House Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to amend and reenact provisions concerning prekindergarten programs in Louisiana by removing the requirement for nonpublic prekindergarten programs to be licensed as early learning centers. This change allows these programs to operate without specific licensing while still mandating compliance with child safety and welfare standards. The bill also revises child-to-staff ratios, increasing the maximum ratio for four-year-olds from 15:1 to 20:1 and for five-year-olds from 19:1 to 20:1, and establishes new ratios for the 2027 school year. Parents enrolling their children must acknowledge that these programs are not subject to federal daycare regulations.

Additionally, the bill empowers the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to approve nonpublic prekindergarten programs based on compliance with safety standards, with the Department of Education recommending denial of future approvals for noncompliant schools. It also requires local school boards to consider closure or protective measures for public prekindergarten programs with persistent noncompliance. The definition of "early learning center" is revised to exclude nonpublic prekindergarten programs, and licensing exemptions are modified, removing the exemption for Louisiana Montessori accredited schools while adding exemptions for mother's day out programs. Complaints about prekindergarten programs must be reported to local superintendents and governing authorities of charter and nonpublic schools, with the law taking effect upon the governor's signature or the lapse of time for gubernatorial action.

Statutes affected:
HB1112 Original: 17:11(B), 17:8(A), 17:33(1), 17:35(A), 17:41(A)