Title 17. Education

Chapter 1. General School Law

Part XIII. Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission

17:410.11      Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission

A. The Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission, referred to in this Section as the “commission”, is created within the Department of Education for the purpose of providing recommendations for improving, strengthening, and supporting literacy in Louisiana. 

B. The commission shall be comprised of the following members: 

(1) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Education or his designee. 

(2) The chairman of the House Committee on Education or his designee. 

(3) The governor or his designee. 

(4) The state superintendent of education or his designee. 

(5) The president of the Center for Literacy and Learning or his designee. 

(6) The president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry or his designee. 

(7) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents or his designee.

(8) A staff member of the Board of Regents appointed by the commissioner of higher education, who shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. 

(9) The executive director of the Louisiana Association for the Education of Young Children or his designee. 

(10) One teacher selected by the Louisiana Association of Educators. 

(11) One teacher selected by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. 

(12) The executive director of the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools or his designee. 

(13) One member appointed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

(14) A teacher from Louisiana Key Academy appointed by the academy’s chief education officer. 

(15) The leader of Decoding Dyslexia or his designee. 

C. (1) A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 

(2)(a) The commission shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership. 

(b) The state superintendent of education shall call the first meeting no later than September 1, 2023, and shall preside over the meeting until the commission elects a chairman. 

(3) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation except per diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled as members of their constituent organizations. 

(4) The commission shall meet upon the call of the chairman but not less frequently than once every three months. At each meeting, the state Department of Education shall provide updates on the progress of implementation of the commission’s recommendations. The commission shall make any further recommendations necessary to fulfill its duties. 

(5) A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the members present and voting shall be necessary for the commission to take any action. The commission and any committees created pursuant to Paragraph (E)(5) of this Section shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge but may hold public hearings elsewhere in the state. All meetings of the commission and its committees shall comply with the provisions of the Open Meetings Law, R.S. 42:11 et seq. 

D. The state Department of Education shall provide staff and other support for the commission. 

E. The commission shall study and make recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state Department of Education, and the legislature for improving literacy in Louisiana. When conducting analysis and making recommendations, the commission shall have the following powers and duties: 

(1) To serve as the advisory board to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the state Department of Education on matters relating to literacy. 

(2) To research and analyze all policies, regulations, and procedures relative to the implementation of literacy initiatives, reforms, and practices. 

(3) To formulate policy and programming recommendations and to report those recommendations to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the state Department of Education, and the legislature in accordance with the provisions of Subsection F of this Section.

(4) To request and review state, regional, and national literacy data to determine and understand the effectiveness and impact of literacy initiatives, reforms, and practices. 

(5) To establish and appoint members of the commission to committees to identify, analyze, and make recommendations to the commission in the areas of: 

(a) Dyslexia. 

(b) Early childhood literacy. 

(c) Any other area deemed appropriate by the commission. 

F. Not later than February sixth annually, the commission shall provide a report of its findings and recommendations and the status of the implementation of its recommendations to the governor, the members of the legislature, the state superintendent of education, and the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The report shall be submitted to the David R. Poynter Legislative Research Library as required by R.S. 24:771 and 772. 

Added by Acts 2023, No. 208, § 1, eff. June 8, 2023.