School Choice at Risk in New Orleans

Rachel Sheffield / May 26, 2011

Over the last several weeks, students, families, and advocates of education reform have witnessed exciting steps forward by numerous states to expand education options. Arizona, Indiana, Oklahoma, and Utah (among others) have implemented strategies to expand school choice and give children greater hope for a quality education.

Unfortunately, Louisiana may be going in just the opposite direction by attempting to eliminate the only school choice program in the state. The Louisiana House Appropriations Committee has proposed to cut funding for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence program, which provides scholarships for low-income New Orleans students.

According to the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), the scholarship program, enacted in 2008, provides nearly 1,700 low-income students in New Orleans scholarships to attend private schools of their choice. Roughly 2,000 have already been awarded scholarships for the 2011–2012 school year, with 165 more children on the waiting list. (more…)