The New LA GATOR Scholarship Program:

Initially, the following students will be eligible in Phase 1 of the program:

• Students currently enrolled in the state’s Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program commonly known as the Louisiana Scholarship Program (they will transition to the LA GATOR Scholarship Program)
• Students entering kindergarten
• Students who were enrolled in a public school during the previous school year
• Students with a family household income less than 250% of the federal poverty guidelines (see chart below for an approximation based on current guidelines)

Phase 2 will begin at a later date determined by state officials, adding students with a family household income of less than 450% of the federal poverty guidelines (a higher income limit) to the program.

Phase 3 of the program will begin at a later date determined by state officials, making every Louisiana student, regardless of family household income, eligible to participate.

Louisiana is on track to provide ALL students the opportunity to receive an individualized K-12 education through this program. The number of students who can be served each year, however, will ultimately depend on the amount of funding approved by the Louisiana Legislature and the Governor.

Louisiana’s State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) has proposed the following scholarship amounts for the 2025-2026 school year, based on student characteristics. These funding amounts may be adjusted each year.

• $15,253 for students having a disability consistent with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• $7,626 for students with a family household income that does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty guidelines
• $5,243 for other participating students

Scholarship program funds can be used to cover the cost of private school tuition and fees, courses and/or services from providers, instructional materials and supplies, technology, assessments, and other approved educational expenses. At a minimum, they must support a student’s learning of core academic subjects: English language arts, math, science, and social studies. After these core areas are supported, remaining funds can be used on other approved educational expenses like electives, enrichment, tutoring, school uniforms, before- and after-school care, and much more. The Louisiana Department of Education will publish further guidance at a later date.

Schools and service providers must be approved by the state in order to receive LA GATOR Scholarship Program funds to serve participating students. The Louisiana Department of Education and its program administrator will publish a list of participating schools at a later date.

The Louisiana Department of Education and its program administrator are working to ensure that many diverse vendors from around the state, as well as in the online marketplace, will accept LA GATOR Scholarship Program funds. They will publish guidance on purchasing allowable items at a later date.

The Louisiana Department of Education’s program manager will transfer scholarship funds from each student’s account to his or her parent’s chosen school, service providers, and/or vendors, subject to meeting program requirements. No cash will be exchanged and no funds will be provided directly to participating students or their families. Audits will be performed to ensure that funds are spent only on allowable educational expenses from approved entities and other program requirements are followed.

Sign up here to receive important updates as there are new developments about this exciting new program!

Resources:

• State law that created the LA GATOR Scholarship Program
• Proposed LA GATOR Scholarship Program regulations (currently going through the official state rulemaking process and subject to final approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education)