Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that expands eligibility and increases funding for the state's school voucher program.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the placement of a public school in the Recovery School District if the transfer is approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and both of the following conditions are met (Sec. 1):
• The parents or legal guardians of a majority of the students in that school sign a petition requesting that the school be transferred to the Recovery School District; and
• The school has received a letter grade of “D” or “F” for 3 consecutive years.

• Amends the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, which provides funding for students to attend any participating public or non-public school of their choice, as follows (Sec. 1):
• Expands the program to include any student from Louisiana who resides in a household with an income below 250 percent of the federal poverty line, whereas existing law limits the program to students residing within the geographic boundaries of a “covered district”;
• Expands the program to include any student who received a scholarship during the previous school year, whereas existing law requires such students to remain eligible for the present school year;
• Requires scholarship recipients to be enrolled at either of the following types of schools:
• A public school in the Recovery School District; or
• A public school with a letter grade of “C”, “D”, or “F.”

• Repeals the definition of a “covered district,” which defines a “covered district” as a local public school system for which all of the following are true (Sec. 1):
• The school system has been found to be “academically in crisis”;
• The school system has transferred schools to the Recovery School District; and
• The school system is located in a municipality with a population of at least 300,000.

• Specifies that if more eligible students apply for the scholarship program than the number of available seats at participating schools for any grade, the Department of Education may award scholarships at random with preference given to the following students (Sec. 1):
• Siblings of students already enrolled at participating schools;
• Students enrolled in the Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program at a participating school; and
• Students transferring from a participating school that has become ineligible.

• Specifies that for the purposes of the selection process, twins, triplets, quadruplets, and other multiple births shall count as 1 individual (Sec. 1).

• Increases funding for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program from 90 percent of the amount allocated per-pupil to the local school system in which the scholarship recipient resides to 100 percent of the amount allocated per-pupil (Sec. 1).

• Requires applications for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellent Program to indicate the student's parent or legal guardian's choice of participating school, whereas existing law does not require parents to indicate school choice (Sec. 1).

• Exempts non-public schools from the requirement to provide free transportation to students living within the district but more than 1 mile from school (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that expands eligibility and increases funding for the state's school voucher program.

Highlights:

• Authorizes the placement of a public school in the Recovery School District if the transfer is approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and both of the following conditions are met (Sec. 1):
• The parents or legal guardians of a majority of the students in that school sign a petition requesting that the school be transferred to the Recovery School District; and
• The school has received a letter grade of “D” or “F” for 3 consecutive years.

• Amends the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, which provides funding for students to attend any participating public or non-public school of their choice, as follows (Sec. 1):
• Expands the program to include any student from Louisiana who resides in a household with an income below 250 percent of the federal poverty line, whereas existing law limits the program to students residing within the geographic boundaries of a “covered district”;
• Expands the program to include any student who received a scholarship during the previous school year, whereas existing law requires such students to remain eligible for the present school year;
• Requires scholarship recipients to be enrolled at either of the following types of schools:
• A public school in the Recovery School District; or
• A public school with a letter grade of “C”, “D”, or “F.”

• Repeals the definition of a “covered district,” which defines a “covered district” as a local public school system for which all of the following are true (Sec. 1):
• The school system has been found to be “academically in crisis”;
• The school system has transferred schools to the Recovery School District; and
• The school system is located in a municipality with a population of at least 300,000.

• Specifies that if more eligible students apply for the scholarship program than the number of available seats at participating schools for any grade, the Department of Education may award scholarships at random with preference given to the following students (Sec. 1):
• Siblings of students already enrolled at participating schools;
• Students enrolled in the Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program at a participating school; and
• Students transferring from a participating school that has become ineligible.

• Specifies that for the purposes of the selection process, twins, triplets, quadruplets, and other multiple births shall count as 1 individual (Sec. 1).

• Increases funding for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program from 90 percent of the amount allocated per-pupil to the local school system in which the scholarship recipient resides to 100 percent of the amount allocated per-pupil (Sec. 1).

• Requires applications for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellent Program to indicate the student's parent or legal guardian's choice of participating school, whereas existing law does not require parents to indicate school choice (Sec. 1).

• Exempts non-public schools from the requirement to provide free transportation to students living within the district but more than 1 mile from school (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that expands eligibility and increases funding for the state's school voucher program.

Highlights:

• Amends the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program, which provides funding for students to attend any participating public or non-public school of their choice, as follows (Sec. 1):
• Expands the program to include any student from Louisiana who resides in a household with an income of less than 250 percent of the federal poverty line, whereas existing law limits the program to students residing within the geographic boundaries of a “covered district";
• Expands the program to include any student who received a scholarship during the previous school year, whereas existing law requires such students to remain eligible for the present school year;
• Requires scholarship recipients to be enrolled at either of the following types of schools:
• A public school in the Recovery School District; or
• A public school with a letter grade of “C”, “D”, or “F.”

• Repeals the definition of a “covered district,” which defined a “covered district” as a local public school system for which all of the following are true (Sec. 1):
• The school system has been found to be “academically in crisis”;
• The school system has transferred schools to the Recovery School District; and
• The school system is located in a municipality with a population of at least 300,000.

• Specifies that if more eligible students apply for the scholarship program than the number of available seats at participating schools for any grade, the Department of Education may award scholarships at random with preference given to the following students (Sec. 1):
• Siblings of students already enrolled at participating schools;
• Students enrolled in the Nonpublic School Early Childhood Development Program at a participating school; and
• Students transferring from a participating school that has become ineligible.

• Specifies that for the purposes of the selection process, twins, triplets, quadruplets and other multiple births shall count as 1 individual (Sec. 1).

• Increases funding for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program from 90 percent of the amount allocated per-pupil to the local school system in which the scholarship recipient resides to 100 percent of the amount allocated per-pupil (Sec. 1).

• Requires applications for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellent Program to indicate the student's parent or legal guardian's choice of participating school, whereas existing law does not require parents to indicate school choice (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the placement of a public school in the Recovery School District if the transfer is approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and both of the following conditions are met (Sec. 1):
• Parents or legal guardians representing at least 51 percent of students attending the school sign a petition requesting the school to be transferred; and
• The school has received a letter grade of “F” for 3 consecutive years.

• Exempts non-public schools from the requirement to provide free transportation to students living within the district but more than 1 mile from school (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text