Louisiana Voucher Program

Governor Bobby Jindal signed the into law in April, 2012 the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, a statewide voucher program which was previously available only in New Orleans. Starting from the 2012-2013 school year, students from kindergarten through 12th grade from a family whose income does not exceed 250 percent of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for the program. Students also must have been enrolled in a public school during the 2011-2012 school year that was labeled C, D or F.

Lawmakers approved the legislation despite a report from the Legislative Fiscal Office saying that local school districts will be responsible for a portion of the cost of the voucher program. It estimated that the cost to the school board in New Orleans (where vouchers started in 2008) will be about $5 million.