Louisiana Supports Increased Funding for Private Schools, but Delays Decision for Now • Louisiana Illuminator

The Louisiana Legislature has made a groundbreaking decision to allow the state school board to create a program that would enable families to use public school funds for private education. The LA GATOR Scholarship Program has received the final legislative approval and is now awaiting Governor Jeff Landry’s signature.

Governor Landry expressed his excitement about the program, stating that it puts parents in control of their children’s education and provides every child with the opportunity for a quality education. However, the program is currently on hold as there is no allocated state funding for it yet. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education must first establish the framework for education savings accounts before the governor and lawmakers can determine the budget, which may not happen until next year’s legislative session.

The program is expected to be rolled out gradually, starting with students who already receive private school vouchers from the state. Originally, the program aimed to provide education savings accounts to all students by the 2028-29 school year, but concerns about the high cost led legislators to reconsider. Estimates suggest that a universal ESA program could cost anywhere from $280 million to $520 million annually.

Lawmakers have looked to Arizona as a cautionary tale, where the cost of a similar program skyrocketed to nearly $1 billion, far exceeding initial projections. Despite efforts to add accountability measures to the bill, amendments requiring ESA holders in private schools to take year-end assessments did not pass.

The future of the LA GATOR Scholarship Program remains uncertain, but it represents a significant shift in education policy in Louisiana.