Fast Facts:

Law enacted: 1995

Most recently amended: 2014 (and a State Supreme Court decision in 2018)

Number of charter schools: 146

Number of charter students: 78,800

Cap on the number of schools allowed: No

Virtual charters allowed: Yes

Charter Law Analysis:

AUTHORIZERS: Local school boards and the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (post-establishment and sunsetting of the New Orleans Recovery School District which was independent and created the lion's share of charter schools at the time). There is no appeals process for charter schools authorized by the State Board, which limits the recourse of charter providers to question adverse decisions.

GROWTH: There is no cap, but growth is inhibited by the requirement for a completely new application for every new campus. 

OPERATIONS: Charter school autonomy varies according to the authorizer. Schools authorized by school districts are less autonomous than those authorized by the state. Despite this, charter schools have a blanket exemption from all state board rules and regulations applicable to public schools with certain exceptions, most notably accountability regulations.

EQUITY: Louisiana puts charter schools into five different categories, with funding varying slightly by category. All receive a base amount according to a weighted student membership count and have access to local tax dollars and all state and federal funding. Access to local dollars is not guaranteed, however, and charter schools here receive their funding through their authorizer, so the amount the schools actually receive ends up varying widely, resulting in inequity. There is no per pupil facilities funding available.

Fast Facts:

Number of programs: 5

Statewide participation: 72,500

Types of programs: Voucher for special needs students, an ESA, tax-credit scholarship, individual deduction

Choice Laws & Analysis:

Education Savings Account
Student Scholarship for Educational Excellence Program
Law Enacted: 2024
Most Recently Amended: N/A
Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program was enacted in 2024 and effective in the 2025-2026 school year replaces the legacy choice program which was limited to low-income students in low-performing public schools. LA GATOR will roll out in multiple phases, each expanding eligibility criteria to include more students over time. In Phase 1, beginning in the 2025-2026 school year, eligibility is extended to Louisiana residents who meet at least one of the following criteria: participated in the Louisiana Scholarship Program during the previous school year, entering kindergarten, enrolled in a public school during the previous school year, or from a family with a total income at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines. Subsequent phases, Phase 2 and Phase 3, will further broaden eligibility, ultimately resulting in universal access. The transition between phases is contingent upon legislative funding allocations and will be communicated by the Louisiana Department of Education in accordance with policies set by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Regarding funding, the program's financial projections estimate that in its first year (Fiscal Year 2026), LA GATOR will allocate approximately $50.6 million for 7,260 participants. This is offset by a $9 million reduction in the Minimum Foundation Program (MFP), resulting in a net new education cost to the state of $41.7 million.
 
Voucher
The Louisiana School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities
Law Enacted: 2010
Most Recently Amended: 2024
Enacted in 2010 and launched in 2011, this program provides vouchers to students with specific exceptionalities, allowing them to attend private schools that cater to their unique educational needs. To qualify, students must: have one of six specified exceptionalities, possess an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or services plan in accordance with Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations, reside in a parish with a population of 190,000 residents or fewer, be eligible to attend a public school and not be identified as gifted or talented. The voucher's value is capped at 50% of the state's per-student expenditure within the recipient's district or the cost of private school tuition, whichever is less. As of the 2022–2023 school year, the average voucher amount was $2,436, representing 18% of public school per-student spending. In that same year, 428 students utilized the program across 21 participating schools. It's noteworthy that approximately 11% of students in eligible parishes qualify for this program, yet only about 1% participate, indicating potential areas for increased outreach and support.

Voucher
Student Scholarship for Educational Excellence Program (SSEEP)
Law Enacted: 2010
Most Recently Amended: 2024
The Louisiana Scholarship Program is the state's first private school choice program that started in 2008 providing low-income students in low-performing public schools the opportunity to attend schools of their choiceAt the end of the 2024-2025 school year, SSEEP will be replaced by the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program.
 
Tax-Credit Scholarship
Tuition Donation Credit Program (TDC)
Law Enacted: 2012
Most Recently Amended: 2023
Established by the Louisiana Legislature in 2012, the TDC offers tax credits to individuals and businesses that contribute to School Tuition Organizations (STOs) which in turn allocate scholarships to students to attend approved nonpublic schools. To qualify, a student's household income must not exceed 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to students who received a scholarship through the TDC Program or the Louisiana Scholarship Program in the previous year. The scholarship amount is determined by the STO and is subject to annual limits set by the state. For the 2021–2022 school year, approximately 2,444 students enrolled in nonpublic schools through the TDC Program, supported by 4 participating School Tuition Organizations and 191 approved nonpublic schools. The average scholarship value for the 2020–2021 school year was $7,048, representing 53% of the public school per-student spending for that year. Students receiving these scholarships are required to participate in state assessments to ensure academic accountability.

Individual Tax Credit/Deduction
Elementary and Secondary School Tuition Deduction
Law Enacted: 2008
Most Recently Amended: 2023
Louisiana's individual tax deduction program started in 2008 and is available to any taxpayer who has educational expenses such as private school tuition, homeschool educational expenses, and public school educational expenses. For the first time since its establishment, families enrolled in the program can now claim an increased amount for education expenses. The allowable amount will rise from $5,000 to $6,000 per student per year, according to the 2023 law. Typically, the majority of deductions in the state are utilized for private school tuition.

USE OF STUDENT DATA IN EVALUATING TEACHER PREP

"Louisiana publishes teacher preparation quality rating system results in annual educator preparation profiles, including performance and effectiveness of program graduates, as measured by student achievement. Value-added scores in mathematics, science, social studies, and English language arts and the final evaluation ratings for first-and second-year teachers by program."

This is just one indicator from The National Council on Teacher Quality, which collects and analyzes states on how well their policies and practices lead to well-prepared teachers. They collect data on state laws and regulations concerning the preparation of teachers, the policies that govern their oversight and the contracts that guide their employment. Learn more about your state here.