La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXV-3703

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024
Section CXV-3703 - Definitions

Academically-Able Student-a student who is functioning at grade level as determined by the local school system. For special education students identified in accordance with Bulletin 1508-Pupil Appraisal Handbook, the IEP committee shall determine the student's eligibility to receive foreign language instruction, provided the student is performing at grade level.

Academic Endorsement-recognition for high school graduates who meet requirements listed in §2318 which are above the requirements of a standard diploma.

Accommodation-any technique that alters the academic setting or environment. An accommodation generally does not change the information or amount of information learned. It enables students to show more accurately what they actually know.

Activity Class-any class such as band, theatre, or chorus for which a large class size is acceptable due to the nature of the instruction.

Adapted Physical Education-specially designed physical education for those exceptional students for whom significant deficits in the psychomotor domain have been identified according to Bulletin 1508-Pupil Appraisal Handbook, and who, if school-aged, are unable to participate in regular physical education programs on a full-time basis.

Adult Education-instruction below the college level for adults who have not been awarded a regular high school diploma and who are not currently required to be enrolled in school.

Advanced Placement Program-the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still in secondary school and to receive advanced placement and/or credit upon entering college.

Alternative School/Program-an educational school/program that deviates from the standards stated in Bulletin 741 in order to meet the specific needs of a particular segment of students within the community. There are two types of alternative schools/programs:

1. alternative within regular education:
a. the curriculum addresses state standards; and
b. upon graduation, students earn a state-approved diploma;
2. alternative to regular education:
a. the curriculum does not address state standards; and
b. upon graduation, students do not earn a state-approved high school diploma.

Alternative to Regular Placement-placement of students in programs that are not required to address BESE performance standards.

Approved School-a public or nonpublic school that has an approval classification based upon a degree of compliance with standards/regulations prescribed by BESE.

Area of Concentration-a coherent sequence of courses or field of study that prepares a student for a first job and/or further education and training. It includes four sequential related credits in a specific area plus two credits in a related field; one must be a basic computer course.

Articulated Credit-promotes a smooth transition from secondary to postsecondary education. It serves as a vehicle for high school students to earn postsecondary credit while enrolled in high school or upon entering postsecondary study.

Assessment-the act or process of gathering data in order to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of a student learning as by observation, testing, interviews, etc.

Attendance (Half-Day)-a student is considered to be in attendance for one-half day when he or she:

1. is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity; and
2. is under the supervision of authorized personnel for more than 25 percent but more than half (26-50 percent) of the student's instructional day.

Attendance (Whole-Day)-a student is considered to be in attendance for a whole day when he or she:

1. is physically present at a school site or is participating in an authorized school activity; and
2. is under the supervision of authorized personnel for more than 50 percent (51-100 percent) of the student's instructional day.

BESE Policy-a comprehensive statement that has been adopted by BESE pursuant to the APA process and that has the force and effect of law to govern and to bring uniformity in education throughout Louisiana

Board or BESE-the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Career Major-a coherent sequence of courses or field of study that prepares a student for a first job and/or further education and training. It includes four sequential related credits in a specific area plus two credits in a related field; one must be a basic computer course.

Career Technical Endorsement-an endorsement beyond a regular diploma which has the purposes of enhancing a student's junior/senior years and providing a credential for postsecondary work with specific performance indicators that include industry-based certification and/or articulated credit and work-based learning.

Class Size-the maximum enrollment allowed in a class or section.

Co-Curricular Activities-those activities that are relevant and supportive, that are an integral part of the program of studies in which the student is enrolled, and that are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff.

Cooperative Education-programs that provide opportunities for career and technical education students to receive on-the-job training and related classroom instruction.

Credit Exam-an examination for the purpose of verifying a student has mastered a course taken under conditions that do meet the requirements for awarding Carnegie credit, such as teacher certification or time requirements.

Cultural Arts-that subject area that includes music, arts and crafts, and the fine arts.

Cumulative Record-a current record of academic, health, and other special types of information maintained for each student throughout his progress in school.

Department or LDE-the Louisiana Department of Education.

Education Records-

1. those records, files, documents, and other materials which:
a. contain information directly related to a student; and
b. are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a person acting for such agency or institution;
2. the term education records does not include:
a. records of instructional, supervisory, and administrative personnel and educational personnel ancillary thereto which are in the sole possession of the maker thereof and which are not accessible or revealed to any other person except a substitute;
b. records maintained by a law enforcement unit of the educational agency or institution that were created by that law enforcement unit for the purpose of law enforcement;
c. in the case of persons who are employed by an educational agency or institution but who are not in attendance at such agency or institution, records made and maintained in the normal course of business which relate exclusively to such person in that person's capacity as an employee and are not available for use for any other purpose; or
d. records on a student who is 18 years of age or older, or is attending an institution of postsecondary education, which are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in his professional or paraprofessional capacity, or assisting in that capacity, and which are made, maintained, or used only in connection with the provision of treatment to the student, and are not available to anyone other than persons providing such treatment, except that such records can be personally reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student's choice.

Elementary School-a school composed of any span of grades kindergarten through the eighth grade.

Evaluation-the in-depth process of review, examination, and interpretation of intervention efforts, test results, interviews, observations, and other assessment information relative to predetermined criteria.

Exceptional Child-a child who is evaluated in accordance with Bulletin 1706 - Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act (R.S. 17:1941 et seq.) and who is determined according to Bulletin 1508 - Pupil Appraisal Handbook, to have an exceptionality that adversely affects educational performance to the extent that special education is needed.

Extracurricular Activities-those activities which are not directly related to the program of studies, which are under the supervision and/or coordination of the school instructional staff, and which are considered valuable for the overall development of the student.

Fine Arts-those arts produced or intended primarily for beauty rather than utility, such as music, dance, drama, and the visual arts (i.e., drawing, painting, sculpture).

Five-Year Educational Plan-the plan developed by each student by the end of the eighth grade with the input of his/her family. The plan shall include a sequence of courses which is consistent with the student's stated goals for one year after graduation. Each student's five-year educational plan shall be reviewed annually thereafter by the student, parents, and school advisor, and revised as needed.

Face Covering-a piece of material used to cover both the nose and mouth for the purpose of forming a barrier to droplets or airborne particles that are coughed, sneezed, or exhaled when talking. Face coverings are meant to protect both the wearer of the face covering and surrounding individuals.

Gifted-children or youth who demonstrate abilities that give evidence of high performance in academic and intellectual aptitude.

Grade-Level Expectations (GLE)-the concepts and skills that students should master at the end of a grade or course.

Home bound Student-a student who is enrolled in regular education and who, as a result of healthcare treatment, physical illness, accident, or the treatment thereof, is temporarily unable to attend school, and who is provided instructional services in the home or hospital environment.

Home Study Program (Approved)-program in which an approved curriculum can be implemented under the direction and control of a parent or a tutor (i.e., court-appointed guardian under Louisiana law).

High-Touch Surface-surfaces that are touched frequently, including but not limited to door handles, bathroom fixtures, drinking fountains, railings, desks, and other surfaces in school facilities or on school buses.

Individual Graduation Plan-the plan developed by each student by the end of the eighth grade with the input of his/her family. The plan shall include a sequence of courses which is consistent with the student's stated academic and career goals. Each student individual graduation plan shall be reviewed annually thereafter by the student, parents and/or legal custodian, and school advisor, and revised as needed.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)-a written statement of specially designed instruction developed, reviewed and revised by a group of qualified education personnel and the parent/guardian for each student with an exceptionality in public schools.

Industry-Based Certification-a portable recognized credential (tangible evidence) that an individual has successfully demonstrated skill competencies on a core set of content and performance standards in a specific set of work related tasks, single occupational area, or a cluster of related occupational areas.

Instructional Time-shall include the scheduled time within the regular school day devoted to teaching courses outlined in the program of studies. Instructional time does not include such things as recess, lunch, change of class time, and parent-teacher conferences.

Internship-student internships are situations where students work for an employer for a specified period of time to learn about a particular industry or occupation. Students' workplace activities may include special projects, a sample of tasks from different jobs, or tasks from a single occupation. These may or may not include financial compensation.

Language Arts-a broad subject area which includes reading, literature, speaking, listening, oral and written composition, English grammar, and spelling. (Foreign language may be included as part of the language arts program.)

Least Restrictive Environment-the educational placement of an exceptional child in a manner consistent with the least restrictive environment requirements in of Bulletin 1706-Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act and R.S. 17:1941 et seq.

Local Educational Agency (LEA)-a public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within the state either to provide administrative control or direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary or secondary schools in a city, parish school district, or other political subdivision of the state. The term includes an educational service agency and any other public institution or agency having administrative control and direction of a public elementary or secondary school, including a public charter school that is established as an LEA under state law.

Locally Initiated Elective-an elective course developed and approved by an LEA according to the standards in §2315 and reported to the LDE.

LDH-the Louisiana Department of Health.

Minimum Standards for Career/Technical Education-requirements that shall be met by local education governing agencies to be eligible for reimbursement in vocational education programs.

Modification-any technique that alters the work product in some way that makes it different from the work required of other students in the same class. A modification generally does change the work format or amount of work required of students. It encourages and facilitates academic success.

Paraprofessional-a person who is at least 18 years of age, possesses a certificate of good health signed by a physician, possesses an appropriate permit, and assists in the delivery of special educational services under the supervision of a special education teacher or other professional who has the responsibility for the delivery of services to exceptional children.

Paraprofessional Training Unit-a setting that may be used for the self-help training (toilet-training, dressing skills, grooming skills, feeding skills, and pre-academic readiness activities) of children with severe/profound disabilities or preschool children. A school-aged unit may be comprised of no more than six paraprofessionals. A preschool unit may be comprised of no more than four paraprofessionals. All units must be supervised directly by a certified special education teacher. Each paraprofessional must have a full quota of students (three) before an additional paraprofessional can be added to the unit. A paraprofessional training unit must be approved by the Office of Special Educational Services for the LDE in accordance with operational standards established by BESE.

Pre-Kindergarten- developmental programs for children ages 3-4, the minimum age being three by September 30 of the school year in which the student enters pre-kindergarten.

Principal-in a school, the chief administrative officer certified by the state Department of Education, except in the case of special schools in which the superintendent may be designated as the chief school administrator.

Procedures-specific actions or steps developed and required by the LDE to implement standards or regulations of BESE.

Proficiency Exam-an examination taken by a student to demonstrate mastery of a course they have not taken.

Public School-a school operated by publicly elected or appointed school officials and supported primarily by public funds.

Public School Governing Authority-the city, parish, charter, or other local public school board of any public elementary or secondary school.

Public School System Accreditation-an accreditation classification, which is based upon the fifth-year, on-site verification of the annual system and school reports, and which is granted by the state Department of Education

Pupil Appraisal Personnel-professional personnel who meet the certification requirements for school personnel for such positions and who are responsible for delivery of pupil appraisal services included in Bulletin 1706-Regulations for Implementation of the Children with Exceptionalities Act (R.S. 17:1941 et seq.) and Bulletin 1508-Pupil Appraisal Handbook.

School Building Level Committee-a committee of at least three school level staff members. It shall be comprised of at least the principal/designee, a classroom teacher, and the referring teacher. It is suggested that other persons be included, such as the school counselor, reading specialist, master teacher, nurse, parents, pupil appraisal personnel, etc. This committee is a decision-making group that meets on a scheduled basis to solve problems or address concerns from teachers, parents, or other professionals on individual students who are experiencing difficulty in school because of academic and/or behavior problems. In most cases, for enrolled students, it is only through the SBLC that a referral can be made to pupil appraisal services for an individual evaluation.

Senior Project-a project that provides high school seniors with an opportunity to conduct in-depth research in an area of interest, and to demonstrate problem-solving, decision-making, and independent learning skills. The project consists of a research paper, a portfolio of project activities, a product, and an oral presentation to a panel of teachers and community leaders. During this process, the student is advised by a teacher serving as a senior project advisor and a product mentor who has experience in the student's field of study.

Special Education-specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parent, to meet the unique needs of the student with an exceptionality.

Static Group-a group whose composition of students and adults does not change.

Talented-children or youth who give evidence of measurable abilities of unique talent in visual and/or performing arts.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXV-3703

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:1316 (June 2005), amended LR 39:2231 (August 2013), Amended LR 461673 (12/1/2020), Amended LR 4834 (1/1/2022), Amended LR 49648 (4/1/2023), Amended LR 501149 (8/1/2024).
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6, 17:7, 17:439.1, and 17:3391.