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SB 504

STUDENTS: Provides relative to individual graduation plans. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Gary Carter and 5 co-sponsors

Every IGP/IEP must include district vocational training opportunities, with 11th-grade parents able to request updates and approvals for revisions.

Effective date 8/1/2026.
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Bill Summary · SB 504

Summary of Louisiana SB 504 (2026) — Individual Graduation Plans and Vocational Training Opportunities

Purpose and Intent

SB 504, introduced by Senator Carter, amends Louisiana law to expand and formalize how Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) incorporate vocational training opportunities. The bill retains the existing framework for IGPs/IEPs and adds requirements ensuring students have clearer access to career-technical paths within their districts. It also provides a mechanism for parents or legal guardians of 11th-grade students to request updates to these plans.

Key Provisions

  • Inclusion of Vocational Training Opportunities

    • Every IGP and IEP must include information about available vocational training opportunities within the student’s school district. This applies to both existing plans and any revisions.

  • Parental/Guardian Authority in 11th Grade

    • A parent or legal guardian of a student entering the 11th grade may request an update to the student’s IGP or IEP. The update must include the available vocational training opportunities in the district.

  • Plan Flexibility and Structure

    • The IGP shall be sufficiently flexible to allow changes to the program of study with written approval from a parent or guardian, while remaining structured enough to ensure the student meets high school graduation requirements for their chosen major or applicable IEP goals and remains eligible for postsecondary education or workforce entry.

  • Annual Review and Revision

    • Each student’s IGP shall be reviewed annually and revised as needed to identify the courses to be taken each year until all required core courses are completed.

  • Signing and Oversight

    • After a review, the IGP/IEP must be signed by the student, the parent or guardian, and the school counselor.

  • Pre-Revision Counseling

    • Before revising an IGP, the school counselor must meet with the parent or guardian (in person or virtually) to explain potential impacts of revisions on graduation requirements and postsecondary goals. All revisions require written approval from the parent or guardian.

  • Implementation and Resources

    • Schools shall implement these provisions using existing staff, counselors, and other available resources.

  • Funding

    • Implementation is contingent upon appropriations made by the legislature.

Who is Affected

  • Students: All students required to develop an IGP/IEP, with emphasis on those approaching high school completion and considering vocational pathways.
  • Parents/Guardians: Granted explicit authority to request updates to IGPs/IEPs in the 11th grade and to approve revisions.
  • School Districts/Schools: Responsible for updating, reviewing, and implementing IGPs/IEPs, and for coordinating with counselors to inform families about vocational opportunities.

Timeline and Other Details

  • Effective Date: August 1, 2026.
  • Legal Status: Amends and reenacts certain provisions of R.S. 17:2925 and adds new subsections (A)(8)-(9), (D), and (E).
  • Funding: State implementation is subject to future appropriations.

Practical Impact

  • Increased emphasis on career/technical education within graduation planning.
  • More structured and transparent processes for updating and reviewing IGPs/IEPs.
  • Greater parental involvement in high school planning during the critical 11th-grade period.
  • Potential need for districts to inventory and communicate vocational training opportunities across programs and pathways.

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

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