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Eligibility Requirements for the 2026-2027 LA GATOR Program

Andrea S
Updated

This article is intended for Louisiana parents to understand the eligibility requirements for the 2026-2027 phase of the program.
 

Student Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the LA GATOR Scholarship Program, a student must:

  • Live in Louisiana
  • Be at least 5 years old (but not older than 21) by September 30, 2026
  • Meet one of the following:

    • Is a returning LA GATOR Scholarship Program recipient who was approved and funded in 2025-2026 or was a Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) participant during the 2024-2025 school year

    • Is entering kindergarten
    • Was enrolled in a public school on both October 1 and February 1 of the 2025–2026 school year
    • Comes from a household with income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level

Eligibility must be reverified each year to continue in the program.
 

Educational Setting Requirement

Approved participating students must select an educational setting to access LA GATOR funds:

Families may select one of the following educational settings:

  • A BESE-approved nonpublic school from the educational setting list; or
  • Home-based Education, if the student receives education primarily or partially from home through an approved LA GATOR service provider available on the Odyssey Marketplace.

Parent and Student Participation Requirements

Participating families are responsible for ensuring the student receives instruction in, at minimum, the following subjects:

  • English language arts (ELA)
  • Mathematics
  • Social studies
  • Science

Families must also ensure the participating student receives an education that satisfies Louisiana’s compulsory school attendance requirements.

Each participating student who fails to comply with attendance requirements must be reported to the state director of child welfare and attendance by the participating nonpublic school or service provider. The student may then be subject to the provisions of R.S. 17:233, which may include referral to juvenile or family court.

When Student Eligibility Ends

A student’s eligibility for the LA GATOR Scholarship Program will end if any of the following occurs:

  • The student enrolls full-time in a public school.
  • The student is no longer a Louisiana resident.
  • Fraudulent information is provided during the application process or while using program funds.
  • The student graduates or withdraws from school.
  • The student’s LA GATOR account remains inactive for two consecutive years.

Annual Assessment Requirement

Per LA GATOR rules (§1525), all participating students are required to complete an annual assessment in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.

Students must complete one of the following:

  • The ELA and mathematics assessment required under the school and district accountability system for the student’s grade level; or
  • A nationally norm-referenced ELA and mathematics test or assessment approved by BESE and provided by the participating school or, when applicable, a service provider.

For a list of approved assessments, please review this article. 

Participation in Other Programs

Students enrolled in the LA GATOR Scholarship Program cannot simultaneously participate in the following scholarship or school choice programs:

Students may be eligible to receive additional funding from third-party sources, as long as those sources are not listed above and are not otherwise prohibited by law.

Important: Students may not be enrolled in public school while they participate in LA GATOR.

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