“Today, we fulfilled our promise to bring drastic reform to our education system and bring common sense back to our classrooms,” Landry said in a statement celebrating enactment of the new law. Also referred to as the LA GATOR scholarship program, SB 313 creates educational scholarships that are able to be used for public, charter, private, faith-based schools, or homeschooling. Louisiana parents are eligible to receive between $5,000 to $15,000 annually for their child’s education expenses. The funds may be used for school tuition and fees, tutoring, educational therapies, textbooks and curricula, dual enrollment courses, uniforms, and transportation. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will administer the program and create regulations. The program will be subject to yearly audits to ensure it operates smoothly. It will be phased in over the next three years, being first available to low-income students, then available to all students by 2028. “A strong education system leads to a strong economy and a strong state,” Landry said.Louisiana is now the latest state to adopt universal school choice after Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law SB 313, the “Give All a True Opportunity to Rise” law.
Today, we fulfilled our promise to bring drastic reform to our education system and bring common sense back to our classrooms. A strong education system leads to a strong economy and a strong state. Our historic Dream Big Package puts the focus back on our kids, and allows… pic.twitter.com/jrGt2u1UDT “Our historic Dream Big Package puts the focus back on our kids, and allows Louisiana to follow in the footsteps of our neighbors in the South,” he continued. “I am thankful to the legislature for their commitment to making the education system in Louisiana one that students, parents, and teachers can all be proud of.” While hailed as a win by many, critics say the program is irresponsible and lacks transparency and accountability. The LA GATOR Scholarship Program “will spend taxpayer dollars without the accountability demanded of public schools, without any requirement to teach the state content standards demanded of public schools, and without providing special education services to students who need and are entitled to those services under federal law,” the Louisiana School Boards Association said in a statement prior to the bill being signed. “It is wrong to spend public taxpayer dollars for nonpublic education without valid accountability,” the group added. “It is wrong to spend public taxpayer dollars without requiring the teaching of state-mandated educational content standards. It is wrong to exclude special education students by forcing them to waive the services they need and to which they are entitled in order to participate in a publicly-funded educational program.” Still, supporters champion the bill as a win for students and families. “This universal scholarship program will give all students in the Pelican State an opportunity to choose the type of learning environment that will work for them,” said nonprofit, pro-school choice advocacy group EdChoice.
— Governor Jeff Landry (@LAGovJeffLandry) June 19, 2024
Today, Louisiana’s Gov. Landry signed the LA GATOR bill into law! This universal scholarship program will give all students in the Pelican State an opportunity to choose the type of learning environment that will work for them.
Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all approach… pic.twitter.com/voZo2vACIS
— EdChoice (@edchoice) June 19, 2024
“Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all approach to education. Kids are unique and they deserve to customize their education and make it work for them!” the group added.
