‘Our students can hardly read!’ Louisiana House advances universal school choice after fiery speech from Democrat

A universal school choice bill passed the Louisiana House on Monday with an overwhelming majority.

HB 745, sponsored by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-District 39, sailed through the House by a 72-32 vote, including a handful of Democrats voting in favor.

“As I watch children in poverty, trapped in failing schools, who can hardly read, I’d be damned if I will continue to defend the status quo,” said Rep. Jason Hughes, D-District 100, during a passionate speech. “Too many of our children are dropping out and we wonder why we have to have a crime session. Because our students can hardly read!”

HB 745 would create the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship, an education savings account (ESA) program for education expenses.  

The average student would receive 55% of their per-pupil state and local education funds. Low-income students would receive 80% and students with special learning needs up to 160%.   

Current per-pupil spending is nearly $14,000 in Louisiana.   

If approved, LA GATOR scholarships would become the 12th universal school choice program in the nation and the second to be approved in 2024. The program would officially launch by the  2025-26 school year. 

HB 745 also has a sister bill in the Senate, SB 313, which was approved by the Education Committee and currently sits with the Finance Committee. 

Though two measures differ slightly – such as whether to include homeschool students – both seek to establish universal school choice in Louisiana. 

“For years we’ve been 47th, 48th, 49th [in the nation], and that’s just not acceptable,” said Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge, sponsor of SB 313. “We want parents to be making the choice for their children.”