This bill amends R.S. 17:3914(C)(3) to enhance the identification system for students in early childhood education programs in Louisiana. The state Department of Education is now required to develop a system for assigning unique early childhood education identification numbers to children enrolled in publicly funded prekindergarten programs and may also assign these numbers to children in non-publicly funded programs, provided their parents consent. The bill specifies that these identification numbers will not include social security numbers and that students will retain their assigned numbers throughout their tenure in early childhood programs and public schools.

Additionally, local public school boards are mandated to assign student identification numbers to every student enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, unless the student already has an early childhood education identification number. By December 31, 2027, local school boards must link the early childhood education identification numbers to the corresponding student identification numbers for research and analysis purposes. The implementation of these provisions is set to begin no later than August 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
HB992 Original: 17:3914(C)(3)
HB992 Engrossed: 17:3914(C)(3)
HB992 Enrolled: 17:3914(C)(3)
HB992 Act 576: 17:3914(C)(3)