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HLS 26RS-998 REENGROSSED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 271
BY REPRESENTATIVE WYBLE
EDUCATION: Creates the Louisiana Commission on Foundational Education and
abolishes the Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 36:651(F)(8), to enact Part XIV of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the
3 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 17:410.21, and to repeal
4 Part XIII of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
5 comprised of R.S. 17:410.11, relative to education; to create and provide for the
6 Louisiana Commission on Foundational Education; to provide for the commission's
7 purpose, membership, and powers and duties; to provide with respect to commission
8 meetings; to require staff support by the state Department of Education; to abolish
9 the Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission and to provide for the transfer of its
10 records to the newly created commission; and to provide for related matters.
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. Part XIV of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
13 1950, comprised of R.S. 17:410.21, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
14 PART XIV. LOUISIANA COMMISSION ON FOUNDATIONAL EDUCATION
15 §410.21. Louisiana Commission on Foundational Education
16 A. The Louisiana Commission on Foundational Education, referred to in this
17 Section as the "commission", is hereby created for the purpose of evaluating and
18 making recommendations to improve foundational education policy.
19 B. The commission has the following powers and duties:
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1 (1) To serve as an advisory body to the State Board of Elementary and
2 Secondary Education and the state Department of Education on matters relating to
3 foundational literacy, numeracy, and family engagement from kindergarten through
4 grade eight.
5 (2) To research and analyze all policies, regulations, procedures, and funding
6 structures relative to the implementation of foundational education initiatives,
7 reforms, and instructional practices.
8 (3) To request, receive, and review state, regional, and national data
9 necessary to determine and understand the effectiveness and impact of foundational
10 education initiatives, instructional strategies, and student outcomes.
11 (4) To develop and formulate policy, programmatic, and instructional
12 recommendations aligned with evidence-based practices, including but not limited
13 to literacy practices consistent with the science of reading and research-based
14 mathematics and numeracy instruction.
15 (5) To recommend strategies to strengthen family engagement and promote
16 alignment from prekindergarten through eighth grade to ensure kindergarten
17 readiness and continuity in foundational skill development.
18 (6) To establish subcommittees or working groups to identify, analyze, and
19 develop recommendations in areas deemed appropriate by the commission. Such
20 subcommittees or working groups shall report to the commission and may include
21 commission members and individuals with relevant subject-matter expertise who are
22 not commission members.
23 C. The commission consists of the following members:
24 (1) One member appointed by the governor.
25 (2) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
26 (3) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
27 (4) The state superintendent of education or his designee.
28 (5) One member appointed by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
29 Education.
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1 (6) One member appointed by the commissioner of higher education.
2 (7) The secretary of Louisiana Works or his designee.
3 (8) The secretary of Louisiana Economic Development or his designee.
4 (9) One member from the Louisiana Parent Teacher Association appointed
5 by the president of the association.
6 (10) One member from the Louisiana Association for the Education of
7 Young Children appointed by the executive director of the association.
8 (11) One currently employed classroom teacher or expert in literacy
9 instruction appointed by the state superintendent of education.
10 (12) One currently employed classroom teacher or expert in numeracy and
11 mathematics instruction appointed by the state superintendent of education.
12 (13) One currently serving parish or city school superintendent appointed by
13 the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
14 (14) The chief executive of Decoding Dyslexia Louisiana, or his designee.
15 (15) One member from the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry
16 appointed by the president of the association.
17 (16) One member from the Pelican Institute for Public Policy appointed by
18 the chief executive officer of the institute.
19 (17) One member from a national nonprofit organization with demonstrated
20 experience advising states on comprehensive education reform and evidence-based
21 academic standards, appointed by the governor.
22 (18) One member from the Southeastern Louisiana University College of
23 Education appointed by the dean of the college.
24 (19) One member from the Center for Literacy and Learning appointed by
25 the president of the center.
26 (20) One member from the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children appointed
27 by the chief executive officer of the institute.
28 (21) One member from Leaders for a Better Louisiana appointed by the chief
29 executive officer.
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1 D.(1) Members appointed pursuant to Paragraphs (C)(1) through (C)(8) of
2 this Section shall serve for the duration of their respective terms of office or for a
3 term concurrent with the term of the appointing authority, as applicable.
4 (2) Members listed in Paragraphs (C)(9) through (C)(21) of this Section shall
5 serve three-year terms, except that for initial terms, such members shall serve
6 staggered terms as follows:
7 (a) Members listed in Paragraphs (C)(9) through (C)(12) of this Section
8 shall serve an initial term of one year.
9 (b) Members listed in Paragraphs (C)(13) through (C)(16) of this Section
10 shall serve an initial term of two years.
11 (c) Members listed in Paragraphs (C)(17) through (C)(21) of this Section
12 shall serve an initial term of three years.
13 (3) Any appointed member may be removed for cause by the appointing
14 authority.
15 (4) Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original selection.
16 E.(1) The state superintendent of education shall call the initial meeting no
17 later than September 15, 2026.
18 (2) The commission shall elect a chair and vice chair.
19 (3) The commission shall meet at least quarterly and at such other times as
20 determined necessary by the chair.
21 (4) Eight members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
22 (5) An affirmative vote of a majority of the members present shall be
23 required for any official action.
24 (6) All meetings shall comply with the provisions of the Open Meetings
25 Law, R.S. 42:11 et seq.
26 (7) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation except per
27 diem or expenses reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled as
28 members of their constituent organizations.
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1 F. The state Department of Education shall provide staff support to the
2 commission and shall provide for the records of the Louisiana Literacy Advisory
3 Commission to be transferred to the commission.
4 G. Not later than February fifteenth annually, the commission shall submit
5 a written report of its findings and recommendations and the status of the
6 implementation of its recommendations to the House Committee on Education, the
7 Senate Committee on Education, the governor, and the State Board of Elementary
8 and Secondary Education.
9 Section 2. R.S. 36:651(F)(8) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
10 §651. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to Department
11 of Education; boards, commissions, and agencies within Department of
12 Education
13 * * *
14 F. The following agencies are transferred to and hereafter shall be within the
15 Department of Education as provided in R.S. 36:901 et seq.:
16 * * *
17 (8) The Louisiana Literacy Advisory Commission (R.S. 17:410.11). The
18 Louisiana Commission on Foundational Education (R.S. 17:410.21).
19 * * *
20 Section 3. Part XIII of Chapter 1 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
21 1950, comprised of R.S. 17:410.11, is hereby repealed in its entirety.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 271 Reengrossed 2026 Regular Session Wyble
Abstract: Creates the La. Commission on Foundational Education and abolishes the La.
Literacy Advisory Commission.
Proposed law creates the La. Commission on Foundational Education for the purpose of
evaluating and making recommendations to improve foundational education policy.
Provides for 21 members and their terms, commission meeting details, and commission
powers and duties. Requires the state superintendent of education to call the first meeting
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HLS 26RS-998 REENGROSSED
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by Sept. 15, 2026. Provides for staff support by the state Dept. of Education (DOE).
Requires a report by Feb. 15th annually to the House and Senate education committees,
governor, and State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Present law establishes the La. Literacy Advisory Commission for the purpose of providing
recommendations for improving, strengthening, and supporting literacy and provides for
staff support by DOE. Proposed law repeals present law and requires the department to
provide for the transfer of the commission's records to the proposed law commission.
(Amends R.S. 36:651(F)(8); Adds R.S. 17:410.21; Repeals R.S. 17:410.11)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Increase commission's membership from 19 to 20.
2. Change commission's annual reporting deadline from March first to Feb. 15th.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Increase commission's membership from 20 to 21.
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