Louisiana’s new education scholarship program has attracted overwhelming interest from families seeking school choice options, with funding decisions now in the hands of state legislators.
Louisiana’s new school choice initiative has garnered significant attention, with state education officials announcing over 39,000 applications for the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program for the 2025-2026 school year.
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) revealed Tuesday that nearly 35,000 applicants out of over 39,000 that applied have been deemed eligible for the program, which provides education scholarship accounts to qualifying families. This represents one of the largest application pools for a new Educational Savings Account (ESA) program nationwide.
“This is among the largest turnouts for a new ESA program in the nation,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Louisiana families are making it clear—they want more educational options and the freedom to choose what works best for their children.”
The future of the program now hinges on two key developments: funding allocation from the state legislature and a contract extension vote by the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget (JLCB). Governor Jeff Landry has requested more than $93 million for the program in his executive budget, which would accommodate approximately 12,000 students—about a third of eligible applicants.
“These astounding numbers show just how vital the Gator Scholarship is to Louisianans,” Governor Landry stated. “The Gator Scholarship is finally putting parents in the driver’s seat and allowing them to select the learning environment that best suits their needs and values.”
Prioritizing Limited Funding
The program has established clear priorities for distributing funds if the budget cannot accommodate all eligible students. Priority will be given to:
- Students currently enrolled in the Louisiana Scholarship Program or LA GATOR
- Students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or from families earning at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
- Siblings of current LA GATOR or Louisiana Scholarship Program participants
- All other eligible students
Within each priority group, applications will be ordered by submission timestamp, with earlier applicants receiving preference.
The application data reveals the program’s reach to disadvantaged populations: 81% of applicants come from families at or below 250% of the federal poverty level, and nearly 3,000 applications are for students with disabilities.
Transition from Existing Scholarship Program
The LA GATOR program will replace the Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP), which ends on June 30, 2025. Early estimates indicate at least 91% of current LSP families applied for LA GATOR.
Of Governor Landry’s proposed $93 million budget for LA GATOR, $43 million is earmarked for the more than 5,000 current LSP students, who will receive top priority for funding. Students remaining at the same school will continue receiving their current award amounts until they complete the school’s final grade or leave the institution.
What Parents Can Expect
The LA GATOR Scholarship provides funding that parents can use for approved educational expenses, including:
- Nonpublic school tuition and fees
- Tutoring and educational therapies
- Textbooks and curricula
- Dual enrollment courses
- School uniforms
Families who applied will receive notifications about their priority status and next steps before the end of April, with final award notifications coming after the state budget is finalized. The current legislative session is scheduled to conclude by June 12.
Applicants can expect updates through the Odyssey platform, which was used for applications, and via email in coming weeks. More information is available at lagator.la.gov.