Empowering Education: Louisiana's School Choice Programs and Scholarships

Louisiana is actively expanding educational opportunities for its students through various school choice programs and scholarships. These initiatives aim to provide families with greater flexibility in selecting the educational environment that best suits their children's individual needs. From programs supporting private school attendance to those fostering customized learning experiences, Louisiana is working to empower parents and students alike.

The Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program

A cornerstone of Louisiana's commitment to school choice is the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program, signed into law on June 19, 2024, and set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year. This program establishes Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) for eligible families, allowing them to customize their child’s education. Governor Jeff Landry has emphasized the program's focus on parental empowerment, stating that it "puts parents in the driver’s seat and gives every child the opportunity for a great education."

Purpose and Scope

The LA GATOR Scholarship Program recognizes parents as the primary decision-makers in their children's education. It empowers them to use state tax dollars to enroll their child in a private or faith-based school, support homeschooling, or design a customized educational program using public and private providers. Educational services can be provided in-person, online, or through a hybrid approach.

Eligibility Phases

The program will roll out in three phases to ensure comprehensive access for all Louisiana students:

Phase 1: Initially, the following students will be eligible:
- Students currently enrolled in the Louisiana Scholarship Program.
- Students entering kindergarten.
- Students who were enrolled in a public school during the previous school year.
- Students with a family household income less than 250% of the federal poverty line ($80,375 for a family of four).
Phase 2: At a later date determined by state officials, students with a family household income of less than 450% of the federal poverty guidelines will be added.
Phase 3: Eventually, every Louisiana student, regardless of family household income, will be eligible to participate.

The number of students served each year will depend on funding approved by the Louisiana Legislature and the Governor.

Read also: LSU Calendar Guide

Funding Amounts

The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has proposed the following scholarship amounts for the 2025-2026 school year, which may be adjusted annually:

$15,253 for students having a disability consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
$7,626 for students with a family household income that does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty guidelines.
$5,243 for other participating students.

Allowable Uses of Funds

LA GATOR Scholarship Program funds can be used to cover private school tuition and fees, courses and services from providers, instructional materials and supplies, technology, assessments, and other approved educational expenses. At a minimum, the funds must support a student’s learning of core academic subjects: English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Remaining funds can be used on other approved educational expenses like electives, enrichment, tutoring, school uniforms, before- and after-school care, and much more.

Participating Schools and Providers

Schools and service providers must be approved by the state to receive LA GATOR Scholarship Program funds. The Louisiana Department of Education and its program administrator are working to ensure that many diverse vendors from around the state, as well as in the online marketplace, will accept LA GATOR Scholarship Program funds.

Payment Process

The Louisiana Department of Education’s program manager will transfer scholarship funds from each student’s account to his or her parent’s chosen school, service providers, and/or vendors, subject to meeting program requirements. No cash will be exchanged, and no funds will be provided directly to participating students or their families. Audits will be performed to ensure that funds are spent only on allowable educational expenses from approved entities and that other program requirements are followed.

Louisiana Scholarship Program

The Louisiana Scholarship Program helps families by giving students from low- and moderate-income households the opportunity to attend approved private schools with help from state-funded scholarships. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, the program increased access to quality education and slightly reduced racial segregation in schools.

Read also: Louisiana Scholarship Eligibility

Louisiana School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

The Louisiana School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities is designed specifically for students with disabilities. The program offers other educational opportunities for students with disabilities who are not doing well in their current public school. Eligible students can get tuition assistance to attend an eligible private school that offers a special needs program. To be considered for this program, parents must submit a School Choice Application. The application has many parts and considers many factors, such as the letter grade of the applicant’s home school, their diagnosed exceptionality, and the parish where they live. Families can use the tuition assistance to cover the cost of tuition and some fees. If the private school tuition is more than the amount of the assistance, parents are responsible for paying the difference.

School choice can possibly give students with disabilities access to smaller class sizes, specialized programs, or teaching styles that fit them better. It can also allow parents to pick a school that specializes in supporting students with disabilities through specialized programs. However, parents must also be aware that there are not many private schools specifically for students with disabilities. In addition, private schools do not offer the large variety of special education support and services made available in most public schools. IDEA only requires schools that receive public funding to offer special education services. That means parents might have to arrange for certain therapies or support on their own.

Other School Choice Options

Beyond the LA GATOR Scholarship Program and the Louisiana Scholarship Program, Louisiana offers a variety of other school choice options, including:

Public Charter Schools: These schools are allowed to determine many of their own policies and practices, and they are not allowed to charge tuition.
Magnet Schools: These are public schools operated by school districts (or groups of school districts) that allow kids to focus on a specific learning track, such as STEM, medical science, or performing arts. These schools are free to attend.

Additional Scholarship and Grant Programs

LOSFA administers a variety of scholarships and grants to help students access and afford postsecondary education. These include:

TOPS: A program of state merit-based aid for Louisiana residents who attend an approved school, college, or university. There are five award levels: Opportunity, Performance, Honors, Excellence, and TOPS Tech.
TOPS Tech: An award that may be used for up to two years of skill or occupational training at an approved school, college, or university to pursue a vocational or technical education certificate, diploma or non-academic degree program.
TOPS Tech Early Start: An award for Louisiana public high school juniors and seniors enrolled in dual enrollment courses at a Louisiana postsecondary institution in a top demand occupation.
M.J. Foster Promise Program: A program that provides financial support for students aged 20 years or older to earn credentials in high-demand, high-income program areas in industries such as construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics.
Go Grant: A program to provide a need-based component to the state’s financial aid plan for Pell Grant recipients who need additional aid to afford the cost of attending college.
Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship: A competitive scholarship for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in forestry, wildlife, or marine science at a Louisiana public college or university.
Patriot Scholarship Program: A scholarship that pays required fees for members of the Louisiana National Guard who qualify for the National Guard tuition exemption.
Regional Contract Program: A program that allows Louisiana students opportunities to study optometry and podiatry at select out-of-state institutions at discounted tuition rates.
Go Youth Challenge Program: A program that provides tuition aid for students who graduate from or complete course credit recovery through the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth ChalleNGe Program.
John R. Justice Student Loan Repayment Program: A program that provides student loan repayment assistance for local, state, and federal public defenders and local and state prosecutors who commit to extended service in those roles.
Strategies to Empower People (STEP): A program funded by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) for Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) recipients.
Chafee Educational Training Voucher (ETV): The Chafee Educational and Training Voucher (ETV) Program awards $5,000 per academic year to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who have been in the foster care system to assist in offsetting the costs of postsecondary education.
BESE Tuition Program for Teachers: A competitive program that provides funding for selected teachers to enroll in courses at regionally accredited colleges or universities in Louisiana.
Geaux Teach Scholarship Program: A program that provides scholarships to students who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs or alternate certification programs approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

Considerations for Students with Disabilities

For parents of children with disabilities considering the Louisiana GATOR Scholarship Program, it’s IMPORTANT to know that participating requires waiving your child’s IDEA rights. Be sure to read the details carefully and ask potential schools about their admission requirements and the support and services they offer.

Read also: Understanding TOPS Eligibility

Choosing the right educational program for a child with a disability is one of the most important decisions a parent will make. It is essential to approach the process with a plan, ask the right questions, and gather the right information before making a decision. Remember, the goal is to find a program and school environment where your child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

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