SCHOOLS/ENROLLMENT: Requests that the state Department of Education conduct a study of options for public school systems facing declining enrollment

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Barbara Reich Freiberg
Last action: 2026-05-26
Official status: Signed by the Speaker
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide details about specific recommendations or actions suggested by the resolution.

Study on Declining Enrollment in Public Schools

This resolution asks the state Department of Education to study ways public schools can handle fewer students and submit a report by March 1, 2027.

What This Bill Does

Asks the state Department of Education to look into how public school systems can handle declining enrollment.
Requests a report on findings and recommendations by March 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

Public school systems facing declining enrollment
The Department of Education

Terms To Know

enrollment: the number of students registered in a school or program
resolution: a formal statement adopted by an official group, like the legislature, expressing their opinion on something important

Limits and Unknowns

The resolution does not provide funding for the study.
It is unclear what specific actions will be recommended in the report.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

House Floor Amendment #5209 Taylor Rejected

Filed

Plain English: This amendment adds 'and charter schools' to the bill text where it talks about public school systems facing declining enrollment.

Adds 'and charter schools' after 'systems' and before 'facing' on page 1, line 3.
Adds 'and charter schools' after 'systems' and before 'facing' on page 1, line 18.
Adds 'and charter schools' after 'systems' and before 'can' on page 2, line 2.
Adds 'and charter schools' after 'systems' and before 'facing' on page 2, line 4.

The amendment text does not provide additional details about how the inclusion of charter schools will affect the study's scope or outcomes.

House Vote on HCR 81 AMENDMENT # 5209 BY TAYLOR MOTION TO ADOPT (#1060)

Filed

Plain English: 2026 Regular Session Sequence: 1060 HRS AND HCRS FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION HCR 81 BY FREIBERG AMENDMENT # 5209 BY TAYLOR MOTION TO ADOPT Date: 5/11/2026 Time: 2:34:11 PM ROLL CALL The roll was called with the following result: YEAS Adams Bacala Bagley Boyd Brass Bryant Carpenter Carter, R.

2026 Regular Session Sequence: 1060 HRS AND HCRS FOR FINAL CONSIDERATION HCR 81 BY FREIBERG AMENDMENT # 5209 BY TAYLOR MOTION TO ADOPT Date: 5/11/2026 Time: 2:34:11 PM ROLL CALL The roll was called with the following result: YEAS Adams Bacala Bagley Boyd Brass Bryant Carpenter Carter, R.
Carter, W.
Chassion Fisher Freeman Green Henry, C.
Henry, D.

Bill History

2026-05-26 H
Enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the House.
2026-05-26 H
Received from the Senate without amendments.
2026-05-26 S
Read by title and concurred in by a vote of 32 yeas and 0 nays. Ordered returned to the House.
2026-05-26 S
Rules suspended.
2026-05-21 S
Reported favorably.
2026-05-12 S
Read second time by title and referred to the Committee on Education.
2026-05-11 S
Received in the Senate. Read first time by title and placed on the Calendar for a second reading.
2026-05-11 H
Read by title, roll called on final consideration, yeas 79, nays 20. The resolution was adopted and ordered to the Senate.
2026-05-07 H
Scheduled for floor debate on 05/11/2026.
2026-05-07 H
Read by title, ordered engrossed, passed to 3rd reading.
2026-05-06 H
Reported favorably (10-0).
2026-04-27 H
Read by title, under the rules, referred to the Committee on Education.
2026-04-23 H
Read by title. Lies over under the rules.

Official Summary Text

SCHOOLS/ENROLLMENT: Requests that the state Department of Education conduct a study of options for public school systems facing declining enrollment

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

ENROLLED
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 81
BY REPRESENTATIVE FREIBERG
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To urge and request the state Department of Education to study options for public school
systems facing declining enrollment and submit a written report of findings and
conclusions, including any recommendations for related legislation, to the House
Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than
March 1, 2027.
WHEREAS, it has been reported that there are public school systems throughout the
state facing declining enrollment; and
WHEREAS, declining enrollment in public schools has been attributed to various
factors, including declining birth rates, the movement of families out of state, and enrollment
in nonpublic schools and home study programs; and
WHEREAS, declining enrollment can lead to budget cuts, school closures, and the
loss of jobs and programs; and
WHEREAS, it is important that Louisiana plan ahead in terms of addressing how
declining enrollment may affect the state's education landscape in the coming years.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the state Department of Education to study options for public school
systems facing declining enrollment and submit a written report of findings and conclusions,
including any recommendations for related legislation, to the House Committee on
Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than March 1, 2027.
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HCR NO. 81 ENROLLED
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report include, at a minimum, how public
school systems can modify their operations in response to declining enrollment in order to
provide the best possible educational outcomes for their students and any state-level action
that should be taken to support school systems facing these challenges.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state superintendent of education.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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