Enacted 2008 • Launched 2008–09
Low-income students in grades K–4 located in large, failing school districts (currently only New Orleans and Jefferson Parish qualify) are eligible for vouchers to attend the public or private school of their choice. Additional grade levels will be added to the program in future years (one grade level per year). Only private schools that were already in existence for three years when the voucher program was created can participate.
Latest Stats (2011)
- Students Participating: 1,912
- Schools Participating: 39
- Average Voucher Value: $4,595
Program Details
Program Type
Voucher
Scholarship/Voucher Value
The voucher is equal to 90 percent of the total state and local (but not federal) funding per student in the student’s home school district, or the tuition charged by the private schools, 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.
Participation
In 2011–12, 1,912 students attended 39 schools through the program, with an average voucher value of $4,595.
Student Eligibility
Students are eligible if: (1) their family income is no more than 250 percent of the federal poverty line; (2) they are eligible for the free and reduced-price lunch program (this is mostly redundant with the income requirement); (3) they either were enrolled in a public school designated as failing the previous year, or are entering kindergarten; (4) they are entering a grade covered by the program (K–4 in 2009–10, with one additional grade level added in each subsequent year); and (5) their public school district has been found to be in “academic crisis,” had schools transferred to the state’s Recovery School District, and is located in a parish with at least 475,000 people. Currently only New Orleans and Jefferson Parish satisfy this definition. Once a district is eligible, it will remain eligible as long as the program exists. If more students apply than the program will allow, participation will be determined by random lottery. Participation is also limited by the amount of money the legislature appropriates for the program.
Legal Developments
No legal challenges have been filed against the program.
Rules & Regulations
- Income Limit: 250% x Poverty
- Geographic Limit: Parish (Orleans, Jefferson)
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Voucher Cap: Conditional
- Testing Mandates: Yes-State
Governing Statutes
Louisiana Revised Statutes, Title 17, Chapter 43
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