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Committee clears bill to let Louisiana institutions appeal and expand recognized accreditors
Summary
SB 304 would let public institutions appeal change of accreditor and require the Board of Regents to use accreditors recognized by the U.S. Department of Education; supporters say it aligns state practice with federal policy and preserves specialized accreditations.
Chairman Edmonds introduced SB 304 and yielded to Kim Hunter Reed, commissioner of higher education, who said the bill aligns Louisiana practice with recent U.S. Department of Education directions by providing a process for institutions to change accreditors recognized by the Department and for the Board of Regents to manage an approved list. Reed emphasized the bill preserves program‑level (specialized) accreditation and focuses institutional oversight on student success and workforce outcomes.
Committee members asked whether the bill required institutions to change accreditors; Reed and the sponsor said the bill neither mandates a change nor prescribes a specific accreditor. The measure was discussed as a way to broaden options for institutions while aligning with federal recognition standards. Rep. Breyberg moved to report the bill favorably; the committee had no objections and reported SB 304 favorably.
The testimony noted consultation with a task force on public higher education reform and that the Board of Regents and relevant superintendents participated in drafting the policy considerations.
