(LAFAYETTE, LA.) – Today, Gov. Landry signed SB 313, the Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (GATOR) Scholarship, into law. The GATOR Scholarship establishes a universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program in Louisiana.
A June 2023 poll by yes. every kid. foundation. and Arc Insights found that two-thirds of Louisiana K-12 parents support educational freedom, and 88% want to control the school their child attends. A national poll by yes. every kid. foundation. and YouGov also found that a broad majority of Americans believe education freedom strengthens education overall.
“Gov. Landry is a champion for Louisiana families and students,” said Lily Landry, senior policy analyst, yes. every kid. “Every family, regardless of ZIP code or income, will now be empowered to decide where and how their children are educated. The governor’s commitment to education freedom will open doors of opportunity for thousands of families and kids.”
Background on SB 313:
- The legislation creates a phased-in universal education scholarship account program starting in 2025.
- In the first two phases of the program, low-income, special needs, prior public, and current voucher students will be eligible. In the third phase, all Louisiana students eligible for public school can participate.
- Qualified expenses include tuition and fees, curriculum, textbooks, instructional materials, testing fees, therapies, and any other expense approved by the state board.
- The state board of education will set how much each student can receive.
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