Student Funding

Use of Funds 

Students enrolled in the LA GATOR program will benefit from having a wide array of educational options. Families may choose to expend account funds on tuition and fees at nonpublic school, or for nonpublic online learning programs; curricula and textbooks or other instructional materials, including supplemental materials required by a school or provider; tuition, fees, materials, and exam fees at career and technical schools; fees for the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) tests, national norm-referenced exams, AP exams, or college admissions tests; educational services and therapies, including occupational and behavioral, physical, speech-language and audiology; tuition and fees for dual enrollment at postsecondary institutions; and any other educational expenses approved by the state board. Beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, students participating in the program intending to use funds for only one participating school or service provider may enroll in LA GATOR. Enrollment for these students shall be made available by the department no later than March 1, 2025. Enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year will be available not later than March 1, 2026 with account funds available for payment to more than one participating school or service provider. 

Funding Amount and Source  

Accounts will be funded quarterly by the State Department of Education. The amount of funds to be allocated to each account will be determined by the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. An appropriation of funds by the legislature each year shall fund the program. An appropriation has not been made for the program at this time. Funds in a student’s account that are not used in a given school year shall be retained in the account for future use until the student is no longer eligible to participate in the program. 

 (Last updated July 15, 2024)  

Student Eligibility

Eligibility for the LA GATOR program will be implemented in three phases. A timeline has not been established for when the phases will begin, or the duration of each phase. Students are eligible to participate through in-person, virtual education or through a hybrid approach utilizing both in-person and virtual, or remote, education options. During the first phase, initial eligibility is determined by the student meeting one of four criteria: : (1) participation in the Student Scholarships in Educational Excellence Program for the previous school year; (2) the student is entering kindergarten; (3) enrollment in a public school for the previous school year; or (4) the student is from a family with a total income not exceeding 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($78,000 for a family of four in 2024–2025). Students participating in the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, an existing Louisiana choice voucher program, receive priority for the LA GATOR program during phase one. According to the Louisiana Department of Education page regarding that older program, “To be eligible for a scholarship, students must have a family income that does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty line and must either be entering kindergarten or be enrolled in a public school with a C, D, F, or T letter grade during the year in which they apply.” The T letter grade refers to public schools in the Recovery School District.  The Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program will be administered through the end of the 2024–2025 school year, and effective June 30, 2025, no further scholarships will be awarded through the program. That program is set to repeal one year after the LA GATOR program is funded.  In phase two of the LA GATOR program, students can qualify for the program if they are entering kindergarten, were enrolled in a public school in the previous school year, or are from a family with a household income not exceeding 400% of the Federal Poverty Level ($124,800 for a family of four in 2024). 

During the third phase, eligibility is universal, with equal priority to students who meet the criteria to participate in the School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities or a student with a household income not exceeding 250% of the Federal Poverty Level ($78,000 for a family of four in 2024). To qualify for the School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities, a student must be eligible to attend a Louisiana public school, require services for at least one of six categories of exceptionalities, have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a service plan under federal regulations, reside in a parish with a population under 190,000, and not be identified as gifted or talented.  

(Last updated July 15, 2024)  

EdChoice Expert Feedback

A program’s universality is measured on three points: Student eligibility, funding amount and source, and use of funds. Eligibility and funding amount and source have been explained above. Here, we explain how funds for this program may be used. Students enrolled in the LA GATOR program will benefit from having a wide array of educational options. Families may choose to expend account funds on tuition and fees at nonpublic school, or for nonpublic online learning programs; curricula and textbooks or other instructional materials, including supplemental materials required by a school or provider; tuition, fees, materials, and exam fees at career and technical schools; fees for the LEAP tests, national norm-referenced exams, AP exams, or college admissions tests; educational services and therapies, including occupational and behavioral, physical, speech-language and audiology; tuition and fees for dual enrollment at postsecondary institutions; and any other educational expenses approved by the state board. Beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, students participating in the program using funds for one participating school or service provider may enroll in LA GATOR. Enrollment for these students shall be made available by the department no later than March 1, 2025. Enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year will be available not later than March 1, 2026 with account funds available for payment to more than one participating school or service provider.

Rules and Regulations

Program Guidelines

• Income Limit: Phase One: 250% x Poverty; Phase Two: 400% x Poverty; Phase Three: None, Priority Given to Households at or below 250% x Poverty
• Prior year Public School Requirement: During Phase One and Two, Prior Public Enrollment is One Possible Eligibility Pathway, but Not a Requirement
• Enrollment Cap: None Set Yet
• Account Value: Future Determination by BESE
• Testing Mandates: State or Federal (Except IEP Status)
• Budget Cap: Determined by Future Appropriations
• Special Needs Pathway: None

Participant and Family Guidelines

• The Administrator’s Parent Handbook Will Be Linked Here When Available
• Education Requirements: Ensure participating student receives an education in at least English language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science
• Parent Supplemented Funds/Scholarships: Allowed
• Disbursement/Payment Frequency: Quarterly
• Reimbursement: Not permitted
• Miscellaneous: Submit an application as established by the department

Education Provider Guidelines

• Accreditation/Approval: Nonpublic schools must be approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
• Employment Standards: Comply with state laws
• Nondiscrimination: Nonpublic schools must be approved by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as compliant with Brumfield et al. v. Dodd et al., 425 F. Supp. 528 (E.D. La. 1976), which prohibits racial segregation and racial discrimination
• Calendar/Curriculum/Attendance: Meet program of study standards set by state board (BESE)
• Financial: District schools may accept funds for providing qualifying services to participating GATOR students, may not include these students in student-count purposes for receiving state funds
• Miscellaneous:
  • Meet standards established by the state board (BESE) pertaining to health, safety, and program of study
  • Report full-time tuition and fees to the department annually
• Shall apply to participate

(Last updated December 12, 2024)

Governing Statutes

R.S. 17:236(A), 17:3996(B)(82), 17:4014, 174037.1-17:4037.12, 17:5029(F), and 39:1554(T)

(Last updated July 15, 2024)  

Legal History

This program has not been challenged in court.  

(Last updated July 15, 2024)