Louisiana School Choice Options
Louisiana’s main school choice program is the LA GATOR Scholarship. It gives eligible families an education savings account. Families can use the money for private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and other approved costs. For 2025-26, awards ranged from $5,243 to $15,253, depending on income and disability. However, LA GATOR does not cover homeschooling. A student may not be in a home study program or an unapproved nonpublic school at the same time. Families must leave LA GATOR when they enroll in home study. Louisiana also appears on the IRS list for the new federal scholarship tax credit, which starts in 2027.
Day to day, the best benefits for homeschoolers come through home study. Home study students may earn a TOPS college scholarship based on ACT scores. They must enroll by the end of 10th grade. A 2026 law also opens public school activities and sports to home study students. They try out in the same way as enrolled students. In addition, families may form parent-led microschools without registering. We will update this page as new options appear. For full details on each topic, open the sections below.
LA GATOR, created by Act 1 of 2024, provides education scholarship accounts for approved expenses such as nonpublic school tuition and fees, tutoring, educational therapies, textbooks, and curricula. For the 2025-26 school year, awards were up to $15,253 for students with a qualifying disability, $7,626 for families earning at or below 250 percent of the federal poverty level, and $5,243 for other eligible students. All purchases go through the Odyssey platform, and families cannot be reimbursed for out-of-pocket costs (LDOE: LA GATOR Scholarship Program). The 2026-27 application window ran March 1-16, 2026, and funding depends on the legislature each year (LDOE).
Under program policy, a student may not participate in LA GATOR at the same time as a BESE-approved home study program or a home study program registered as a nonpublic school not seeking state approval. Families must disenroll from LA GATOR immediately upon enrolling in home study (LDOE: LA GATOR Policy). In short, homeschoolers cannot use LA GATOR while homeschooling.
Students who enroll in a BESE-approved home study program by the end of 10th grade may be eligible for a TOPS award based on ACT scores. Students who stay in a nonpublic school not seeking state approval through high school are not eligible (HSLDA).
Act 545 of 2026 lets home study and virtual school students take part in extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics at the public school for their attendance zone, trying out in the same manner as enrolled students (Act 545 text; HB 363).
Louisiana appears on the IRS list of participating states as of October 22, 2026. Starting January 1, 2027, individual donors may claim up to $1,700 ($3,400 if filing jointly) for cash gifts to scholarship granting organizations (IRS: FSTC Participating States). Check with each scholarship organization about who qualifies and which expenses it covers.
Parent-driven learning microschools may not be required to register or report to a government agency under Act 885 of 2026 (Act 885 text). State funding is not available for home study families (LDOE). See our Louisiana Homeschool Laws page.
- LDOE: LA GATOR Scholarship Program; LA GATOR Policy
- LDOE: BESE-Approved Home Study Program; HSLDA: How to Comply with Louisiana’s Homeschool Law
- HB 363 (Act 545); HB 1203 (Act 885)
- IRS: Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Participating States (as of October 22, 2026)
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026
*The information on this page is for general use only. It should not be taken as legal advice. It is believed to be accurate however state and federal laws change every year. Homeschool.net recommends joining an organization such as the Home School Legal Defense Association before your homeschooling adventure begins. HSLDA can provide complete, accurate, legal advice and services for homeschooling families.
Update History
No changes in law noted since this page was first published.