Louisiana lawmakers are backing plans for low- and moderate-income families to use public money for sending children to private schools. The plan is being driven by Republican Governor Bobby Jindal.
Governor Jindal wants to expand a voucher program now in place in New Orleans to statewide schools. In New Orleans, it applies only to failing schools. Jindal wants families to have the private-school option if their public school rates a C grade or lower under state accountability standards. Jindal also wants to make it easier to open a charter school, which receives public money but can be run by private groups with government permission. Lawmakers are also supporting Jindal’s plan to link teachers’ tenure to how well their students perform.
