The Louisiana Legislature has approved a $46 billion budget for next fiscal year.
The spending plan does not contain the $93 million dollars Governor Landry wanted for the LA Gator program, which provides parents with state money to pay for private school tuition.
House Appropriations Chairman Jack McFarland says most of the families that applied for LA Gator funds already have children attending a private school.
“We have to recognize that of the 40,000 students that applied, 30,000 are already in private schools,” McFarland said.
The LA Gator program is receiving $43 million, which is $50 million less than what the governor wanted.
LA Gator is replacing the state’s current voucher program, and McFarland says a majority of lawmaker believe funding for private school vouchers should remain relatively the same.
“Regardless if it’s the Senate or the House want assurances that these are addressing the specific needs of those that are in failing schools and the parents want that option for moving their child to a better opportunity,” McFarland said.
Thirty million of the $50 million Governor Landry wanted to go to the LA Gator scholarship program went to high dosage tutoring in K-through-12 education and another $18 million went to sheriffs to help cover the costs of housing state prisoners in their local jails.
McFarland says this is the first year of the LA Gator Scholarship program, so it’s best to take a conservative approach when funding it.
“It is my belief that there are specific steps that we need to take, including the approving of a contract to kick off the first year of this,” McFarland said.