Under a bill that passed a key Assembly Budget committee on Tuesday, Louisiana parents would receive up to $10,000 per child per year from state taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition in a new program that would cost hundreds of millions of dollars a year. You can receive a grant of $5,000.
House Bill 745 by Republican Carencro Rep. Julie Emerson, if fully implemented, would open up participation to all students, regardless of whether their families are rich or poor, and one good government group estimates the cost could ultimately be $500 million. We predict that it may exceed the US dollar. This is one of new Republican Gov. Jeff Landry's top priorities.
Emerson introduced a bill to create education savings account incentives in the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday, saying it would “empower parents to make the best educational choices for their children,” and the bill passed on a 13-8 vote. was approved.
“Let's send a loud and clear message that parents are the most important voice in their children's education,” Landry said in his opening speech. “We should put parents back in control and make money follow their children.”
But opponents worry the program will drain resources from the public school system and criticize the bill for not demanding the same educational responsibilities as public schools.
Funding for private tuition does not come directly from current public school funding, but some people believe that more parents are enrolling their children in public schools, even at top schools. He expressed concern that funding for public schools would be reduced by pulling them out of the system. It is based on the number of students enrolled.
“I don't think this will cause a mass exodus from large (public) schools,” Emerson said.
Annual grants for education savings accounts will be $5,100 for students from high-income households, $7,500 for students from low-income households, and $15,000 for students with special needs.
Emerson's bill has already been approved by the House Education Committee and now heads to the full House for consideration. Senate Bill 313, a duplicate bill by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, has already won approval from the Senate Education Committee.
Republican Rep. Larry Bagley, R-Stonewall, said he believes the program is vulnerable to fraud and student transfers and therefore would be funded by public schools.
“What scares me is the money part,” Bagley said, adding that public school district superintendents are “ringing off my phone in vehement opposition to this.”
“Money will be taken away from public schools, teacher salaries and books,” Bagley said. He recently visited Arizona and said the state's ESA program is rife with fraud. “One of the students (who is interested in physical education) used it to buy ski lift tickets and equipment. I'm sure there will be people who will take advantage of this.”
“We have done our best to put safeguards in place to mitigate these issues,” Emerson said, adding random audit requirements and direct tip-offs to the attorney general to report wrongdoing. I mentioned it. “Arizona was one of the first three states to join and has learned from the mistakes other states have made.”
The Education Savings Account program could cost the state $258 million in new spending by its third year, according to the Legislative Fiscal Service. By comparison, Louisiana's popular TOPs scholarship program is merit-based and is expected to cost $307 million this year.
EdChoice, a school choice nonprofit, estimates that the program could cost $358 million by its third year, and an analysis by the Louisiana Public Research Council shows that They estimate that the program could cost more than $500 million annually over the long term.
Louisiana currently funds a voucher program in which the state pays for students to attend private schools if they cannot attend a public school with a C, D or F grade. The voucher program currently covers private school tuition for approximately 6,000 students at an annual cost of $45 million.
Voucher programs would send state funds directly to private schools, while a proposed universal education savings account program would send public money directly to parents to pay for tuition, tutoring, transportation to school, and technology. It can be used for etc. Education-related expenses such as uniforms.
Currently, approximately 116,000 students are enrolled in private schools in Louisiana.
Emerson said 14 other states have introduced education savings account programs.
If Congress passes the program and Landry signs it into law, it would be phased in over three years during the 2025-2026 school year, with the first year being for current voucher students and low-income students. Priority will be given to students, and then all will be eligible in the third year.
The state's public school board, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, supports the program, but the Louisiana School Boards Association opposes it.
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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network in Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
