La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXXIII-101

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section CXXIII-101 - Introduction

A. The Louisiana student standards define what a public school student should know or be able to accomplish at the end of a specific time period or grade level or at the completion of a course. They represent the knowledge and skills needed for students to successfully transition from each grade and ultimately to postsecondary education and the workplace, as determined by content experts, elementary and secondary educators and school leaders, postsecondary education leaders, and business and industry leaders. The standards set forth what learning should be taught; local education agencies, their school leaders and classroom educators should determine how the standards should be taught, including the curricula and instructional materials that should be used to meet students individual needs in mastering the standards.

B.R.S. 17:285.1, known as the "Science Education Act," requires the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, upon request of a city, parish, or other local public school board, to allow and assist teachers, principals, and other school administrators to create and foster an environment within public elementary and secondary schools that promotes critical thinking skills, logical analysis, and open and objective discussion of scientific theories being studied including, but not limited to, evolution, the origins of life, global warming, and human cloning. Such assistance shall include support and guidance for teachers regarding effective ways to help students understand, analyze, critique, and objectively review scientific theories being studied. A teacher shall teach the Louisiana state standards using the standard textbook and/or instructional materials supplied by the school system and thereafter may use supplemental textbooks and other instructional materials to help students understand, analyze, critique, and review scientific theories in an objective manner, as permitted by the city, parish, or other local public school board unless otherwise prohibited by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. This law shall not be construed to promote any religious doctrine, promote discrimination for or against a particular set of religious beliefs, or promote discrimination for or against religion or nonreligion. Refer to Bulletin 741-Louisiana Handbook for School Administrators, §2304, Science Education, for additional information.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXXIII-101

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 31:2766 (November 2005), Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 431335 (7/1/2017).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17.6, R.S. 17:24.4, and R.S. 17:154.