A bill that allows Louisiana parents to use tax dollars to pay to send their children to a school of their choice is heading to the governor’s desk. The Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program allows the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to create an educational savings account (ESA) program. This process is set to begin for K-12 schools by 2025. “This bill will give parents even more freedom in how their children are educated. Each child is unique and learns differently, and our LA GATOR scholarship will allow the money to truly follow the students to the educational environments that best fit their needs. It’s a great day for parental rights and freedom in Louisiana,” says state Rep. Julie Emerson (R-La). ■  gov.louisiana.gov

This article was originally published in July 2024.