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School Choice in Louisiana

Summary

Louisiana has four private school choice programs (vouchers, special-needs vouchers, individual tax deductions, tax-credit scholarships). The state also has a charter school law. Louisiana enables public virtual schooling. Limited open enrollment exists, both for intradistrict and interdistrict public school choice.

Laws & Regulations Governing Private Schools

Constitutionality

The Louisiana Constitution now contains parallel language to the federal Constitution’s religion clauses, and both tax credit and voucher programs are consistent with Louisiana’s current Constitution. In Seegers, the Louisiana Supreme Court specifically noted: “The great similarity of the establishment clause of our Constitution and that of the United States Constitution allows us to use the United States Supreme Court interpretations of the federal clause as an aid for interpreting our own.” Given that the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Zelman upheld school vouchers under the federal Establishment Clause, it is likely that Louisiana’s Supreme Court would follow that decision.

–Quote from the Institute for Justice (April 2007)

Legislative Updates

8/4/2009	2009 Legislation: Scholarship Tax Credit Proposals
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School Choice Programs

Tax Credit for Donations to School Tuition Organizations

Enacted 2012 • Launches 2012

Louisiana taxpayers can receive tax credits for donations they make to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships. There is no cap on available tax credits. Read More

School Choice Pilot Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

Enacted 2010 • Launched 2011

Louisiana allows students with disabilities in eligible parishes to receive vouchers to attend schools of their parents’ choosing that provide educational services specifically addressing their needs. Eligible students are defined generally as those... Read More

Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program

Enacted 2008 • Launched 2008

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. Read More

Elementary and Secondary School Tuition Deduction

Enacted 2008 • Launched 2008

Louisiana provides an individual tax deduction for educational expenses, including private school tuition and fees, uniforms, textbooks, curricular materials, and any supplies required by the school. The deduction also includes tuition and fees at... Read More

Research

Louisiana K-12 & School Choice Survey

3/19/2012

The “Louisiana K-12 & School Choice Survey” project, commissioned by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and conducted by Braun Research Incorporated (BRI), measures Louisiana registered voters’... Read More

Lessons for Louisiana from Florida’s K-12 Education Revolution

3/8/2012

Louisiana has emerged as one of the most fascinating states in the nation for education reform. The state’s creative response to rebuilding the New Orleans education system in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is now considered a potential model... Read More

News

5/7/2013	Friedman Foundation Calls Louisiana Voucher Decision an “Injustice” to Children
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
9/11/2012	Last Resistance \| Survey and Parents Say Public Schools Failing
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
5/10/2012	Hiner & Walden Ford \| Moms Believe in Vouchers
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
4/11/2012	OneNewsNow \| Louisiana Broadening Voucher Program
4/6/2012	AP \| School Vouchers Spark Growing Court Fights in US
4/6/2012	Education News \| Voucher Expansion is a Go in Louisiana
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
1/5/2012	Choice Media \| New Orleans to Kickoff School Choice Week
10/4/2011	Choice Media \| New Orleans Charter Turnaround
8/2/2011	AP \| School Voucher Bills Flood GOP-led Statehouses
7/30/2011	Enlow \| Friedman's Dream Unleashed
7/28/2011	Enlow \| Is 2011 Milton Friedman's Year of School Choice?
7/18/2011	WORLD \| School Choice Gains Support
7/6/2011	Reason - Hit & Run \| More Children Escape from Public Schools!
7/5/2011	Wall Street Journal \| The Year of School Choice