Applications for 5,150 new voucher slots available to La. students

Approximately 5,150 Louisiana students can apply for new taxpayer-funded voucher slots to attend private schools, under a law passed this session expanding a New Orleans voucher program statewide. The state Department of Education announced today the list of 125 participating schools in three parishes outside New Orleans that are now able to take on voucher students because of the expansion pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and approved by lawmakers. A total of 7,450 voucher slots exist, but the Education Department says about 2,300 have already been offered to students in New Orleans. Applications will be taken during a six-week period for the newly created seats at private and parochial schools, most of which are in Louisiana’s urban areas, including Baton Rouge. The Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence program is available to students who are from low- to moderate-income families and who attend public schools that earned a “C,” “D” or “F” under the state’s school accountability program. All students who are attending kindergarten for the first time in the coming school year are also eligible. A complete list of all participating schools can be found here. Applications and complete qualifying guidelines are available here as well as at all participating schools.