BESE hears updated LA Gator application figures as lawmakers weigh funding

The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) on April 9 received a progress update on the LA Gator scholarship program as board members pressed officials for a simple fiscal summary to take to the legislature.

Superintendent John Brumley (State Superintendent of Education) said the department is seeing “interest that we're seeing already exceeds the governor's request in the executive budget for $93,000,000,” and directed staff to provide a detailed update for the board.

The update, delivered by Caleb (LDOE Choice team), said about 33,500 applications had been received as of the morning of April 9, with roughly 29,400 applicants deemed eligible, about 1,400 pending review, and approximately 5,600 students currently enrolled in the Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP). Of those LSP students, 5,024 — about 91% — had applied to LA Gator. The department said kindergarten applications remain the largest single grade cohort and that roughly 82–83% of applicants are at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline. Caleb also reported 271 approved nonpublic schools and 269 registered service providers enrolled with the program.

Board members asked for clear, one‑page fiscal summaries to use in legislative discussions. Senator Bell asked for a single‑page analysis showing the executive budget request, the number of approved students and the resulting award costs; Caleb said the department will produce that once the application window closes. Senator Appel and other members said they want the same document to show the cost of funding every eligible applicant so legislators can see the full fiscal exposure.

Board members pressed staff on the selection and priority process if appropriations fall short. Caleb said award priority is phase‑based: first LSP students, then students with disabilities and families at or below 250% of the federal poverty guideline, then siblings, and finally all other applicants. Within each priority group, order is by application timestamp.

Members also asked about timing for notifying families. Caleb said the department cannot notify families that they will receive funding until the legislature appropriates funds and the governor signs the budget; the department is preparing to notify families about wait‑list standing as soon as practicable and expects final determinations closer to early July. The department reiterated that the current scholarship voucher program legally ends June 30, and emphasized urgency in securing contract and appropriation approvals so schools and families can plan.

Brumley emphasized two implementation priorities: finalizing the vendor contract that will manage accounts and ensuring continuity for currently enrolled LSP students. He noted the board previously approved a vendor contract for platform management using the governor's executive budget assumptions (approximately 11,000 students), creating an “up to” contract amount used for the April JLCB submission.

Several board members asked about next steps. Caleb said the LA Gator application closes April 15, and staff will rank‑order applicants after closure to produce the one‑page fiscal scenarios requested by members. The department will also continue outreach and weekly office hours for schools and families to reduce application confusion.

The board took no binding appropriation decision at this meeting; staff repeatedly emphasized that awards cannot be finalized until legislative appropriation and the governor’s signature.

Members who spoke during the update included Superintendent Brumley, Caleb (LDOE Choice team), Senator Bell, Dr. Armstrong, Senator Appel and Mr. Burke.