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Senate committee approves Education Excellence Fund allocations, asks agency for charter school clarification
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Summary
The Senate education committee approved the 2025–26 Education Excellence Fund allocation formula after a department presentation; members asked the department to report back on charter schools that appeared to show no available EAF funds.
The Louisiana Senate Education Committee approved the Education Excellence Fund (EAF) allocation formula for fiscal 2025–26 after a department presentation and brief member questions.
Bernell Cook, identified as a department representative, told the committee the EAF — established from tobacco-settlement proceeds as part of the Millennium Trust Fund — supports early childhood (birth to 4), remedial instruction for students who perform poorly on state assessments, and other educational programs such as career and technical education and STEM. Cook said $77,100,000 was available at the start of the fiscal year, including roughly $19 million in new funds, reallocated prior-year dollars, investment funds and cash on hand. Recipients requested about $39.8 million for expenditure in fiscal 2025–26, and Cook summarized how local city and parish school systems (including charter schools) receive 85% of the allocation while 15% is appropriated for nonpublic schools and other eligible recipients added by statute.
Senator Mizell raised a concern after reviewing district allocations that a charter school in her district showed no funds available; Cook explained that charters that recently transitioned from a district must be included in the formula as standalone entities in the next year’s award and said there would be no permanent loss of funding based on student counts. Cook agreed to provide a report to the committee detailing the treatment and timing for charter school allocations.
The committee then voted to approve the funding formula for 2025–26; Senator Owen moved the motion and it passed without objection. The committee’s action forwards the allocation approach to any further fiscal review required by other committees.
The committee requested the department’s written clarification on charter accounting and allocation timing; staff said a handout listing district-by-district allocations was available in committee folders.
What’s next: The approved formula will be handled through the legislative process and any finance committee review as required by statute.
