Title 17. Education

Chapter 2. Teachers and Employees

Part I. General Provisions

17:437.2      Adverse childhood experience education; in-service training; pilot program

A. As used in this Section: 

(1) “Adverse childhood experience education” means a school-wide approach to education and a classroom-based approach to student learning that recognizes the signs and symptoms of adverse childhood experiences in students, families, and staff and responds by integrating knowledge about adverse childhood experience policies, professional learning, procedures, and practices to address the long-term effects of adverse childhood experiences on a student’s cognitive functioning and his physical, social, emotional, and mental well-being. 

(2) “Adverse childhood experience family outreach” means a school-wide approach to provide parents and legal guardians access to information about adverse childhood experiences and their effect on early childhood education, and education and resources regarding the manifestations of such experiences in adulthood and the intergenerational nature of such experiences in families. 

(3) “Adverse childhood experiences” means all types of abuse, neglect, and other traumatic childhood experiences linked to lifelong health and social problems including: 

(a) Physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. 

(b) Physical or emotional neglect. 

(c) Domestic violence. 

(d) Divorce or separation of a parent or caregiver. 

(e) Substance abuse by a household member. 

(f) Mental illness of a household member. 

(g) Incarceration of a household member. 

B. (1) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, after consultation with the Louisiana Department of Health, office of public health, shall develop and adopt guidelines for in-service training in recognizing the signs and symptoms of adverse childhood experiences and the utilization of adverse childhood experience educational practices to address student needs resulting from these experiences. 

(2) The board shall adopt rules to require that, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, all public and approved nonpublic school teachers, school counselors, principals, and other school administrators for whom the training is considered beneficial by the board shall annually participate in at least one hour of in-service training on recognizing adverse childhood experiences and the utilization of adverse childhood experience education. The in-service training required by this Paragraph shall be provided on a day that other types of in-service training will be provided in accordance with the school calendar adopted by each public school governing authority. 

C. The training shall include research-based information regarding the following: 

(1) The impact of adverse childhood experiences on students’ educational experiences and on the school and classroom culture. 

(2) How to identify the signs and symptoms of adverse childhood experiences. 

(3) Best practices for schools and classrooms regarding adverse childhood experience considerations in education. 

(4) Recognition of the impact of secondary trauma on school employees. 

D. The state Department of Education shall report to the legislature by January 31, 2023, relative to efforts to integrate adverse childhood experience educational practices into schools. 

E. The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the provisions of this Section. 

F. (1) The state Department of Education shall develop and administer a pilot program for the purpose of trauma-informed mental health screening for students and mental health and behavioral issues and providing related services with respect to mental and behavioral health. 

(2) The department shall select three school systems to participate in the pilot program. 

(3) In developing and administering the program, the department shall consult with experts in the fields of mental health, behavioral health, and trauma-informed restorative services. 

Added by Acts 2021, No. 353, § 1, eff. June 17, 2021. Amended by Acts 2022, No. 563, § 1; Acts 2023, No. 318, § 1.