§3991.1. Corporate partners; enrollment preferences and board membership
A. The legislature finds and declares that:
(1)The economic vitality of the state is dependent upon the education of its people,
including its current and future workforce.
(2)The performance of Louisiana's public education system is critical in providing
every Louisiana child with the ability to graduate equipped to enter college or the workplace,
obtain a rewarding and self-sustaining career, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.
(3)High-quality educational options are essential to the academic growth of
Louisiana's students and the ability of the state to attract businesses, a highly talented
workforce, and expand existing businesses.
(4)Partnerships between businesses and the state's public education s
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§3991.1. Corporate partners; enrollment preferences and board membership
A. The legislature finds and declares that:
(1) The economic vitality of the state is dependent upon the education of its people,
including its current and future workforce.
(2) The performance of Louisiana's public education system is critical in providing
every Louisiana child with the ability to graduate equipped to enter college or the workplace,
obtain a rewarding and self-sustaining career, and contribute to society in meaningful ways.
(3) High-quality educational options are essential to the academic growth of
Louisiana's students and the ability of the state to attract businesses, a highly talented
workforce, and expand existing businesses.
(4) Partnerships between businesses and the state's public education system can
result in positive outcomes for children, providing much needed resources for schools and
rich experiences for students to help prepare them to be effective employees and productive
citizens.
(5) Encouraging and enhancing partnerships between the state's public education
system and state and federal government partners that provide for public health and safety,
defense, and critical infrastructure benefits the state and its students.
B.(1) Notwithstanding geographic or other requirements for enrollment contained
in this Chapter, a charter agreement may provide, initially or by amendment, for the
enrollment of and an enrollment preference for dependent children of permanent employees
of a corporate partner as defined by Subsection C of this Section. Up to fifty percent of the
school's maximum enrollment may be reserved for the enrollment of such children. The
charter agreement shall specify both the school's maximum enrollment and the maximum
proportion set aside for implementation of this enrollment preference.
(2) A charter agreement may provide, initially or by amendment, for a corporate
partner to have representation on its governing or management board; however, such
representation may not constitute a majority of the board. Such membership is subject to all
other provisions of law except any contrary provision in this Chapter.
C. For purposes of this Section, a corporate partner is any legal entity except for a
corporation identified in R.S. 18:1505.2(L)(3), whether for profit or not for profit, registered
with the secretary of state, a regional airport, or any federal or state entity or agency,
including a public postsecondary education institution, that has, acting individually or as part
of a consortium of corporations, donated or provided one or more of the following to the
school:
(1) The land on which the school is built.
(2) The school building or the space the school occupies. If the corporate partner is
leasing the building or space to the school, the enrollment preference or board membership
may only be provided in the charter agreement if the lease provides that the building or space
is made available without cost and if the term of the lease is not less than the duration of the
charter agreement.
(3) Major renovations to the existing school building or other capital improvements
including major investments in technology. For purposes of this Paragraph, a major
renovation to the existing school building means changes that provide significant
opportunities for substantial improvement including but not limited to a structural change
to the foundation, roof, floor, or interior or exterior walls or extension of an existing facility
to increase its floor area; or an extensive alteration of an existing facility, such as a change
in its function or purpose, even if such renovation does not include any structural change to
the facility. A major investment in technology includes but is not limited to a donation of
hardware, software, Internet access, Internet hardware, enterprise systems, software licenses,
smart board technology, or audiovisual equipment. The value of a major renovation or of
an investment of technology shall be equal to at least fifty percent of the per pupil allocation
of state funds by the minimum foundation program formula for that year for the parish in
which the school is located multiplied by the school's enrollment as defined in the charter
agreement.
D. For the duration of the enrollment preference specified in Paragraph (B)(1) of this
Section, the corporate partner shall enter annually into a memorandum of understanding with
the charter school with which it has entered into a partnership which memorandum shall
specify the methods by which the corporate partner shall support the charter school,
including but not limited to internships for students, career counseling, academic tutoring,
or enrichment activities.
E.(1) An enrollment preference pursuant to Paragraph (B)(1) of this Section shall not
be implemented in a way that displaces children enrolled at the school at the time the charter
agreement or amendment providing for the preference is authorized.
(2) Enrollment at the school shall otherwise be as provided by this Chapter.