A. The board of directors of the Special School District shall annually adopt a recommended budget to adequately fund the district. The budget shall have as its goal to provide state funding that shall not be less than the average funding, on a per-student basis, at peer institutions in other states having similar programs and enrollments and may provide for achieving its goal over a multi-year period. The recommended budget shall be submitted to the division of administration as the total budget request for the district.

            B. The Special School District shall be considered a public school and, as such, shall be included by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in the formula required by La. Const. Art. VIII, § 13 used to determine the cost of a minimum foundation program of education in all public elementary and secondary schools. Funding shall be provided through appropriations made directly to the district from the state general fund and through funds appropriated for the minimum foundation program and allocated to the district by the state Department of Education.

            C. The Special School District may enter into purchase of service agreements or contracts with other public or nonpublic agencies to provide special education and related services.

            Acts 2021, No. 468, §1, eff. July 1, 2021; Acts 2022, No. 374, §1.