Art. 1279.6.  Educational opportunities and assistance

A.(1)  A child who is in foster care pursuant to placement through the department shall be allowed to remain enrolled in the public school in which the child was enrolled at the time he entered foster care for the duration of the child's stay in the custody of the state or until he completes the highest grade offered at the school, if the department determines that remaining in such school is in the best interest of the child.  Transportation of the child shall be provided pursuant to R.S. 17:238(C).

(2)  A child in the custody of the department shall be eligible to attend a school in the school district or parish of the foster care placement.

(3)  A child in the custody of the department shall be given preference in enrollment in the same manner as children receiving preference in R.S. 17:3991(C)(1)(c)(iii) for enrollment to attend a charter school that has been established pursuant to R.S. 17:3983.

B.  When a child is in the custody of the department and is placed with foster parents who have other children living in the home who already attend a nonpublic or parochial school, the foster child may attend the same nonpublic or parochial school if the department finds it is in the best interest of the child, and if the child meets the admission requirements of the nonpublic or parochial school.  The department shall not be directly responsible for paying for the expenses associated with such education.

C.  When a child is in the custody of the department and is placed with foster parents who have other children in the home who are participants in an approved home study program, pursuant to R.S. 17:236.1, the department may approve the placement of the foster child in an approved home study program if the department finds it is in the best interest of the child. Home study programs approved by the Department of Education to educate foster children shall offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level, pursuant to R.S. 17:236.1(C)(1). Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the Department of Education shall provide the department, upon request, verification that a home study program in which a foster child is participating has been approved pursuant to R.S. 17:236.  The foster parent shall provide the department appropriate documentation, including but not limited to copies of standardized tests, to substantiate that the child is progressing on grade level and at a rate equal to one grade level for each year in the program.

Acts 2013, No. 66, §1, eff. May 31, 2013.