This article provides Louisiana parents with information about the GATOR Program.
The Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity Scholarship Program, or LA GATOR Scholarship Program, allows parents to use part of their tax dollars to provide the best educational opportunities for their child. Enacted by the 2024 Louisiana legislature (Act 1), this program provides education scholarship accounts (ESAs) to Louisiana families.
ESAs in K-12 education create a publicly funded and government-authorized savings account with restricted but diverse uses, such as:
Private school tuition assistance
Tutoring
Online learning
Other approved educational expenses
Program Transition and Administration
The LA GATOR Scholarship Program replaced the previous Louisiana choice voucher program (the Louisiana Scholarship Program). Since the old voucher system was discontinued, LA GATOR serves as the primary vehicle for state-funded educational choice.
The Louisiana Department of Education administers LA GATOR, while the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) determines the amount of funds allocated to family accounts. Implementation of LA GATOR will be phased in over the course of multiple years, with the initial phase prioritizing students who participated in the Louisiana Scholarship Program voucher program the previous school year.