House Bill No. by Representative Butler proposes the creation of the Education Scholarship Account (ESA) Program, designed to provide state funding for students with exceptionalities in grades K-12 who are not enrolled in public schools. The bill amends R.S. 17:236(A) and enacts Chapter 43-C of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, establishing eligibility criteria for students, schools, and service providers, as well as outlining the allocation of program funds and testing requirements for participating students. The Louisiana Department of Education (DOE) will administer the program, which is set to begin enrolling students by the 2025-2026 school year, and will allow for various educational formats, including in-person, virtual, or hybrid education.

Key provisions of the bill include defining eligible students as those with exceptionalities, establishing accounts funded by state appropriations for qualified education expenses, and ensuring the independence of participating schools and service providers from additional regulations. The DOE is responsible for developing a process for annual testing of participating students and must report on program implementation metrics, including parental satisfaction and financial information, to the legislature by April 30th each year. The bill will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated time for gubernatorial action.

Statutes affected:
HB66 Original: 17:236(A)