CURRENT GRADE: D
There are approximately 680,000 public school students in the state. While a new program was created to allow tax dollars to follow the student, it benefits less than 2 percent of the student population. There are also some limited tax deductions for private and home school students.
Homeschooling consists of some government intrusion with requirements of submission of materials or assessments to the state department of education annually.
Compulsory education is required from ages 7-18.
Education Options
- LA GATOR Scholarship Programs
- New in 2024, is an education scholarship account.
- Can be used for private school tuition, fees, tutoring, educational therapies, textbooks, curricula, dual enrollment, and uniforms.
- Eligibility is: Participated in the Louisiana Scholarship Program previous school year, Entering kindergarten, Enrolled in a public school the previous school year, From a family with total income at or below 250% of federal poverty guidelines.
- Payments vary from $5,243-$15,253.
- Is expected to fund 11,500 students the first year.
- Charter Schools
- Public schools overseen by either a local school board or state board of education.
- The state has approximately 151.
- School Expense Deduction
- LA taxpayers can deduct up to $6,000 per dependent for school tuition costs. For home schooled students it is 50% of costs paid up to $6,000.
- School Choice Program for Certain Students with Exceptionalities
- Tuition assistance for special needs child to attend an eligible participating school with special needs programs.
- Tuition assistance is 50% of the state per pupil funding for the student’s school district (approximately $2,500) and cannot exceed the cost of the private school tuition.
- Only eligible in these parishes: Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Orleans, St. Tammany.
- Tuition Donation Credit Program
- Provides credits to Louisiana state taxpayers that donate to tax-exempt, not-for-profit organizations that provide scholarships to students in low-income families.
- To be eligible for a scholarship, students must: Have a family income that does not exceed 250% of the federal poverty line, Be a resident of Louisiana, Have attended a public school on October 1st and February 1st of the most recent school year, Be entering kindergarten for the first time; or Have participated in the Louisiana Scholarship Program/Tuition Donation Program the previous school year.
- 3,316 students were served in this program in 2022-23.
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state requirements for homeschooling:
- Parents must provide annual notice to the state education department and each subsequent year must also provide a packet of materials or assessment.
- 180 days of instruction required.
- Program must “offer a sustained curriculum of quality at least equal to that offered by public schools at the same grade level”.
- Home school students may participate in extra-curricular activities in public schools.
Religious Exemptions:
There is no standard procedure by which a parent can receive a religious exemption to homeschool.
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
