Senate Bill No. 376, known as the "Learn and Earn Act," seeks to improve career readiness for high school students in Louisiana by enabling local public school boards to create and manage career practicums. The bill introduces new provisions in the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 17:81(A)(8), 3996(92), and Chapter 47 (R.S. 17:4201-4212), which allow school boards to enter into cooperative endeavor agreements for these practicums. Defined as educational operations on public high school campuses, these practicums will provide students with compensated, credit-bearing work-based learning experiences aligned with state-approved career pathways. The legislation emphasizes the development of essential skills such as financial literacy and employability while ensuring compliance with safety and labor laws.

The bill outlines specific operational requirements for career practicums, including the necessity for cooperative endeavor agreements that detail educational purposes, business partner obligations, and safety protocols. It mandates that participating students receive wages at or above the minimum wage and be protected from hazardous occupations. Additionally, the bill clarifies that charter schools can participate in these programs and that existing work-based learning initiatives can continue under certain conditions. The law also stipulates that career practicums will not be classified as commercial entities, thus exempting them from certain trade and consumer protection laws, and requires that any employee interacting with students undergo a criminal background check. The Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) is responsible for implementing the necessary rules to uphold the educational integrity of the program.