The 2018 regular legislative session has ended for Louisiana’s lawmakers, and Gov. John Bel Edwards has signed several bills aimed at improving education in Louisiana, according to reports from nola.com

Scroll down to see 15 major Louisiana education bills that were signed into law as of June 5. Each law goes into effect Aug. 1 unless otherwise stated.

Teachers can now get paid leaves of absence after adopting a child.

Act 631 extends Louisiana’s existing maternity leave policy for teachers to include 30 days of paid leave for any teachers who legally adopted a child. If a teacher adopts multiple children on the same date, the event will be considered a single event that qualifies for 30 days of absence. 

The law also applies to any social worker or school psychologists employed by a school board. It was sponsored by state Rep. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge.

Schools must display the “In God We Trust” motto.

State Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, sponsored Senate Bill 224, which requires public school authorities to display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” in each building under their jurisdiction by August 2019.

The law, now known as Act 410, also requires Louisiana’s social studies curriculum to teach students about the motto by the 5th grade.

Schools will be showing parents how to block porn on their computers.

Act 369 directs the Louisiana Department of Education to prepare information about the “addictive and destructive nature” of pornography. That material will be distributed to parents of students enrolled in public school across the state starting in the 2018-19 school year.

Parents will also get information about the dangers of sexually-charged cyberbullying and internet interactions with strangers, and will receive information on implementing child safeguards, including how to install free internet filters on home computers.

The law was written by state Sen. Beth Mizell, R – Franklinton. 

Personal financial management classes will be a graduation requirement.

Act 154 makes personal financial management a required course of study in public elementary and secondary schools in Louisiana. The lessons will review basic financial principles, including money management, credit, saving and investing. 

Starting July 1, 2019, all 9th graders enrolled in public school will be required to take these courses in order to graduate. The law was written by state Sen. Francis C. Thompson, D-Delhi.

High school students will learn how to prevent shaken baby syndrome.

Act 300, the result of a bill sponsored by state Rep. Joe Stagni, R-Kenner, requires public high schools in Louisiana to teach students how to recognize and prevent shaken baby syndrome. The law defines “shaken baby syndrome” as a condition characterized by injuries resulting from violent shaking, or shaking and impacting of the head of an infant or small child. The condition can also be referred to as abusive head trauma.

Schools will be required to give students healthy snacks.

Act 330 requires public elementary and secondary schools to follow federal guidelines for school snacks sold to students outside of breakfast and lunch. This would apply to any snacks sold on school grounds during the school day, starting one-half hour before classes begin and ending one-half hour after dismissal.

The law requires schools to follow the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Smart Snack standards, which sets a 200-calorie-per-snack limit. The law was written by state Rep. Stephanie Hilferty, R – Metairie.

Teen students will need to have meningococcal disease vaccines.

Act 196 requires students who are 16-years-old or entering 11th grade to provide proof that they’ve been immunized against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is a rare, but potentially deadly illness caused by a bacterial infection. Infection can be spread through kissing or by living in close quarters, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

The law says students can be exempt from the requirement if their parent or legal guardian signs a waiver stating he or she cannot be immunized for religious or other personal reasons. The parent or guardian can also submit a written statement from a physician stating that the immunization is inadvisable for medical reasons. Students are also exempt if there is a shortage in the supply of available vaccinations.

This law goes into effect July 1, 2019. It was written by state Rep. Walter Leger, D-New Orleans.

Schools will send home info on the flu and flu vaccines.

Act 262 requires school districts, public charter schools and networks, private schools, and approved home-school programs provide parents information about the influenza virus and vaccinations against the flu. 

Schools won’t be vaccinating students, however. The law explicitly says  Louisiana’s Health Department, Education Department, or any school governing authority will not be required to provide or purchase the vaccines. The law was written by state Rep. Paula Davis, R – Baton Rouge.

Parents will have better access to their child’s school records.

Act 547 protects public school parents’ right to obtain a copy of their child’s records, including discipline and attendance records. Parents must submit a written request on paper or electronically. Schools will have 10 business days to provide the requested records.

Schools must also notify parents each year about school fees and student uniform requirements as well as whether their child’s academic performance “could threaten the child’s ability to be promoted to the next grade level.”

,The law requires schools to offer parents the opportunity to meet with their child’s classroom teacher and school leader to discuss any strategies their academic improvement. The law, written by state Rep. Rick Edmonds, R – Baton Rouge, applies to public charter schools in addition to traditional public school districts.