A quick special meeting Monday evening, March 25, allowed the Allen Parish School Board to unanimously adopt a resolution expressing its opposition to state legislation establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs).
This resolution included House Bill 745 which creates the LA GATOR Scholarship Program, that provides public dollars for private school tuition and educational expenses. With this resolution, the board wishes to urge the Allen Parish legislative delegation to vote no on any bill proposing an ESA.
House Bill 745 was proposed by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-District 39, on March 18. The bill’s co-sponsors are Rhonda Butler R-38 and Laurie Schlegel, R-22.
The proposed legislation, if approved, would give tax dollars directly to families, allowing them to use the money for private school tuition, online learning and tutoring, according to information about the bill.
One education advocate, Dr. Ashonta Wyatt, a long time New Orleans public schools educator, spoke to media outlets suggesting this was another misguided attempt to give parents what they think they’re looking for in terms of options, in terms of choice. She explained school choice has been a topic for years. She called it a failed system that pulls from public school resources.
Dr. Wyatt believes the only group that will be hurt are communities that are already under-served and improvised. She argues it’s smoke and mirrors being used to take money from public schools.
Emerson’s implementation of the bill will be in phases, and she said by 2027, all families would be eligible to apply for the money.