Louisiana Revised Statutes Tit. 17, § 236. Definition of a school

A. For the purposes of this Chapter, a school is defined as an institution for the teaching of children, consisting of an adequate physical plant, whether owned or leased, instructional staff members, and students. For such an institution to be classified as a school, within the meaning of this Chapter, instructional staff members shall meet the following requirements: if a public day school or a nonpublic school which receives local, state, or federal funds or support, directly or indirectly, they shall be certified in accordance with rules established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education; if a nonpublic school which receives no local, state, or federal funds or support, directly or indirectly, they shall meet such requirements as may be prescribed by the school or the church. In addition, except as otherwise provided in Subsection B of this Section, any such institution, to be classified as a school, shall operate a minimum session of not less than one hundred eighty days. Solely for purposes of compulsory attendance in a nonpublic school, a child who participates in a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall be considered in attendance at a day school; a home study program shall be approved if it offers a sustained curriculum of a quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level. Solely for purposes of compulsory attendance, a child shall be considered in attendance at a day school if the child is participating in the LA GATOR Scholarship Program pursuant to R.S. 17:4037.1 et seq.

B. Effective for the 2005-2006 school year, the provisions of Subsection A of this Section relative to the required operation of a minimum school session of not less than one hundred eighty days shall not be applicable. However, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education may adopt rules effective for the 2005-2006 school year relative to the minimum session required of any institution in order to be classified as a school.

C. For the purpose of reporting data:

D. Nothing in Subsection C of this Section shall be construed to prohibit a city, parish, or other local public school board from configuring, classifying, or defining schools under its jurisdiction in a manner other than that provided in Subsection C of this Section.

E. Nothing in Subsection C of this Section shall affect the certification of education personnel or the grade levels for which they are eligible to teach.