Charter Schools in Louisiana

Law:   Passed in 1995

Rank:   17th weakest of the nation's 40 charter laws

CER Grade:   C

Schools:   20

Students:  4,631

EQUAL ACCESS: Louisiana's charter school law specifically requires that any charter school serve at least the same percentage of low-income students as that found in the public schools of the parish where the charter operates, and that provision is probably why nearly every member of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus supported the bill. CHARTER SCHOOLS AND DESEGREGATION IN LOUISIANA, Testimony before the US House of Representatives, October 14, 1999

OPPOSITION: The Department of Justice's Office of Civil Rights has effectively prevented the opening of two charter schools (one in St. Helena and another in Baton Rouge), has cost the state and local organizations seeking charters tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, and has put a damper on the efforts of others thinking about creating such schools -- despite the fact that these schools are serving low-income, minority students. Since the evidence suggests that charter schools perform, on average, better than regular public schools, stopping these charters effectively limits the educational attainment of those students who would be served by them. CHARTER SCHOOLS AND DESEGREGATION IN LOUISIANA, Testimony before the US House of Representatives, October 14, 1999

SERVING ALL: For Louisiana as a whole, the percentage of low-income students in public schools is 58%. For many of the parishes in which charter schools are being formed it is a much larger number. For example, at least 78% of the students in New Orleans charter schools must be poor. CHARTER SCHOOLS AND DESEGREGATION IN LOUISIANA, Testimony before the US House of Representatives, October 14, 1999
MONEY MATTERS: In Louisiana, certain classes of charter schools may apply for an interest free loan of up to $100,000 that is payable over three years. Charter schools can use the money for purchases of equipment and other material items that may become the loan’s collateral if other collateral has not been secured. Should a charter school default on the loan, the items purchased by the loan are transferred to state ownership. Solving the Charter School Financing Conundrum

Louisiana Charter School Association
900 McClung St.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Contact: Jim Geiser
Telephone: (225) 387-5384
Email: jgeiser@eatel.net

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education P. O. Box 94064 Capitol Station Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9064	Contact: Kathy Matheny , Charter Schools Administrator Tel: 225-219-4540 Fax: 225-342-5843 Email: kmatheny@mail.doe.state.la.us
Website: http://www.doe.state.la.us/DOE/asps/home.asp?I=CHARTER