participation in retirement planning, and collective
bargaining.
(c) Budgeting, purchasing, procurement, contracts, food service, and management
of transportation.
(2)(a) "Charter school" means an independent public school that provides a program
of elementary or secondary education, or both, established pursuant to and in accordance
with the provisions of this Chapter to provide a learning environment that will improve pupil
achievement. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit a Type 1, Type 2, Type
3, Type 3B, or Type 4 charter school from having a residential component.
(b) Charter schools shall be one of the following types:
(i) Type 1, which means a new school operated as the result of and pursuant to a
charter between the nonprofit corporation created to operate the school and a local school
board. Within such Type 1 charter schools, only pupils who would be eligible to attend a
public school operated by the local school board within the same city or parish will be
eligible to attend as provided in the charter.
(ii) Type 2, which means a new school or a preexisting public school converted and
operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between the nonprofit corporation created
to operate the school and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to
the creation of such a charter to convert a preexisting school, it shall be approved by the
professional faculty and staff of the preexisting school and by the parents or guardians of
children enrolled in the school as provided in R.S. 17:3983(C). Within such Type 2 charter
schools, pupils who reside within the state will be eligible to attend as provided in the
charter. Creation of a Type 2 charter school shall comply with the provisions of R.S.
17:3983(A)(2)(a)(i).
(iii) Type 3, which means a preexisting public school converted and operated as the
result of and pursuant to a charter between a nonprofit corporation and the local school
board. Prior to the creation of such a charter, the local school board may require approval
of a proposal to create such a charter by the members of the faculty and staff of the
preexisting school who are certified by the state board and by the parents or guardians of
children enrolled in the school as provided in R.S. 17:3983(C). Within such Type 3 schools,
only pupils who would be eligible to attend a public school operated by the local school
board granting the charter, or pupils from the same area as those permitted to attend the
preexisting school will be eligible to attend as provided in the charter.
(iv) Type 4, which means a preexisting public school converted and operated or a
new school operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a local school board
and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Prior to the creation of such
a charter to convert a preexisting school, the state board may require approval of a proposal
to create such a charter by the professional faculty and staff of the preexisting school and by
the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school as provided in R.S. 17:3983(C).
Within such Type 4 schools, unless an agreement with another city, parish, or other local
public school board is reached to allow students to attend the charter school, only pupils who
would be eligible to attend a public school operated by the local school board or pupils from
the same areas as those permitted to attend the preexisting school will be eligible to attend
as provided in the charter.
(v)(aa) Type 5, which means a preexisting public school transferred to the Recovery
School District as a school determined to be failing pursuant to R.S. 17:10.5 or 10.7 and
operated as the result of and pursuant to a charter between a nonprofit corporation and the
State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The chartering authority shall review
each Type 5 charter proposal in compliance with the Principles and Standards for Quality
Charter School Authorizing as promulgated by the National Association of Charter School
Authorizers. Except as otherwise provided in R.S. 17:10.7 or 1990, within such Type 5
charter school, only pupils who would have been eligible to enroll in or attend the preexisting
school under the jurisdiction of the city, parish, or other local public school board or other
public school entity prior to its transfer to the Recovery School District may attend.
However, all such pupils shall be eligible to attend notwithstanding any other provision of
this Chapter to the contrary.
(bb) In addition to pupils who are eligible to enroll pursuant to the provisions of
Subitem (aa) of this Item, any student who is eligible to participate in a school choice
program established by the prior system shall be permitted to enroll in a Type 5 charter which
has capacity for another student in the appropriate grade. Maximum capacity by grade shall
be provided in the charter agreement.
(cc)(I) No member of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall
be a member of the governing or management board of any Type 5 charter school. No
member of any city, parish, or other local public school board shall be a member of the
governing or management board of any Type 5 charter school within the jurisdictional area
of such city, parish, or other local public school board.
(II) No member of a governing or management board of any Type 5 charter school
shall be an elected official as defined by R.S. 42:1102(9). No member of such a board shall
have been an elected official for a period of at least one year prior to appointment to such
board.
(dd) A Type 5 charter school that is transferred from the Recovery School District
to the administration and management of the transferring local school system pursuant to
R.S. 17:10.5 or 10.7 and rules adopted by the state board shall no longer be determined to
be failing and shall be converted to a Type 3B charter school.
(vi) Repealed by Acts 2016, No. 497, §2, eff. June 14, 2016.
(vii) Type 3B, which means a former Type 5 charter school transferred from the
Recovery School District to the administration and management of the transferring local
school system pursuant to R.S. 17:10.5 or 10.7 and rules adopted by the state board. The
local school board shall permit a Type 3B charter school to remain in the facility in which
it was located at the time of transfer or shall provide the Type 3B charter school with another
facility for use. Pursuant to rules and regulations adopted by the state board, the state board
may require a Type 3B charter school to participate in unified processes common to other
public schools located in the same parish or school district boundaries that are critical to
providing equity and access to students and families, such as processes for student
enrollment, expulsion, and transportation.
(3) "Chartering authority" means either a local school board or the State Board of
Elementary and Secondary Education.
(4) "Economically disadvantaged" means any one of the following characteristics of
a student:
(a) Is eligible for Louisiana's food assistance program for low-income families.
(b) Is eligible for Louisiana's disaster food assistance program.
(c) Is eligible for Louisiana's program for assistance to needy families with children
to assist parents in becoming self-sufficient.
(d) Is eligible for Louisiana's healthcare program for families and individuals with
limited financial resources.
(e) Is eligible for reduced price meals based on the latest available data.
(f) Is an English Language Learner.
(g) Is identified as homeless or migrant pursuant to the McKinney-Vento Homeless
Children and Youth Assistance Act and the Migrant Education Program within the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
(h) Is incarcerated with the office of juvenile justice or in an adult facility.
(i) Has been placed into the custody of the state.
(5) "Local school board" means any city, parish, or other local public school board.
(6) "Public service organization" means any community-based group of fifty or more
persons incorporated under the laws of this state that meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Has a charitable, eleemosynary, or philanthropic purpose.
(b) Is qualified as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c) of the United
States Internal Revenue Code and is organized for a public purpose.
(7) "State board" means the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Legislative History

Acts 1995, No. 192, §1, eff. June 14, 1995; Acts 1997, No. 477, §1, eff. June 30, 1997; Acts 1999, No. 14, §1; Acts 1999, No. 757, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 1999, No. 1210, §1; Acts 1999, No. 1339, §1, eff. July 12, 1999; Acts 2003, No. 9, §1, eff. Nov. 6, 2003; Acts 2005, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 35, §1, eff. Nov. 30, 2005; Acts 2009, No. 278, §1, eff. July 1, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 324, §1, eff. July 1, 2010; Acts 2011, No. 181, §1; Acts 2012, No. 2, §1; Acts 2012, No. 811, §5, eff. July 1, 2012; Acts 2013, No. 330, §1; Acts 2016, No. 497, §§1, 2, eff. June 14, 2016; Acts 2017, No. 136, §§1, 2; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1; Acts 2024, No. 334, §1, eff. May 28, 2024; Acts 2024, No. 659, §1.