State education officials must set procedures and testing rules for admitting or readmitting home-study students to public schools, and local school boards must use those rules to decide grade placement.
§236.2. Home study program participants; admission to public schools A. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, hereinafter referred to as the state board, shall adopt policies, rules, and regulations establishing procedures to be followed by city and parish school boards in admitting or readmitting to the public schools any child who, during the preceding school year or any portion thereof immediately preceding his admission or readmission to the public schools, participated in an approved home study program pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:236. B. In adopting such policies, rules, and regulations, the state board shall provide for the screening and evaluation of such students, including, but not limited to, the administration of examinations to determine the grade level at which such child should be admitted or readmitted to the public schools. C. The State Department of Education shall select, develop, validate, and/or provide for the administration of all examinations required by the state board pursuant to the provisions of this Section. Such examinations shall measure the skills of such students using the criteria developed pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:24.4 and R.S. 17:391.1 et seq. D. Each child seeking admission or readmission to the public schools of this state pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall, as a prerequisite for such admission or readmission, fulfill all screening and evaluation requirements established by the state board. E. Each city and parish school board shall adopt all policies, rules, and regulations necessary to provide for the implementation of the provisions of this Section, including, but not limited to, provisions for the screening and evaluation of students in accordance with the policies, rules, and regulations adopted by the state board and for administering such examinations as may be required by the state board. Such school boards shall use the results of such screening, evaluations, and examinations in determining the grade level at which such children shall be admitted or readmitted to the public schools under the respective jurisdictions of such boards. Acts 1984, No. 448, §1, eff. July 6, 1984.