[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6235065,"mediaKeyId","3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37","parentId",3406537,"title","Representative asks State Department of Education to study effects of school cellphone ban","audioSeconds",301,"startMs",3814000,"endMs",4115000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37&start=3814&end=4115","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37/thumbnail_3814000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6235065/Louisiana/Representative-asks-State-Department-of-Education-to-study-effects-of-school-cellphone-ban","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235065-4b8058ace24354b6cc0438d114aad3c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008307&Signature=NNIaZkBB-2bjRQgtxnVdegUWXVqnsByHDB2awuxn-7gsZLFH1MKXhCFsjkP-mHiAxCuHnsf8-JN69uzyny~OyauJl4fvPz6wrGFq4OSZh3EDllu890JG0iBphZnw42PcOgI2YIyGeEPCENp1KBuh1P3H3ALyPOUJoy2Ht1drmzSrGqNATRFDDgUioSw9xlTsg1a0uO350Cn-oaeyxk4c5MqBemupPH2l94PhvWU9HizVDsI5NeuHpi40m1yj4mwfWVnaAkbRI9RzxhY55lPOK8XSsN60dq0sZzlpW1aAMZRNm2Y~wiJ7wmmnn-wHV5O5hciCrDrUx1YAAlu-pFmqtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Louisiana Legislature","date","2025-05-20T00:00:00Z","article","House Resolution 98, filed by Representative Chuck Owen, asks the Louisiana Department of Education to study and report on the impact of the 2024 law that bans student possession of telecommunications devices during the instructional day. The House Education Committee reported the resolution favorably on May 20, 2025.

Representative Owen said he brought the resolution after speaking with teachers and students in his district, and after receiving a petition with about 400 names from students who wanted legislators to review the law’s effects. \"My focus on it is education outcomes,\" Owen said. \"I will ask the Department of Education to take a look and to see if there's any discernible up or down outcomes that they can attribute to this.\" Owen said he intends the study to be targeted and not unduly burdensome on the department.

Committee members supported the request for a study as a one‑time review. Representative Omidy (sic) praised Owen for listening to students and said a narrowly tailored study could be useful, while others noted methodological challenges in attributing any changes in outcomes directly to the ban. The Department of Education was not recorded as opposing the study; members discussed the scope and deliverable may be adjusted to avoid duplicative reporting.

Representative Owen moved to report HR 98 favorably; there were no objections and the committee advanced the resolution. The resolution requests a report and does not change law; next steps include any staff work by the Department of Education to define metrics and a timeline for the requested study.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Education May 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Owen asked the State Department of Education to study whether the 2024 law banning student possession of telecommunications devices during instructional hours affected educational outcomes; the committee reported the resolution favorably.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature LA, Louisiana","taxId",78558,"location","Louisiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235072,"Bill would let teachers exclude students with high absenteeism from growth measures used in evaluations",1135,2663000,3798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37&start=2663&end=3798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37/thumbnail_2663000.jpg","/articles/6235072/Louisiana/Bill-would-let-teachers-exclude-students-with-high-absenteeism-from-growth-measures-used-in-evaluations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235072-ad0c4de0d462740c550ad9271c991b90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008307&Signature=kWZZVmweNDbn3cgQx0YsF~lozDACyERxE4xZwCHLap-vAILTYytI02Dex4XkshCv1NUaijojIMfwGiAGc1CPIHe6PNVP9oBa9Sbwgnyesx3LpbSzpliePG4lENdhVODL85~qS7lgbhNdhzCm44bo0K-8nmH5Ta98JuXfK7pmBEVNqck~EFCwKWR7mhZNn-9ljNS4VeyWzS8Qv9pgYLCxSAcqiq6Ez5NGlcqTqfkISN-Wl6eEbJgCggh9HxWXVWrxUdqY7rkna6OtUHSAqA5fi3XQgO1FxiIj1G3CHjza5~~DYzO82OnOI062I5976VWcl-9tSklebIqM62opiLumkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 391, which would allow teachers to exclude students who exceed a specified absenteeism threshold (including excused absences) from student growth measures used in teacher evaluations, was reported favorably by the House Education Committee on May 20, 2025.

Representative Stagney, sponsor of HB 391, told the committee that existing law (LRS 17:3,902 and Act 515 of 2014) allows teachers to exclude students with 10 or more unexcused absences per semester from value‑added models (VAM) and student learning targets, but does not account for excused absences in the same way. \"This bill seeks to change that and allow unexcused, that the teacher be able to, use unexcused absences as well as excused in their models,\" Stagney said, explaining the proposal is intended to make evaluations fairer when chronic absenteeism prevents students from receiving regular instruction.

Cynthia Posey of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers urged the committee to consider the impact of absences on instruction. \"It's important for a teacher's evaluation to be fair and accurate,\" Posey said. Posey and the sponsor cited research and Department of Education guidance indicating that missing 10 days per semester is the point at which demonstrable learning impacts become more likely; the sponsor said that benchmark traces to the Department’s analysis used when Act 515 was enacted in 2014.

Officials from the Louisiana Department of Education said they had examined the question and did not take a formal position, providing technical assistance but not opposition. Ashley Townsend of LDOE told the committee the department had \"done some looking into this\" and that while excluding chronically absent students can sometimes be helpful, absence still has a definite instructional impact.

Members discussed operational mechanics. Under current roster verification procedures teachers can indicate which students exceed absence thresholds so those students’ growth measures are not entered into the VAM calculation; HB 391 would add excused absences to that verification option so teachers could exclude those students in the same way. Representative Tom Carlson sought to confirm that exclusion operates at the individual student level (rather than dropping an entire class); witnesses confirmed the verification is individualized.

Testimony included local data cited by legislators and commentators about chronic absenteeism in some districts: one committee member referenced reporting that one in three East Baton Rouge Parish students were chronically absent in 2024 (defined in that reporting as missing at least 10 percent of the school year). Supporters argued that adjusting how absenteeism enters the evaluation calculation could reduce unfairly low ratings and lower turnover costs for districts; the Learning Policy Institute estimate that replacing a teacher can cost school systems roughly $12,000 to $25,000 was cited in committee discussion.

Representative Stagney moved to report HB 391 favorably; committee members recorded no objections and the bill was advanced for further consideration.","House Bill 391 would permit teachers to exclude students with significant excused absences from student‑growth measures used in evaluations; the committee reported the bill favorably after supporters said absences distort evaluation results.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235077,"Committee urges LHSAA to avoid scheduling games on Easter weekend",217,2242000,2459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37&start=2242&end=2459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37/thumbnail_2242000.jpg","/articles/6235077/Louisiana/Committee-urges-LHSAA-to-avoid-scheduling-games-on-Easter-weekend","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235077-a6d816000b25d7073d2678890691fb21/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008307&Signature=DBhCzjylCQ1AnwC6LWMsc4uF3Gr0TBDino4jAbnYcLGWBpLa--OTh3thRiSuVodU5WbzlzrUBkxsFp89b8g~s0a7ME2OStrtI6sCOHelKrhFzEklje9riBz-8IOhww7qyyHrbRMk5mq8iA3rlurjK4Rl5sQMrzy5QF6Ak~77qmIxtliMUSOZ9XUZDdB4sacYidVxixWYALQYbeR0x6rPXXkRolDilSmOhOLvwk3p2PhgmHFP~LqCD0F8TYNrFBuKnazLsEArG0tVYukIfCYvQE7vC8bjJ~NAsDXKZU1UgeAVwdAQuHYN2i2qdr87BIXkCtInEmkee5fjyrgfsfNjSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee unanimously reported House Concurrent Resolution 31 favorably on May 20, 2025, urging the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) to refrain from scheduling athletic contests during Easter weekend.

Representative Clay Desotel, sponsor of HCR 31, said the resolution \"simply urges and requests the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to refrain from scheduling games on Easter weekend,\" and framed the request as recognition of the religious significance Easter weekend holds for many families. \"By urging the LHSAA to avoid scheduling games during Easter weekend, we're not asking them to cancel a season or make radical changes,\" Desotel told the committee.

Representative Beryl Amadee spoke in support and moved the resolution favorably, saying he hoped the association would honor the request. No opposition was raised during the committee hearing. The committee recorded no objections and reported the resolution favorably.

The resolution is nonbinding: it expresses the will of the legislature and requests the LHSAA consider scheduling accommodations for families observing religious traditions, rather than imposing a mandate on the athletic association.","House Concurrent Resolution 31 passed the Education Committee urging the Louisiana High School Athletic Association to refrain from scheduling games on Easter weekend to respect religious observance.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235082,"Committee advances constitutional amendment to allow St. George city to form its own school system; substantive disputes deferred to companion bill",1739,462000,2201000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37&start=462&end=2201","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37/thumbnail_462000.jpg","/articles/6235082/Louisiana/Committee-advances-constitutional-amendment-to-allow-St-George-city-to-form-its-own-school-system-substantive-disputes-deferred-to-companion-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235082-269a2ed21a7376ff8d05149477ee81d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008307&Signature=O7wA4ePmcwvAZ8NM~8SKlUI9dw-e8aRihalF4arpk41kPNf1qkodJW8TPzkiEIm83erwncfE5Ho189Xgv99wZCIk02CXhOfhdMqGhJxm4Jy6IQB-B-AE2jHL2q7K1o43Lk6PGefmjtun5N4cRIjnuKxkXU6YDbB84DqQpG5HtrH3eCOIhmB3rI0aOe6kjB4yt7EC4BoiyVEkEpYPg5F79kjHZ8E70yeogtgWN9L2sE0EPt20yDAi~TiorIRTlByQ33ZtcQpCQIcC6zDnuC2~i9GUZM7cS5LXTLwEC1K9uhBVnDAIhsRPQeRx1oPKVTsBrTIHugHT9trk7eA3RWCSQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Committee voted 8–2 on May 20, 2025 to report Senate Bill 25 favorably, a constitutional amendment that would allow the city of St. George in East Baton Rouge Parish to operate its own public school system if voters approve statewide and parishwide ballot measures.

Senate Bill 25, introduced by Chairman Senator Richie Edmonds, would place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to grant St. George the same authority as parishes to operate a school system. \"This only has to do with allowing the constitutional amendment to be on the ballot,\" Edmonds told the committee, explaining the bill does not set district policies or content. Edmonds and other supporters said the amendment must pass both statewide and parishwide and would be placed on the April 2026 ballot if advanced.

Dustin Yates, listed in testimony as the mayor of St. George, urged favorable passage, saying the city had followed legal processes over a 12‑year effort to incorporate and form a school system. \"We have this bill before you today to begin the process of creating our own school system for our community,\" Yates said.

Opponents and local school officials testified that financial and equity concerns remain unresolved. Darius Lanus, a former East Baton Rouge Parish school board president, said in testimony, \"Saint George cannot afford to create a school district,\" and raised allegations about how initial boundaries were drawn. Lanus further claimed fiscal effects across the parish, saying the move would remove \"nearly $140,000,000 from the entire parish\" and argued the earlier incorporation and ballot processes were improper. The current president of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System said the system did not oppose the district’s formation but asked that St. George assume a portion of legacy costs; she said East Baton Rouge faces about $400,000,000 in legacy liabilities and asked that St. George take roughly 16% (about $60,000,000) to share in those costs.

Committee members repeatedly distinguished SB 25 — the constitutional amendment to put the formation question before voters — from SB 234, the companion bill that would create the St. George Community School Board and define operational, fiscal and policy matters. Chairman Edmonds asked that SB 234 be deferred for further work; the committee deferred SB 234 to a later meeting so sponsors can continue negotiations over legacy costs, retirement liabilities and other implementation details.

Representative Brett Freiberg and other members said they were not opposed to letting voters decide the question posed by SB 25 but acknowledged outstanding concerns that the companion bill must address. Representative Young asked specifically whether there was a commitment from St. George to negotiate with East Baton Rouge officials; Edmonds said he was \"fully prepared to have that discussion on SB 234,\" and that many stakeholder meetings — including with retirement system representatives and district officials — had already occurred.

On the procedural vote for SB 25, Representative Brett Freiberg moved to report the bill favorably; roll call recorded eight yeas and two nays. The committee’s favorable report moves the constitutional amendment forward; sponsors said SB 234 will be the vehicle for policy language and the financial negotiations the opposition requested.

Key unresolved issues include how legacy pension and other liabilities will be allocated, whether St. George will assume a share of those liabilities, and how student assignment and interdistrict transfers will be administered. Sponsors said those subjects are for SB 234 and subsequent drafting with affected stakeholders.","Lawmakers voted to report SB 25 — a constitutional amendment enabling the St. George Community School System — favorably. Lawmakers deferred and said they will continue work on SB 234, the companion bill addressing the school board, funding and legacy cost issues.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6235089,"Committee backs bill to increase parental access to digital curriculum materials",344,108000,452000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37&start=108&end=452","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3406537-377d9b14a74fdf1c48e4910086924f37/thumbnail_108000.jpg","/articles/6235089/Louisiana/Committee-backs-bill-to-increase-parental-access-to-digital-curriculum-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6235089-c08685d53b42b3ff1ae0bf5c9e5f85a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771008307&Signature=mhWIFRbNeg6asZ6ROmOwzucv~aq6uobRC7hJ~mvcrLr2xN6xBmmDH~KRnmjtjJ8cLeVTFEpYuJnQ69xxKmEL9ZaONiPchlcEDq5jsxZv54-ufdbHJzOYYIUQx-bVOsJO5XDb9LJvFm4yiQ8DKM7nnLmx-YOvlG12SQOJts~n~LLvxsrlr956CffC~Iiq1Zh4Rf-aIbVdfzAbpPyVWLOOpTREirlTknd64DTswaglqVU8zjHd4FfpKzkCQdDxI12rSGZpEpA9PnZSF2nXNE3xU1Y6bS-VmTxztjz921RloHSiuWG7ZJUtPSITneRrtG9tUt8C3ZwOq0eFtfN5SS0mUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 81, which would require school districts to provide free online and in-person access to adopted instructional materials and limit mandatory online disclosure to materials adopted under RS 17:35.1, was reported favorably by the House Education Committee on May 20, 2025.

The measure, carried in the House by Senator Richie Edmonds, is designed \"to keep costs down for parents by providing free online and in person viewing options and requiring only the reasonable fees for the requested, paper copies,\" Edmonds said as he introduced the bill. He told the committee the bill \"prioritizes transparency regarding the core additional content.\" Dr. Sabre Kingham, the governor’s education policy advisor for K–12 and higher education, told the committee “we're here today because this bill has a very big educational impact, which is a positive potential for increased parental engagement and transparency.”

Supporters told the panel many districts already maintain online curriculum databases and that the bill would formalize access while limiting new state spending. Representative Brett Freiberg said most systems \"do have online databases right now or curriculum online\" and called the measure \"timely and important,\" noting the fiscal note did not show state expenditures. The bill sponsor said districts may incur some costs but the bill does not use state money.

A spokesperson from the governor’s office and representatives of education organizations and local school officials submitted support cards; several indicated support without speaking. No formal opposition was recorded during the committee hearing. Representative Beryl Amadee moved to report the bill favorably; there were no objections and the committee approved the motion.

The bill limits mandatory online access to material adopted under RS 17:35.1 and authorizes only reasonable fees for paper copies. Supporters said the measure is intended to increase parental confidence in curriculum, teachers and system transparency. The committee’s favorable report advances the bill to the next legislative step.

Details not specified in the hearing included whether the bill would require a statewide standard for how districts present materials online and how districts would verify compliance; proponents said those operational questions are for administrative rule-making or later drafting.

Senate Bill 81 will proceed with a favorable committee report; further hearings and amendments are possible as the bill moves through the House.","The House Education Committee voted to report Senate Bill 81 favorably after lawmakers and the governor’s education office described the measure as expanding free access to adopted curriculum materials and tools for parental review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Representative asks State Department of Education to study effects of school cellphone ban

Bill would let teachers exclude students with high absenteeism from growth measures used in evaluations

Committee urges LHSAA to avoid scheduling games on Easter weekend

Committee advances constitutional amendment to allow St. George city to form its own school system; substantive disputes deferred to companion bill

Committee backs bill to increase parental access to digital curriculum materials