School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

Eligible students must reside in a Louisiana parish with a population of more than 190,000. They also must meet each of the following requirements: 1) be a Louisiana resident who is at least 5 years old by September 30 of the upcoming school year and eligible to attend public school in grades K–12, 2) be evaluated by a public school district and identified with one of the following exceptionalities: autism, developmental delay, mental disability, other health impairment, specific learning disability, or traumatic brain injury, and 3) have a current IEP, district-provided services plan, or nonpublic school services plan. Families must complete an online application annually. Funding is based on program participation and included in the executive budget. Funding covers up to 50% of the state’s per-student expenditure in the student’s district or the cost of private school tuition, whichever is less. Families must pay any tuition costs beyond the voucher amount. 

Funding Mechanism: Funding is appropriated in the executive budget based on program participation. 

Universal Eligibility: ❌
Universal Usage: ❌
Universal Funding: ✅
Truly Universal: ❌

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

Families use funds at accredited nonpublic schools for tuition and fees. Participating schools must be approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Schools must have provided services to students with exceptionalities for at least two years before participating and employ teachers who hold appropriate certification in special education.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

View program requirements for parents, schools, and scholarship granting organizations by clicking on each hyperlink.

(Last updated December 16, 2025)

La. Rev. Stat. § 17:4031

(Last updated July 15, 2024)