DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 243 Original 2025 Regular Session Mandie Landry
Abstract: Provides for the assessment of students and school accountability with respect to the LA
GATOR program.
Present law provides for the La. Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship
Program, which is administered by the state Dept. of Education (DOE) and provides state funding
for qualified education expenses for students in grades kindergarten through 12. Proposed law
retains present law.
Present law requires DOE to develop a process for the annual administration of either of the
following to participating students:
(1)Any examination in English language arts and mathematics required pursuant to the present
law school and district accountability system at the prescribed grade level.
(2)A nationally norm-referenced test or assessment approved by the State Bd. of Elementary and
Secondary Education (BESE).
Present law also allows, subject to BESE approval, a participating nonpublic school to select an
assessment that is substantially aligned with its program of study and that is to be administered to
participating students. Proposed law instead requires DOE to develop a process for annual
administration of all examinations required pursuant to such accountability system at the prescribed
grade levels. Further requires DOE to do the following:
(1)Develop a scholarship cohort index using substantially the same criteria used to develop
school performance scores pursuant to such accountability system.
(2)Using the scores for all participating students and the scale applicable to public schools,
assign a corresponding letter grade to each nonpublic participating school.
(3)Publish each letter grade in the same manner and at the same time as those assigned to public
schools.
Proposed law further provides for specific accountability measures for the LA GATOR program as
provided in present administrative rule for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence
Program, including sanctions relative to certain results. Present law exempts participating students who would be exempt from assessment if attending
public school and requires DOE to develop a process for the collection and aggregate reporting of
assessment results and to ensure that results are provided to parents of participating students and the
public. Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:4037.10)