wpadmin Ann Duplessis, Governor John Bel Edwards, Louisiana Scholarship Program

New LFC TV Ad: Give Parents a Choice | Fully Fund Louisiana Scholarship Program

New commercial asks Louisiana legislature to fully fund the Louisiana Scholarship Program

On the opening day of the second special legislative session, the Louisiana Federation for Children (LFC), the state’s voice for educational choice, has released a new television advertisement
with parents asking Louisiana legislators to fully fund the Louisiana Scholarship Program.

The ad features three families who have children enrolled in private schools that participate in the Louisiana Scholarship Program. “The one word that I would use to describe the scholarship program is hope,” said parent Pamela Gauthier.

The Louisiana legislature will vote on funding for the Louisiana Scholarship Program. The proposed $36 million budget is not enough to support all of the students who participate in the program. $47 million is needed to fully fund the Louisiana Scholarship Program.

“This proposed 14-percent cut to the Louisiana Scholarship Program could force more than 1,000 students who currently receive scholarships to lose them,” said Ann Duplessis, president of the Louisiana Federation for Children. “These families would have to find a way to pay tuition or be forced to return to underperforming public schools.”

Kalyne Gilmore, a mother of four children, appreciates the learning environment of her children’s Louisiana Scholarship Program school. “I wanted my children to have a better education. I really do appreciate the Louisiana Scholarship Program because it allows them to get the education they need, and it’s not in a school environment where they have bullying.

“I really hope that they fully fund the Louisiana Scholarship Program, so that my children and other children can get the education that they deserve.”

“It is important that we empower parents like Pamela and Kalyne with more high quality educational options, and protect their right to choose their child’s school,” Duplessis added.

The new commercial is part of a six-figure ad buy that will run on New Orleans television, New Orleans and Baton Rouge radio, and will include a substantial digital media component.

View the ad here:

To learn more about Giving Parents Choice and fully funding the Louisiana Scholarship Program, visit GiveParentsChoice.org.

Louisiana Scholarship Program Facts:

The Louisiana Scholarship Program was created in 2008 by a bipartisan group of legislators and was expanded statewide in 2012, again with significant bipartisan support.
100% of the program students come from low-income families assigned to poorly-performing or failing schools.
93.5% of parents participating in the Louisiana Scholarship Program say they are satisfied with their child’s scholarship school in the 2016 LFC/BAEO Parental Satisfaction Survey.
88.6% of students participating in the program are minorities.
The Louisiana Department of Education’s 2015 Louisiana Nonpublic School Choice Annual Report finds that students using the Louisiana Scholarship Program are making significant academic gains – closing the achievement gap with the statewide average by almost half (44 percent gap reduction) over the last five years for students in grades 3-8 achieving at least “Basic” proficiency.

The Louisiana Federation for Children seeks to improve our Louisiana’s K-12 education by advancing systemic and sustainable public policy that empowers parents, particularly those in low-income families, to choose the education they determine is best for their children. LFC supports a wide range of school choice initiatives by building strong legislative coalitions and working closely with allies. We also fight against bills and regulatory changes that would hurt existing school choice programs.