LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 244 HLS 24RS 312
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 31, 2024 8:24 PM Author: HUGHES
Dept./Agy.: EDUCATION
Subject: Steve Carter Education Program Analyst: Julie Silva
STUDENTS EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX Page 1 of 2
Expands the purpose of the Steve Carter Literacy Program to include educational services in math
Proposed legislation expands the purpose of the Steve Carter Literacy program to include mathematics, changes the name to the Steve
Carter Education Program, and increases the maximum payment for eligible expenses from $1,000 to $1,500. Proposed legislation
additionally expands eligibility to include: students enrolled in kindergarten or the first, second, or third grade who are at risk for
mathematics learning difficulties according to a mathematics assessment; students enrolled in the fourth through twelfth grade and who
scored below mastery in mathematics on the state assessment in the prior school year; students enrolled in the sixth through twelfth
grade who scored below mastery in English language arts on the state assessment in the prior school year; and students enrolled in
kindergarten through the fifth grade, who lack a mathematics assessment result, and are recommended for the program by a
mathematics teacher. Expands the pool of eligible tutoring providers to include students pursuing a degree at a postsecondary institution,
those who hold any associate or baccalaureate degree, paraprofessionals employed by a local school governing authority, and certified
math teachers. The provisions of proposed legislation are effective when an Act of the legislature containing a specific appropriation of
monies for implementation becomes effective.
EXPENDITURES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW SEE BELOW
Annual Total
REVENUES 2024-25 2025-26 2026-27 2027-28 2028-29 5 -YEAR TOTAL
State Gen. Fd. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Agy. Self-Gen. $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Ded./Other $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Federal Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Local Funds $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Annual Total $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
EXPENDITURE EXPLANATION
The provisions of proposed legislation are effective when an Act of the legislature containing a specific
appropriation of monies for implementation becomes effective. The general appropriations bill (HB 1 of the
2024 RS), currently under consideration by the legislature, includes an appropriation of $5 M “to continue and
expand the Steve Carter Literacy Program to include both literacy and math tutoring to families of eligible K-12
public school students” in the event HB 244 of the 2024 RS is enacted into law.
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) estimates that beginning in FY 25, it will cost $4.5 M annually to fund the
expanded Steve Carter Education Program and provide for the department’s administrative costs. Administrative costs are
anticipated to increase each year. This estimate also assumes student participation in the program remains at the current
level of 0.8% of those eligible. If participation rates increase, estimated costs will increase proportionally ($1,500 per
student).
Under current law, the Steve Carter Literacy Program provides $1,000 vouchers to families of eligible K-5 public school
students. The digital vouchers can be used to purchase high-quality literacy tutoring. Under proposed legislation, the Steve
Carter Education Program would provide $1,500 vouchers to families of eligible K-12 public school students, these digital
vouchers could be used for high-quality literacy and mathematics (numeracy) tutoring, but each student is eligible for only
one $1,500 voucher. Program costs are affected by and dependent on student performance and program participation.
Priority for payments will be given to the lowest-performing, economically disadvantaged students.
LDOE launched the Steve Carter program in November 2022, allocating $40 M of the state set aside from federal Elementary
and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. Due to lower than expected participation levels, the department
reports spending only $2.4 M on program costs. All ESSER funding is set to expire by September 2024 and will no longer be
available for expenditure, therefore, the department reallocated the remaining funds to other academic recovery efforts.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
REVENUE EXPLANATION
There is no anticipated direct material effect on governmental revenues as a result of this measure.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
x 13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} x 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Patrice Thomas
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer
 LEGISLATIVE FISCAL OFFICE
Fiscal Note
Fiscal Note On: HB 244 HLS 24RS 312
Bill Text Version: ENROLLED
Opp. Chamb. Action:
Proposed Amd.:
Sub. Bill For.:
Date: May 31, 2024 8:24 PM Author: HUGHES
Dept./Agy.: EDUCATION
Subject: Steve Carter Education Program Analyst: Julie Silva
CONTINUED EXPLANATION from page one: Page 2 of 2
The numbers provided in the table below reflect the students who would be eligible for participation in the program, based
on results from the Fall 2023 Reading Report for kindergarten through second grade students and those students in the third
through twelfth grades who scored below Mastery on the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program (LEAP) English
language arts (ELA) or math subject tests in 2023.
Students Scoring
Grade Below Level
K 24,228
1 25,107
2 23,425
3 34,915
4 34,008
5 35,680
6 35,960
7 37,273
8 36,081
9-12 82,356
Total 369,033
Given these counts, 369,033 students would be eligible for the expanded support outlined in proposed legislation. Based on
usage data from the first implementation year of the program, less than 0.8% of eligible students are expected to request
participation. The current program is available for K-5th grade students scoring below proficient in English and Language
Arts/Reading, and of the 150,000 students eligible, only 1,815 students have enrolled in the program since its launch in
January 2023. The total cost of the program to date is $2.4 M. The LDOE assumes that, in alignment with the current 0.8%
usage for ELA tutoring, not all eligible students will enroll in the expanded program, and overall participation levels would
remain the same. Based on this it is anticipated that 2,952 students will participate in the program, and the amount of
funding needed to provide vouchers would be approximately $4.4 M.
In addition to program payments, beginning in FY 25, the LDOE reports expenditures related to program administration are
estimated to cost $138,323 for one Education Program Consultant 4 position ($122,087 combined salary and related benefits
and $16,500 operating expenses). The LDOE assumes an annual 4% increase in salaries and related benefits and an annual
5% increase in operating expenses.
Proposed legislation requires any person providing tutoring services in reading to have successfully completed a department
approved science of reading training course. These courses cost between $550 to $725 per person and are currently
required for all kindergarten through third grade teachers and administrators. Local school districts may realize an increase
in costs to the extent additional teachers and administrators who are not currently required to take the course would now
need to do so in order to provide tutoring services in reading. Any non-employee tutoring provider would presumably pay
the cost of the course on their own in order to qualify as a department approved tutor.
Senate Dual Referral Rules House
x 13.5.1 >= $100,000 Annual Fiscal Cost {S & H} x 6.8(F)(1) >= $100,000 SGF Fiscal Cost {H & S}
13.5.2 >= $500,000 Annual Tax or Fee Patrice Thomas
6.8(G) >= $500,000 Tax or Fee Increase
Change {S & H} or a Net Fee Decrease {S} Deputy Fiscal Officer


Statutes affected:
HB244 Original:
HB244 Engrossed:
HB244 Reengrossed:
HB244 Enrolled:
HB244 Act 649: