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HB 1079

SCHOOLS/CHARTER: Authorizes certain charter schools to give enrollment preference to certain students

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doyle Boudreaux

HB 1079 allows charter schools to give kindergarten enrollment preferences to students from licensed early learning centers, with added categories for military, foster, and custody

Effective date: 08/01/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 1079

Summary of HB 1079 (2026, Louisiana)

Purpose and Intent

HB 1079 authorizes charter schools to grant enrollment preferences to certain kindergarten applicants who have attended licensed early learning centers, under specific conditions. The measure expands existing enrollment preferences to support continuity between early childhood education and charter school enrollment.

Key Provisions

  • The bill amends R.S. 17:3991(C)(1)(c)(vii) to add new enrollment preference categories for charter schools.
  • Existing enrollment preferences retained:
    • Students residing in the neighborhood immediately surrounding the charter school.
    • Siblings of current or former students at the charter school.
  • New enrollment preferences (as amended in the bill):
    1. A entering kindergarten student who attended a licensed early learning center operated by the charter school, OR
    2. A student who attended a licensed early learning center not operated by the charter school, provided:
      • The student attended the center for at least 75 days, and
      • The charter school and the center have an enrollment articulation agreement.
  • Notably, the House Committee amendments add additional categories (as reflected in the amended and engrossed text):
    • A student with a parent in active military service.
    • A student in foster care.
    • A student under a custody agreement.
  • A notable constraint added by amendments:
    • The authorization to provide these enrollment preferences does not apply in school districts where the majority of schools were transferred from the local district to the Recovery School District.

Affected Parties

  • Targeted Group: Entering kindergarten students who have attended certain licensed early learning centers.
  • Charter Schools: May implement enrollment preferences under the specified conditions.
  • Early Learning Centers: In-state licensed centers that may or may not be operated by the charter school; needs articulation agreements for non-charter-operated centers.
  • Families: Particularly those with children in military service, in foster care, or under custody arrangements, in districts where the restriction does not apply.
  • Districts/Recovery School District: May be impacted by the applicability provision restricting these preferences in districts with majority transfers to the Recovery School District.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Effective Date: Not specified in the provided text. As a House Bill, it would require passage by both chambers and the governor’s signature to become law; otherwise, it would follow the standard legislative timeline for enacted statutes.
  • Admission Process: The bill retains existing law requiring admission based on residency requirements, timely application, and capacity limitations (with lotteries when demand exceeds capacity). The new preferences operate within those existing admissions mechanisms.

Practical Implications

  • Potential Benefits:
    • Encourages continuity from early childhood education into charter school programs.
    • May reduce disruption for families with children transitioning from early learning centers to charter schools.
    • Additional protections and supports for military families, foster children, and children under custody arrangements (subject to district restrictions).
  • Potential Limitations:
    • Applicability may be limited in districts with majority school transfers to the Recovery School District.
    • Requires articulation agreements between centers and charter schools for centers not operated by the charter school.
    • Implementation would necessitate clear policies at the charter level to ensure fair application of preferences.

Note

House Committee amendments broaden the preferences to include military families, foster care, and custody arrangements, and add the district restriction related to Recovery School District transfers. The core structure remains aligned with the existing lottery-based admission framework when capacity concerns arise.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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