Announcements

Please do not check out students between 2:45 - 3:00 p.m. except in an emergency. Important instructions are reminders are given at the end of the day, as well as written communications.

We want to make you aware of our state’s new school choice initiative, LA Gator. Legislation was signed in June and implementation is scheduled to begin in the 2025-26 school year.

Eligibility for the LA GATOR program will be implemented in three phases. During the first phase (beginning in March 2025), initial eligibility is determined by the student meeting just one of four criteria, two of which are of interest to current BCS families.

• The student is entering kindergarten. This would include all of our current K4 students.

• The student is from a family with a total income not exceeding 250% of the federal poverty level ($78,000 for a family of four in 2024).

Enrollment into LA GATOR for students meeting these qualifications will be made available by the Louisiana Department of Education no later than March 1, 2025. Funds for tuition and fees would be made available to parents through an educational savings account (ESA) established in their child’s name in an amount up to $7,500.

Although the time frame for the rollout of phase one is already set, BESE will be responsible for orchestrating the time frame for the rollout of phases two and three. Here are a few items of interest for phase two and three:

• Phase two would include families with a total income not exceeding 400% of the federal poverty level ($124,800 for a family of four in 2024).

• Phase three would not have any income restriction. All students in Louisiana would qualify.

This legislation differs greatly from voucher programs and eventually allows all parents in the state to have an educational savings account (ESA) which could be used at the school of their choice.