In a heated debate over two education bills, Senate Bill 313 and House Bill 745, school districts in Northwest Louisiana are voicing their opposition. The bills, if passed, could potentially redirect Louisiana public education funds to private schools and privately managed charter schools.
Superintendent Jason Rowland of Bossier Parish School strongly opposes House Bill 745, also known as the Educating Savings Account bill, as he believes it would give private schools an unfair advantage over public schools. He argues that the bill is a “South Louisiana money grab” and points to Orleans Parish as an example of a district mainly comprised of privately managed charter schools.
Critics of the bills express concerns about the lack of transparency from private schools, especially in terms of disclosing annual audit reports. The estimated cost of the bills to the state is significant, with House Bill 745 expected to cost $650 million in tax revenues starting in mid-2025.
The Caddo Parish School Board’s initial vote on the ESA bill ended in a tie, resulting in a resolution failure. Members of the public at the CPSB special meeting emphasized the importance of supporting public education and expanding on its success rather than diverting funds to private education.
The bills, SB313 and HB745, have sparked a contentious debate among local school officials and their national counterparts, with concerns about accountability measures for private and charter schools receiving public funding. SB313, also known as the LA GATOR bill, allows families to apply for state money to send their children to private schools of their choice, with an estimated cost of over $241 million in the 2028-2029 school year.
Overall, the debate over these education bills highlights the ongoing struggle between supporting traditional public education and diverting funds to private and charter schools without the same level of accountability.