(The Center Square) − Louisiana’s steep drop in a national education policy ranking is the result of lawmakers’ decision to scale back funding for the state’s school choice program, according to a report released by the American Legislative Exchange Council.
The organization’s 2026 Index of State Education Freedom ranks Louisiana 33rd overall, down from 9th last year, after the legislature declined to fully fund the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise Scholarship Program, known as LA GATOR. The decision caused Louisiana to receive no points for student-centered funding even though the program exists in state law, the report said. It advised policymakers to tie LA GATOR funding directly to the state’s education funding formula to prevent future lapses.
LA GATOR sends public education funds to eligible students to use for private school tuition, homeschooling materials, tutoring and other approved resources. Louisiana joined a number of Republican-led states embracing universal school choice when lawmakers approved the program in the 2024 legislative session.
They allocated $43.5 million for LA GATOR the following year, less than half of Gov. Jeff Landry’s $93.5 million request. Budget writers raised concerns the program would subsidize students already enrolled in private schools rather than primarily serving students leaving struggling public schools.
Education policy advocates say the decision left tens of thousands of families on waiting lists, limiting access to a program that was billed as a universal education savings account. Less than 1,000 awards were given to the nearly 35,000 applicants eligible in the program’s first year, according to the Pelican Institute for Public Policy.
Erin Bendily, senior vice president of the Pelican Institute and a former state education department executive, said Louisiana’s top ranking in national school choice measures has fallen as other states fully fund the programs.
“On paper, there is an opportunity, but in reality, that opportunity doesn’t exist,” Bendily said.
Advocates argue the program should be funded similar to traditional public schools, through the state’s Minimum Foundation Program, allowing state dollars to follow students regardless of whether they attend public or private schools.
“It should be just as easy to access funding through this program as it is when you enroll a child in a public school,” Bendily said.
Louisiana received mixed marks across other categories. The state ranked 18th in charter schools with a grade of C, received average scores for virtual schools and low marks for open enrollment policies, which allow students to attend public schools outside their assigned zones. Florida again topped the rankings, while Texas and Wyoming saw major gains after adopting and fully funding universal education savings account programs.
Landry is scheduled to unveil his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year on Friday. Advocates say restoring LA GATOR funding closer to his original request would be necessary to clear current waitlists and prevent similar rankings declines in future years.
