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Geaux Gata (LA tuition program)

Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:26 am
Posted by arseinclarse
Member since Apr 2007
35268 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:26 am
quote:

Only about 80 of the 4,500 eligible incoming kindergarteners who applied received grants through LA GATOR, a new state program meant to help families pay for private school or homeschooling expenses, according to data shared by the state education department.


What a complete failure.

I saw signs all over town for this. It was even promoted by the archdiocese to assist families who qualified.

Is hitting less than 2% approval good?



This post was edited on 8/6/25 at 6:43 am
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
3029 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:32 am to
Damn I didn't know it was that bad... And I bet they all have older siblings receiving assistance...
Posted by Epic Cajun
Lafayette, LA
Member since Feb 2013
36187 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:40 am to
Complete failure. This was dead on arrival because of the failure to fund the program. Only 3 private schools in Lafayette even opted in, Episcopal School of Acadiana, Ascension Episcopal, and John Paul the Great.

ETA: they promoted it as school of choice but didn’t fund it as a true school of choice program.
This post was edited on 8/6/25 at 6:42 am
Posted by Odysseus32
Member since Dec 2009
9610 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 6:57 am to
Can you give more info for those of us unaware?

Why did only 80/4500 receive grants? Were they unqualified? Not enough money?

Do you have a link?
Posted by arseinclarse
Member since Apr 2007
35268 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:00 am to
The quote says they were eligible.

The poster above says it wasn’t funded.

Now, I assume parents are scrambling to get their kids into public schools, which are about to start.


quote:

Do you have a link?


I don’t link Nola dot com articles.
This post was edited on 8/6/25 at 7:02 am
Posted by Jake88
Member since Apr 2005
77538 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:03 am to
That mentions kindergarteners. What about older students? How many of them got grants?
Posted by LSUisKING
Edgard
Member since Dec 2007
3029 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:06 am to
This was from an email from the program:


quote:

Governor Jeff Landry requested nearly $100 million for the program’s first year. Following the 2025 Regular Session, the Louisiana Legislature approved $43.5 million for LA GATOR. This will fund scholarships for approximately 6,000 students.

Of the 6,000 eligible students anticipated to receive scholarships:
About 5,200 scholarships will go to Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) students who applied during the application window.
The remaining estimated 800 scholarships will be awarded to some of the eligible applicants in Phase 1, such as low-income students and students with disabilities. These awards will be prioritized based on the order in which applications were received.


ETA: There were way more than 6,000 applicants. That's just the number of applicants that will get the "scholarship."

Not sure how many applied - I think it was over 5x that amount last I saw...
This post was edited on 8/6/25 at 7:08 am
Posted by arseinclarse
Member since Apr 2007
35268 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:09 am to
The way the schools were pushing it here, seemed like many would be getting it.

The specifically targeted parents with children entering kindergarten.
Posted by Homey the Clown
Member since Feb 2009
6016 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:14 am to
quote:

Not sure how many applied - I think it was over 5x that amount last I saw...


According to the email we received regarding this topic, around 12k students applied for it. Since the eligibility isn't based on income, we applied for it, but we did not receive the grant, even though my daughter was eligible.
Posted by Upperdecker
St. George, LA
Member since Nov 2014
32625 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:24 am to
As if any of this would have actually happened. This program was obviously not going to be what it was advertised as from the start. Landry has yet to follow through on anything of significance
Posted by KamaCausey_LSU
Member since Apr 2013
16998 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:24 am to
quote:

Why did only 80/4500 receive grants? Were they unqualified? Not enough money?

Basically the only people who received funds were those who previously had or are eligible for the old voucher program.
Posted by CocomoLSU
Inside your dome.
Member since Feb 2004
155277 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:26 am to
quote:

Geaux Gata

Has anybody asked Corch Irvin Mayuh his thoughts?

Posted by Jake88
Member since Apr 2005
77538 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 7:28 am to
quote:

 Since the eligibility isn't based on income
It is for the first several years.
Posted by Epic Cajun
Lafayette, LA
Member since Feb 2013
36187 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 8:39 am to
Presented as school of choice for all, in reality 87% of those receiving benefits were already using the school voucher program.
Posted by Epic Cajun
Lafayette, LA
Member since Feb 2013
36187 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 8:41 am to
quote:

It is for the first several years.

Not for incoming kindergartners. All incoming kindergartners were “eligible”, regardless of income.
Posted by danilo
Member since Nov 2008
24652 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 8:45 am to
I am shocked anything in this state would be a failure
Posted by Epic Cajun
Lafayette, LA
Member since Feb 2013
36187 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 8:48 am to
The messed up part is that the state would be completely fricked if every private school student decided to attend public school next year. It’s ridiculous that the state gets a budget “break” because parents choose to send their kids to private school (due to our failed public school system).
Posted by Liger43
Member since Sep 2019
626 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 9:24 am to
This is a dumb program. Didn't Louisiana try the voucher program? Also, are private schools able to deny students that are enrolled in this program? Theres a reason people still pay for private school. If they wanted their children associated with the public school system, they would not be paying thousands monthly. What the hell are magnet schools for? All of these BS things to cater to people who don't give a shite.
Posted by Epic Cajun
Lafayette, LA
Member since Feb 2013
36187 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 9:43 am to
quote:

This is a dumb program. Didn't Louisiana try the voucher program? Also, are private schools able to deny students that are enrolled in this program? Theres a reason people still pay for private school. If they wanted their children associated with the public school system, they would not be paying thousands monthly. What the hell are magnet schools for? All of these BS things to cater to people who don't give a shite.

The schools don't have have to change their admissions processes or standards.
This post was edited on 8/6/25 at 12:16 pm
Posted by winkchance
St. George, LA
Member since Jul 2016
6037 posts
Posted on 8/6/25 at 11:01 am to
The real failure is the public school numbers are dropping but the public schools and DOE are keeping the money per student.

Another reason why DOEs are worthless and money should follow the child.

Public schools have simply become the Emperors new cloths that taxpayers piss their money away on.

If I could choose I would send my money to a catholic school where I know some of the kids that go there then let the DOE and teacher's union piss it away.
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