The publicly funded Louisiana Scholarship Program is designed to provide students with additional opportunities to attend the school of their choice. Student applicants are eligible to receive state-funded scholarships to enroll in participating nonpublic schools or high-performing public schools.

Louisiana Scholarship Program

Students Enrolled in 2017-2018
Applications Received for 2017-2018
Schools Participating in 2017-2018
Districts with Participating Schools
Average Scholarship for 2017-2018

School Requirements

  • Be approved by the state to participate
  • Private schools must be approved by the state to participate; Public schools must be rated “A” or “B” by the state
  • Comply with health and safety codes
  • Must not discriminate on basis of race, color, or national origin
  • Must use an open admissions process in enrolling scholarship recipients
  • Administer all LA state examinations required under the school and district accountability system
  • To remain eligible to accept new students, a private school must receive a Scholarship Cohort Index of at least 50
  • Private schools in operation less than two years cannot have more than 20 percent of students receiving scholarships
  • Submit to the state an annual independent financial audit conducted by a certified public accountant
  • Conduct criminal background checks on all school employees
  • Private schools must maintain a curriculum of quality at least equal to that prescribed for public schools

Student Eligibility

  • Family income cannot exceed 250 percent of the federal poverty guideline ($61,500 for a family of four in 2017)
  • Entering grades K–12
  • Attended a Louisiana public school rated C, D, F or T, or entering kindergarten for the first time

Year Enacted

  • Launched in 2008 as the Student Scholarships for Education Excellence Program (New Orleans only), expanded statewide in 2012.

Apply

  • New Orleans 
    The application window for the 2018-2019 school year has closed. The next opportunity to submit applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be in Nov. 2018.
  • Outside of New Orleans
    The application window for the 2018-2019 school year has closed. The next opportunity to submit applications for the 2019-2020 school year will be in Jan. 2019.