Louisiana

Louisiana offers K–12 students and their families several types of school choice, including four private school choice programs, charter schools, magnet schools, home schooling and inter-and intra-district public school choice via open enrollment policies.

Tuition Donation Credit Program

• Louisiana’s Tuition Donation Credit Program is designed to encourage donors to contribute to school tuition organizations (STOs) that help students from low-income households access the private learning options best suited to their needs.
• Enacted 2012

Program Rules:

• • Income Limit: 250 percent x Poverty 
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement: Yes, with exceptions 
  • Geographic Limit: Statewide 
  • Enrollment Cap: None 
  • Scholarship Cap: $4,436 (K–8), $4,991 (9–12)   
  • Testing Mandates:  State test 
  • Credit Value: 100 percent 
  • Per Donor Credit Cap: None 
  • Total Tax Credit Cap: None 

School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

• Louisiana provides vouchers to students with certain exceptionalities in eligible parishes to attend private schools of their parents’ choosing that provide educational services specifically addressing their needs.
• Enacted 2010

Program Rules:

• • Income Limit: None
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
  • Geographic Limit: Parish (population of 190,000 or more)
  • Enrollment Cap: None
  • Voucher Cap: Conditional
  • Testing Mandates: None
  • Additional Information: Limited to students with special needs

Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program

• The Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program (formerly known as the Louisiana Scholarship Program), which aims to serve low-income students in “low-performing” public schools, is the state’s first school voucher program.
• Enacted 2008

Program Rules:

• • Income Limit: 250 percent x Poverty
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement: Yes, with exceptions
  • Geographic Limit: Statewide
  • Enrollment Cap: None
  • Voucher Cap: 100 percent of state allocation
  • Testing Mandates: State test
  • Budget Cap: $41.9 million

Elementary and Secondary School Tuition Deduction

• Louisiana Elementary and Secondary School Tuition Deduction is open to any taxpayer who has private schooling expenses, including private school tuition and fees, uniforms, textbooks, curricular materials, lab schools, and any supplies required by the school.
• Enacted 2008

Program Rules:

• • Income Limit: None
  • Prior Year Public School Requirement: None
  • Geographic Limit: Statewide
  • Enrollment Cap: None
  • Individual Deduction Cap: $5,000/student
  • Testing Mandates: None

To find out more about educational choice programs in your state, please complete the below form.