School Board votes to oppose education savings accounts

CENTERVILLE – The St. Mary Parish School Board on Tuesday came out against legislation that could funnel hundreds of millions in public school funding to private schools.

At a special Tuesday meeting, which coincided with deliberations on the proposals in legislative committees in Baton Rouge, the board approved a resolution saying the state has already failed to fund public education adequately while imposing new accountability standards.

The resolution says the board “does hereby express its OPPOSITION to legislation creating and/or funding Education Savings Accounts.”

The adoption motion by board member Tammie Moore of Four Corners passed on a voice vote without objection.

At issue are bills by state Sen. Rick Edmonds of Baton Rouge and state Rep. Julie Emerson of Lafayette, both Republicans. They would replace an existing voucher program, in which state education funds go directly to private schools, with
universal education savings accounts to be used by parents.

The program is known as Giving All True Opportunity to Rise Scholarship or LA GATOR,

State money would go into the accounts, which parents could then use to pay for private school tuition, uniforms and other school-related expenses. Home-schooled students would not be eligible.

As the name implies, the accounts would be open to any family regardless of income, although lower-income families would receive more per student.

The accounts would be phased in over three years beginning in 2025-26. The Public Affairs Research Council analysis says that when the program is fully phased in, families with incomes of up to 250% of the federal poverty guideline would receive $7,550 per student per year, or about 80% of the combined local and state funding.

Students with certain disabilities would receive 60%, or $5,662. All other students would be eligible for $5,190.

The Legislative Fiscal Office estimates the cost to the state at $240 million-$260 million in the early years. But PAR’s estimate is that when the program is fully implemented, the cost will be closer to $560 million. The discrepancy comes mainly from estimates of how many families with students already in private schools will seek funds through the education savings accounts.

School choice advocates praise the accounts as a way to empower families and to improve the overall level of K-12 education in Louisiana. Thirteen states have already enacted education savings accounts, and the concept has gained momentum since COVID.

"We're taking a look at what is working in multiple states around the country and we're taking a look at the future of the state of Louisiana," Edmonds said at a recent committee hearing.. "Every economic indicator, we ask why are people leaving Louisiana? What do people choose to do when they come to Louisiana? There's always multiple areas of criteria, but everyone includes, 'How is your education program?'

"This is not an education bill. This is an opportunity to more than move the needle. This is a generational opportunity we have before us. With this legislation, we put the power back in the hands of parents when it comes to their child's education.”

David Claxton, president of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, sees the program differently.

“ESAs undermine the financial resources essential for maintaining high-quality education for all students,” Claxton wrote in a position paper.

He also makes the fairness argument related to accountability standards.

“Unlike traditional public schools,” Claxton wrote, “as written, private schools or other education institutions participating in the ESA program will not be subject to the same rigorous standards and oversight measures of public school systems.”

Moore said she made the motion to vote on the St. Mary resolution because “we should be more careful in how we allocate funds.”

She said using public funds for private schools with so few restrictions would be “reckless and careless. …

“This is not a wise decision.”