Senate Bill No. 376, known as the "Learn and Earn Act," seeks to enhance career and technical education in Louisiana by enabling local public school boards to establish career practicums in public high schools. The bill introduces new provisions under R.S. 17:81(A)(8) and Chapter 47, which define the requirements for these practicums, emphasizing alignment with State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved career pathways. It mandates that students participating in these programs receive compensation, financial literacy training, and necessary safety training, while ensuring that the practicums operate under cooperative endeavor agreements that meet specific legal standards.

The legislation also establishes new requirements for these agreements, including making them public records and outlining obligations for student participants, such as earning academic credit and receiving minimum wage. It emphasizes that career practicums are instructional functions rather than commercial enterprises, thereby preserving educational integrity. Additionally, funds received as compensation must be deposited into a designated Career Practicum Fund, and charter schools are permitted to establish their own practicums. Existing programs on public high school campuses can continue until the 2029-2030 school year, provided they comply with the new law's provisions.