Louisiana Parents Could Be Fined Up To $250 for Kids Being Late to School
LOUISIANA - If getting the kids out of bed, dressed, fed, and into the car every morning feels like a full-time job, that's because...well, it kind of is. Between finding missing shoes, packing lunches, fighting traffic on Johnston Street in Lafayette, and making sure everybody gets to school on time, mornings around Acadiana can get pretty hectic.
But Louisiana parents might want to pay a little closer attention to that morning routine.
Under Louisiana Revised Statute 17:233, parents and legal guardians to face fines up tp $250, community service, and even 30 days in jail if their children develop a pattern of unexcused tardiness or absences at school.
Louisiana has specific rules about when a student can be considered habitually tardy, and there are several steps schools must take before parents can face these penalties.
Louisiana Law Allows Fines for Parents of Habitually Tardy Students
Under Louisiana Revised Statute 17:233, parents and legal guardians are responsible for making sure their children attend school regularly, and arrive on time.
The law says a student can be considered habitually tardy after accumulating five unexcused tardy occurrences during a single school semester.
However, a student reaching five unexcused tardies doesn't automatically mean a parent gets fined.
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Louisiana law requires "reasonable efforts" by school personnel, truancy officers, or law enforcement to correct the attendance problem first. If those efforts fail and the student continues to be tardy after the fifth unexcused occurrence, the student can be classified as habitually tardy.
That's when the situation can become a legal matter for parents.
According to newsbreak.com "The law also clarifies that tardiness can include leaving school or checking out before the regularly scheduled dismissal time without an excuse. However, arriving late to a class while transferring between classes during the school day does not count under this definition."
Schools aren't supposed to wait until a student has five unexcused tardies before contacting the family.
Under Louisiana law, the school principal or a designated representative must notify parents in writing on or before the student's third unexcused tardy.
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In other words, parents should receive a warning and an opportunity to address the problem before things potentially get more serious.
How Much Can Louisiana Parents Be Fined for School Tardiness?
For parents or legal guardians of students in kindergarten through eighth grade who are determined to be habitually tardy, Louisiana law outlines the following penalties -
1 - First offense: A fine of up to $50 or at least 25 hours of community service.
2 - Subsequent offenses: A fine of up to $250, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
These are potential legal penalties, not automatic charges for every late arrival.
The penalties are outlined in Louisiana Revised Statute 17:233, which references the state's compulsory school attendance law for subsequent offenses.
What Does This Mean for Parents in Lafayette and Acadiana?
For families in Lafayette Parish, St. Martin Parish, Iberia Parish, Vermilion Parish, Acadia Parish, and throughout Acadiana, the important thing is understanding the difference between an occasional late arrival and a pattern of unexcused tardiness.
A flat tire, a family emergency, or an occasional rough morning doesn't automatically put a parent on the hook for a fine.
Louisiana law specifically addresses repeated unexcused tardiness and requires schools and attendance officials to make reasonable efforts to correct the problem before fines are enforced.
Read the official Louisiana law over at legis.ls.gov.
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