Louisiana LA GATOR: Amounts, Rules and Schools

How LA GATOR works

What you get	$5,243 to $7,626 per student, by household income. Families at or below 250% of the poverty level get the higher amount. Students with disabilities can receive up to $15,253.
Who qualifies	Louisiana students age 5 to 21 who held a prior scholarship, are entering kindergarten, attended public school last year, or come from a lower-income household.
How full it is	Nearly 17,000 eligible applications for 2026-27, against about 5,700 students funded the year before. Being eligible is not the same as being funded.
When to apply	The 2026-27 window was short: March 1 to 16, 2026.
How the money moves	All spending goes through the program’s online platform. Families are not reimbursed for out-of-pocket spending.
What it covers	Nonpublic school tuition and fees, tutoring, therapies, curriculum, uniforms, technology and approved tests.

Worth knowing: The legislature sets the budget each year and most applicants so far have not been funded.

We read this on 2026-09-20 from: Louisiana Department of Education, LA GATOR; LDOE release, 2026-02-28. Rules change when the legislature meets, so check the official program site before you count on a number.

Run your own numbers

What would you pay?

Yearly tuition the school quoted Fees, books, uniforms LA GATOR award Children

LA GATOR pays between $5,243 and $7,626 depending on your household. We start with the lower figure. Change it if you know yours. An award can never be more than the school actually charges. This is arithmetic, not a quote.

Which schools take it

Louisiana does not publish a list of participating schools outside the program’s own platform. Ask the school.

Browse Louisiana private schools

Get one email when applications open

Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state and we will email you the day the next window opens, with the official link. That is the only email you get.

One email per application window. No calls, no sharing your details.

Questions parents ask

How much does LA GATOR pay in Louisiana?

$5,243 to $7,626 per student, by household income. Families at or below 250% of the poverty level get the higher amount. Students with disabilities can receive up to $15,253.

Who is eligible?

Louisiana students age 5 to 21 who held a prior scholarship, are entering kindergarten, attended public school last year, or come from a lower-income household.

Does it cover the full cost of private school?

Not always. The award is a set amount and every school sets its own price. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then subtract the award. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.

How do I know a school accepts LA GATOR?

Louisiana does not publish a list of participating schools outside the program’s own platform. Ask the school.

When do I apply?

The 2026-27 window was short: March 1 to 16, 2026.

Louisiana LA GATOR Scholarship