SB 482 — SCHOOLS: Provides for career coaches to assist public middle and high school students and their parents in developing an individualized graduation plan for each student. (8/1/26)

SLS 26RS-1162 ENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

482 BY SENATOR REESE SCHOOLS.ProvidesforcareercoachestoassistpublicmiddleandhighschoolstudentsandAND theirREPRESENTATIVES parentsBROUSSARD, inCARLSON, developingCARVER, anMARTINEZ individualizedAND graduationTAYLOR planAN forACT eachTo student.amend and reenact R.S.

(8/1/26) AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

to authorize the use of career coaches and career coaching vendors;torequirethestateDepartmentofEducationtovendors;to publishrequirethestateDepartmentofEducationtopublishcertaininformation certaininformation on the department's website;

Individual graduation plans A.(1)Bytheendoftheeighth grade,everystudent,withtheassistanceofhisgrade,everystudent,with theassistanceofhis parent or legal guardian, and school counselor, or career coach, and for a student with an exceptionality as defined in R.S.

17:1942, except a student identified as gifted or talented and who has no other exceptionality, the student's Individualized Education Program team, if applicable, shall begin to develop an Individual PageGraduation 1Plan ofto 4guide Coding:the next academic year's course work and to assist the student in exploring educational and career possibilities and in making appropriate secondaryandpostsecondaryeducationdecisionsaspartofanoverallpostsecondary plan.

* * * (3) Bythe end of the tenth grade, each student's Individual Graduation Plan, based on the student's academic record, talents, and interests, shall outline high schoolgraduationrequirementsrelevanttothestudent'schosenpostsecondarygoals.

Each student, with the assistance of his parent or legal guardian, and school Page 1 of 3 Coding:

SLS 26RS-1162 ENGROSSED SB NO.

482 GraduationENROLLED Plancounselor,orcareercoach,shallchoosethehighschoolcurriculumframeworkand torelated guidegraduation therequirements nextthat academicbest year'smeet coursehis workpostsecondary andgoals. to assist the student in exploring educational and career possibilities and in making appropriate secondaryandpostsecondaryeducationdecisionsaspartofanoverallpostsecondary plan.

* * * (3) Bythe end of the tenth grade, each student's Individual Graduation Plan, based on the student's academic record, talents, and interests, shall outline high schoolgraduationrequirementsrelevanttothestudent'schosenpostsecondarygoals.

Each student, with the assistance of his parent or legal guardian, and school counselor,orcareercoach,shallchoosethehighschoolcurriculumframeworkand related graduation requirements that best meet his postsecondary goals.

Page* 2* * B.(1) The state Department of 4Education Coding:shall provide professional development and in-service training opportunities to school counselors or career coaches regarding development of individual graduation plans.

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-1162 ENGROSSED SB NO.

482 * * * B.(1) The state Department of Education shall provide professional development and in-service training opportunities to school counselors or career coaches regarding development of individual graduation plans.

(1) No later than January 1, 2027, the state Department of Education shall publish on its website a list of high-quality career coaching vendors from whichPage schools2 mayof select.3 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SB NO.

482 ENROLLED which schools may select.

The state Department of Education shall annually publish on its website a list of each city, parish, or other local public school board that have notspentmorethanninety-fivepercentof thecareerdevelopmentfunddollarsthecareerdevelopment funddollars appropriated for the previous fiscal year.

ThePRESIDENT originalOF instrumentTHE andSENATE theSPEAKER followingOF digest,THE whichHOUSE constitutesOF noREPRESENTATIVES partGOVERNOR ofOF theTHE legislativeSTATE instrument,OF wereLOUISIANA preparedAPPROVED: bySenate Legislative Services.

ThePage keyword,3 summary, and digest do not constitute part of the3 lawCoding: or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 482 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Reese Present law provides for middle andhighschool students and their parents to receivecareer counselingfromaschoolcounselortodevelopacareerplansothateverystudentisafforded the opportunity to obtain a high-demand and high-wage job after high school graduation or after college.

Present law provides for the development and use of Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs) for public school students to achieve those career outcomes.

Present law requires that, by the end of the eighth grade, each student, with assistance from a parent or legal guardian and a school counselor, begin development of an IGP to guide coursework andpostsecondaryplanning.

Present law provides for an annual reviewof the planandthat, upon completion of the review, the plan shall be signed by the student, the parent or legal Page 3 of 4 Coding:

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-1162 ENGROSSED SB NO.

482 guardian, and the school counselor.

Proposed law retains present law and authorizes career coaches to also assist the students, the parents, and school counselors in the preparation and review of the student's IGP.

Present law requires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to developanadvisementpolicyformiddle andhighschoolsto useto equipschoolcounselors with the information needed to help each student do all of the following:

(1) Identify the student's career goals.

(2) Develop and revise the student's individualized graduation plan.

(3) Identify high-demand, high-wage jobs in the region.

(4) Identifydualenrollmentopportunitieswherebyastudentmayattendcollegecourses while still enrolled in high school so as to advance the student's career goals.