Contact Person(s): Dr. Cade Brumley

Email Address: Cade.Brumley@la.gov

Office: Executive Office

Title: Consideration of revisions to bulletins in response to HB 59 (Act 9) of the 2020 Extraordinary Session regarding the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year, as informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to COVID-19

Recommendation: 1. - 3. Approve, as Declaration of Emergency; 4. - 6. Approve, as Notice of Intent

Summary of recommendation or proposed changes:

On June 25, 2020, the Louisiana Department of Education (LDE), in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) and the Resilient Louisiana Commission, released Strong Start 2020: Guidelines and Resources for School Reopening, which provide guidance for how schools across the state may reopen for the 2020-2021 school year by taking actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Specifically, Strong Start 2020 includes best practices and guidelines for districts relative to bus capacity, student group size, student symptom monitoring, face coverings, and food prep and meal service.  

On June 30, 2020, the Louisiana Legislature passed House Bill 59 of the 2020 First Extraordinary Session. The bill was signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards on July 7, 2020, and became Act 9. Act 9 requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to adopt, no later than July 15, 2020, emergency rules informed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to provide minimum standards, policies, medical exceptions, and regulations to govern the reopening of schools for the 2020-2021 school year.

In response to Act 9, the LDE proposes revisions to Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators; Bulletin 741 (Nonpublic), Louisiana Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators; and Bulletin 126, Charter Schools. In light of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the proposed policy shifts provide minimum health and safety standards, ensuring the protection of students, faculty, staff, and others on school property to the maximum extent possible and practical, for reopening school facilities for the 2020-2021 school year.

     a. Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators

Recommendation 1: The LDE recommends that the Board approve, as a Declaration of Emergency, revisions to Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators: §3703. Definitions, as well as the establishment of §401. Purpose and Background; §403. Minimum Requirements for Reopening and Operating School Facilities; and §405. Local Education Agency (LEA) Reopening Policies and Plans, effective July 14, 2020, for a period of 120 days or until adopted as a final Rule.

     b. Bulletin 741 (Nonpublic), Louisiana Handbook for Nonpublic School
         Administrators

Recommendation 2: The LDE recommends that the Board approve, as a Declaration of Emergency, revisions to Bulletin 741 (Nonpublic), Louisiana Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators: §3303. Definitions, as well as the establishment of §1105. Purpose and Background; §1107. Minimum Requirements for Reopening and Operating School Facilities; and §1109. Nonpublic School Board or Governing Authority Reopening Policies and Plans, effective July 14, 2020, for a period of 120 days or until adopted as a final Rule.

     c. Bulletin 126, Charter Schools

Recommendation 3: The LDE recommends that the Board approve, as a Declaration of Emergency, revisions to Bulletin 126, Charter Schools: §103. Definitions, as well as the establishment of §4101. Purpose and Background; §4103. Minimum Requirements for Reopening and Operating School Facilities; and §4105. Local Education Agency (LEA) Reopening Policies and Plans, effective July 14, 2020, for a period of 120 days or until adopted as a final Rule.

* * * * *

In addition to the aforementioned declarations of emergency regarding Bulletin 741, Bulletin 741(NP), and Bulletin 126, the LDE recommends the following:

Recommendation 4: The LDE recommends that the Board approve, as a Notice of Intent, revisions to Bulletin 741, Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators: §3703. Definitions, as well as the establishment of §401. Purpose and Background; §403. Minimum Requirements for Reopening and Operating School Facilities; and §405. Local Education Agency (LEA) Reopening Policies and Plans.

Recommendation 5: The LDE recommends that the Board approve, as a Notice of Intent, revisions to Bulletin 741 (Nonpublic), Louisiana Handbook for Nonpublic School Administrators: §3303. Definitions, as well as the establishment of §1105. Purpose and Background; §1107. Minimum Requirements for Reopening and Operating School Facilities; and §1109. Nonpublic School Board or Governing Authority Reopening Policies and Plans.

Recommendation 6: The LDE recommends that the Board approve, as a Notice of Intent, revisions to Bulletin 126, Charter Schools: §103. Definitions, as well as the establishment of §4101. Purpose and Background; §4103. Minimum Requirements for Reopening and Operating School Facilities; and §4105. Local Education Agency (LEA) Reopening Policies and Plans.

Notice of Intent for Bulletin: _______

Notice of Intent for BESE Code and Code Reference: _________________