Louisiana Bill Proposes Voting Process for Public School Charter Conversions

Legislation would require approval from school employees and parents before a public school can become a charter school.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A new bill filed for the 2026 Louisiana legislative session would change the process for converting traditional public schools into charter schools. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Michael Echols (R-Monroe), would require a formal voting process where both school employees and parents must approve the conversion by a simple majority vote.

Why it matters

This bill aims to give more of a voice to the local school community in decisions about converting to charter status, which can significantly impact students, teachers, and the broader neighborhood. The voting process is intended to ensure transparency and protect the interests of those most directly affected by the change.

The details

Under the proposed legislation, a public school would need to hold separate secret ballot votes among its teachers/staff and the parents/guardians of enrolled students. Both groups would need to approve the conversion by a simple majority. The parent vote would only count if ballots were cast for at least 50% of enrolled students. The bill also limits schools to holding these conversion votes no more than once per school year.

  • The bill is filed for the 2026 Louisiana legislative session.

The players

Rep. Michael Echols

The Republican state representative from Monroe, Louisiana who sponsored the bill.

Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

The state education board that would be tasked with creating rules to ensure a fair and transparent voting process if the bill is passed.

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What’s next

If the bill passes, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will need to establish the specific rules and procedures for the required employee and parent votes on charter school conversions.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to give more of a voice to local school communities in decisions about converting to charter status, which can significantly impact students, teachers, and neighborhoods. The proposed voting process is intended to ensure transparency and protect the interests of those most directly affected by the change.