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Louisiana - Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program

Enacted 2008 • Launched 2008 • Voucher

Louisiana’s statewide voucher program is available to low-income students in low-performing public schools. Prior to 2012, eligibility was limited to students in specific districts and parishes.

Latest Stats (2012-13)

  • Students participating: 4,944
  • Schools participating: 118
  • Average voucher value: $5,300

Program Details

Average voucher value as a percentage of Louisiana’s total per-student spending ($10,701)

50%

Student Funding
The voucher is equal to 90 percent of the total state and local funding per student in the student’s home school district, or the tuition charged by the private school, whichever is less. That amount may not exceed the maximum tuition charged to non-voucher students. Special education students get an additional amount added to their voucher equal to the federal (but not state and local) special education funding in their home districts.

Student Eligibility
Students are eligible if their family income is no more than 250 percent of the federal poverty line and they either attended a public school designated as C, D, or F in the previous year, are entering kindergarten, or were enrolled at a public school in the Recovery School District. If more students apply than the program will allow, participation will be determined by random lottery. If a particular private school is oversubscribed under the program, the department has to conduct a randomized lottery. In that lottery, students from public schools rated D or F receive priority over students from public schools rated C.

Legal Developments
On June 7, 2012, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit in a Baton Rouge state court (the 19th Judicial District). The lawsuit alleges that the voucher expansion in 2012 violates state constitutional provisions requiring school funds to be “equitably allocated to parish and city school systems,” that laws be passed by a two-thirds majority after a certain point in a legislative session, and that laws receive support from a majority of legislative members (not just of those voting).

Rules & Regulations

  • Income Limit: 250% x Poverty
  • Geographic Limit: None
  • Enrollment Cap: None
  • Voucher Cap: None
  • Testing Mandates: Yes - State

On a yearly basis, the Louisiana Department of Education is required to publish a list of all public schools with a letter grade of C, D, or F. As for participating private schools, the department must publish average proficiency rates on state assessments for voucher recipients, the graduation rate for voucher recipients at each participating school (or rate at which they finish the highest grade level), the retention rate for voucher recipients, and the percentage of parents who are satisfied with the private schools. By August 1, 2012, the department must develop an “accountability system for participating students at participating schools.”

Private schools that have been approved (whether provisionally or probationally) for fewer than two years are not allowed to enroll voucher students exceeding 20 percent of the school’s enrollment.

Private schools are prohibited from discriminating against students with special needs, but are not required to provide any services other than those that it already provides or that it can provide with “minor adjustments.” Private schools can “partner with the local school system to provide special education services.”

In order to receive any higher payment for special education students, private schools must have demonstrated the capacity to serve such students. To demonstrate such capacity, the private school must have provided the relevant special education services for at least two years prior to program participation, and must have teachers holding the relevant certification. The department is required to tell parents prior to enrollment about what special education services any given private school can provide, as well as the services provided by the local public school system to its students or to private school students.

Governing Statutes
Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 17, Chapter 43, §§ 4011 et seq.

Friedman Contact
Robbie Rhinesmith | robbie@edchoice.org

Related Research

3/19/2012 Louisiana K-12 & School Choice Survey
3/8/2012 Lessons for Louisiana from Florida’s K-12 Education Revolution

Related News

5/13/2013 USA Today | Mothers want more school choices for kids
5/7/2013 Friedman Foundation Calls Louisiana Voucher Decision an “Injustice” to Children
1/23/2013 “The ABCs of School Choice,” 2013 Edition, Now Available
12/11/2012 Huffington Post | Bobby Jindal Defends Louisiana School Vouchers, Says Equal Education Opportunity is a Lie
12/10/2012 Joplin Globe | For Teacher Unions, Money and Power Most Important Goals
12/7/2012 Enlow | Louisiana Voucher Students Don’t Need to be Kicked Off School Choice Lifeboat
12/4/2012 Enlow | Education News | Louisiana Voucher Students Don't Need to Be Kicked Off School Choice Lifeboat
12/3/2012 Foundry | Louisiana Unions Fight School Choice, Opportunity for Children
12/3/2012 Enlow | Louisiana Voucher Students Don't Need to be Kicked Off School Choice Lifeboat
11/30/2012 Louisiana Judge Rules Funding System for Vouchers Unconstitutional, Appeal Expected
9/14/2012 Enlow | Louisiana School Choice Program Already Helping Students
9/13/2012 Enlow | Louisiana School Choice Program Already Changing Students Lives for the Better
8/27/2012 President's Comments: School Choice Still Rising with More States Coming on Board
7/26/2012 Pelican Post | Louisiana Teachers Union Threatens Voucher Schools with Litigation
7/23/2012 Friedman Foundation Responds to the Accountability Rules for New Louisiana Voucher Program
7/2/2012 Pelican Post | Louisiana Voucher Applications Roll Forward Despite Union Lawsuits
6/17/2012 The Daily Advertiser | Vouchers Usually Tested in Court
4/20/2012 EAGnews | Students Saved from Louisiana’s Failing Schools
4/18/2012 Louisiana Governor Signs School Choice Expansion Into Law
4/18/2012 PR Newswire | Louisiana Governor Signs School Choice Expansion Into Law
4/16/2012 Marketplace | Louisiana Schools to Undergo Major Reforms
4/13/2012 Education Week | La. School Choice Options Expand After Sweeping Education Overhaul
4/13/2012 Red Apple Project | Are Parents Smart Enough? Some Say No.
4/12/2012 Wall Street Journal | School Vouchers Gain Ground
4/6/2012 AP | School Vouchers Spark Growing Court Fights in US
4/5/2012 Louisiana Governor’s School Voucher Plan Clears Legislature
4/5/2012 PR Newswire | Louisiana Governor's School Voucher Plan Clears Legislature
3/20/2012 The Hayride | Why Is Jindal Pushing So Hard To Pass His Education Reform Plan? Because It’s What The People Want
3/20/2012 Times-Picayune | Citizens Support Gov. Jindal's Voucher Expansion, Poll Shows
3/19/2012 New Poll Shows Bayou State Supports School Choice
3/19/2012 PR Newswire | New Poll Shows Bayou State Supports School Choice
3/8/2012 Study Shows Louisiana Students Can Benefit From More School Choice

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