LAFAYETTE, La. (KADN) — An education bill that allows vouchers for public school students to attend private school is heading to the Louisiana Senate. It passed in the House on Monday, April 8.
Lafayette Parish Superintendent Francis Touchet believes this will be very costly for the district.
Touchet added that Lafayette Parish lost millions of dollars before the bill was proposed and if this legislation passes, he believes things will get worse.
“We lost over $30 million and there was an additional $6 million that we are going to have to send to them before the year is over with and there’s a possibility, in addition to that, another $5 million that will move forward,” explained Supt. Touchet.
If the state Senate approves the measure, public school students who choose to go to private schools will get taxpayer money to pay their tuition and other expenses.
It’s called the Education Savings Account, or ESA.
“So, my true problem is that if we are going to send dollars to these local schools or these private schools, it needs to be the same test and it needs to be a test that is going to be required for graduation,” noted Supt. Touchet.
Unlike Louisiana’s main school voucher program, which helps low-income families afford private school. House Bill 745 by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Lafayette Parish, would offer stipends to all parents, regardless of financial need.
Gov. Jeff Landry has made ESA a top priority, saying it empowers parental choice.
If the bill goes into effect, Supt. Touchet believes both private and public schools should be under the same rules.
“Baton Rouge wants to be able to say that the dollars follows the kids, but Baton Rouge does not want to say that the same rules that have to be followed are across the board,” he said.
Supt. Touchet also said he fears he’ll have to close and consolidate schools.
“Based upon what happens in Baton Rouge, that our board will have to make decisions as far as our budget is concerned and we will have to look at how we can live within our means based on the amount of students we have,” he added.
Supt. Touchet expressed fears about losing teachers because of a lack of funding for public schools.