Louisiana law gives parents important rights in their child’s education. This page summarizes those rights, including access to student records, instructional materials, school notices, survey review, opt-out rights, academic progress information, and Title I parent right-to-know information.
Plain-Language Summary
This is a short summary. The official law links are near the bottom of this page.
- Parents may review class materials used with their child.
- Parents may ask for school records.
- Schools should give copies of student records within 10 business days.
- Parents may review some surveys before students take them.
- Parents may get notice about health, safety, fees, uniforms, and grades.
- Parents may opt their child out of some surveys or lessons.
- Parents may contact their child’s principal with school questions.
Access to Information
Required by La. R.S. 17:354, La. R.S. 17:355, and La. R.S. 17:406.9. Parents must have access to information about instructional materials, student records, and other rights related to their child’s education.
Parents may submit requests in writing to their child’s school. Your school can help you review records, instructional materials, textbooks, curriculum materials, supplemental materials, and other school-specific information.
Student Records
You have the right to inspect your child’s school records and receive copies within 10 business days of submitting a written request, either electronically or on paper. Parents are not required to appear in person to request or validate a records request.
- Academic records, including interim and benchmark assessments
- Medical or health records
- Mental health counseling records
- Vocational counseling records
- Discipline and attendance records
- Special education records, including IEP, IAP, screening results, or related records
- Other student-specific files maintained by the school
Curriculum and Instructional Materials
You have the right to review instructional materials used by or administered to your child, including textbooks, curriculum materials, supplemental materials, and surveys.
Submit a written request to your child’s principal. The school will arrange reasonable hours for in-person review or provide online access when available. There is no fee for in-person viewing or online access. Reasonable copying fees may apply if paper copies are requested.
Important Records Note
Louisiana law includes exceptions for certain medical, health, or mental health records when a child abuse or neglect investigation is pending and the parent is the target of the investigation, unless the parent has obtained a court order.
Surveys and Assessments
Required by La. R.S. 17:355 and La. R.S. 17:406.9. Parents may review surveys before they are administered and may receive notice and opt-out options for certain surveys.
Survey Review and Opt-Out Rights
You have the right to review any survey before it is administered or distributed to your child. You also have the right to receive written notice and the option to opt your child out of surveys that ask about:
- Sexual experiences or attractions
- Family beliefs, morality, religion, or political affiliations
- Mental health or psychological problems of the student or a family member
Health, Safety, and Notification Rights
Required by La. R.S. 17:406.9(B)(3)–(6). Parents must receive certain notices related to medical services, criminal actions, law enforcement questioning, and removal from campus.
Medical Notification
You will be notified when medical services are offered to your child, except when emergency medical treatment is required. In emergencies, you will be notified as soon as practicable after treatment is rendered.
Criminal Actions
You will be notified if a criminal action is deemed to have been committed against your child or by your child.
Law Enforcement Contact
You will be notified if law enforcement personnel question your child, except in cases where the parent has been accused of abusing or neglecting the child.
Removal from Campus
You will be notified if your child is taken or removed from the school campus without parental permission.
Student Rights and Protections
Required by La. R.S. 17:406.9(B)(7)–(9) and (14). Louisiana law includes rights related to religious beliefs, nondiscrimination, surveys, and instruction on topics associated with sexual activity.
Religious Freedom
The school shall not discriminate against your child based upon the sincerely held religious beliefs of your family.
Protection from Discrimination
The school shall not discriminate against your child by teaching that the child is currently or destined to be oppressed or to be an oppressor based on the child’s race or national origin.
Sexual Education Opt-Out
You have the right to receive written notice and the option to opt your child out of instruction on topics associated with sexual activity.
School Information and Academic Progress
Required by La. R.S. 17:406.9(B)(10)–(13). Parents must receive certain information about school calendars, fees, uniforms, and academic progress.
Your parental rights include receiving timely information regarding school calendars, school fees, uniform requirements, and academic warnings when your child’s performance may threaten promotion to the next grade level.
School Calendar
You will receive the annual school calendar no later than 30 days before the beginning of the school year. The calendar is posted on each school’s website and includes student attendance days and events requiring parent or student attendance outside normal school hours. You will be notified in writing of revisions as soon as feasible.
Fees and Uniforms
Each year, you will receive in writing or can view on the school’s website:
- A comprehensive list of required fees, their purpose and use, and how economic hardships may be addressed
- A description of the school’s required student uniform
Academic Progress Notifications
You will be informed if your child’s academic performance could threaten promotion to the next grade level. The school will offer an in-person meeting with your child’s teacher and school leader to discuss available resources and strategies to support academic improvement.
Title I Parent Right-to-Know
Required by 20 U.S.C. § 6312(e). Parents of students in Title I schools may request information about teacher qualifications and must receive certain academic and certification-related notices.
Teacher Qualifications and Academic Achievement
All seven Grant Parish schools receive federal Title I funding. Under federal law, you have the right to request information about the professional qualifications of your child’s classroom teachers, including:
- Whether the teacher has met Louisiana state licensing criteria for the grade level and subject taught
- Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or provisional status where state licensing criteria have been waived
- Whether the teacher is teaching in their field of certification
- Whether your child is provided services by a paraprofessional and, if so, their qualifications
You will also receive information on your child’s achievement level and academic growth on Louisiana state assessments and timely direct notice if your child has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher who does not meet state certification requirements.
To request teacher qualification information, contact your child’s school principal.
Questions About Parental Rights
For general questions about parental rights, contact the Superintendent’s office. For questions specific to your child or school procedures, contact your child’s principal.
Dr. Erin Stokes
Superintendent
Grant Parish School System
PO Box 208 / 512 Main Street
Colfax, Louisiana 71417
318-627-3274
Your Child’s Principal
School-Specific Questions
Contact your child’s school principal for questions about school procedures, records requests, curriculum review, survey review, academic progress, or school-specific policies.
Full Text and Legal Citations
Required by La. R.S. 17:354. The official full text and legal citations for parental access to instructional materials and the Parents’ Bill of Rights are available through the Louisiana Legislature.
Use the official Louisiana Legislature links below to view the full statutory text and legal citations.
La. R.S. 17:354
Parental access to instructional materials and the Parents’ Bill of Rights for Public Schools; posting and distribution of laws and information.
View R.S. 17:354