Senate Bill No. 482, introduced by Senator Reese, aims to enhance the support provided to public middle and high school students in Louisiana by incorporating career coaches into the process of developing Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs). The bill amends existing laws to require that, by the end of eighth grade, students, along with their parents or guardians, school counselors, and now career coaches, begin crafting an IGP that will guide their academic and career decisions. Additionally, the bill mandates that career coaches assist in the annual review and revision of these plans, ensuring that students receive comprehensive guidance tailored to their postsecondary goals.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the responsibilities of the State Department of Education, which will publish a list of high-quality career coaching vendors and allow local school boards to form regional consortia to share costs associated with hiring career coaches. Each public school board is also required to include a description of its career coaching plan in its pupil progression plan. The Department will annually publish a list of school boards that have not utilized at least 95% of their allocated career development funds, promoting accountability in the use of resources dedicated to student career planning. The provisions of this bill are set to take effect on August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB482 Original: 17:2925(A)(1), 17:2926(A)