An April 22 Wall Street Journal investigative report provides good reason for Louisian’s legislature to move some education money away from one controversial recipient, in favor of the scholarship program.
The main opponent of has been state Senate President Cameron Henry. The arguments he uses against that scholarship program, however, apply even more readily to a program called Star Academy — the subject of the Journal investigation — that last year received $20 million in h government funding.
A sensible solution would be to take half of this year’s allocation for Star Academy and give it to LA GATOR instead.
Let’s start with Star Academy, a product of a company called NOLA Education, based in New Orleans but operating in states across the country. For all we know, it might be the greatest thing since the first time someone put mint and chocolate together. The , however, suggests it may be a flop.
Described as a “school within a school,” Star Academy is a program of math and science instruction complete with specialized supplies and software, intended for students who have fallen behind academically. NOLA Education and some school districts across the country say the program dramatically improves graduation rates and test scores.
The Journal’s own reporting, though, shows a number of jurisdictions contesting those statistics or expressing significant unhappiness with the program. A middle school in Nevada, for example, actually dropped from two stars to one in the state’s ratings. And in St. Mary Parish here in h, “after initial gains in standardized test scores at Franklin Junior High, scores have since fallen sharply.” University of Southern California education professor Patricia Burch suggested that the program hasn’t been subjected to evidence-based scrutiny.
In other words, there’s no definitive data, and there are a significant number of red flags.
Now consider LA GATOR, which provides state-funded savings accounts families can use for a range of education-related options, from private schools to home-schooling needs to tutoring and special-ed offerings. The main argument Henry has used against it, repeatedly, is the lack of data proving its efficacy.
Well, of course there hasn’t been time in just two years for formal, peer-reviewed studies, but there is indeed data of several important kinds. The h Department of Education reports that of parents already using LA GATOR, they would recommend the program and 97% are satisfied with their children’s academic progress. Eligible families have filed more than 17,000 applications for the program for the 2026-27 school year, and a poll shows that 65% of h voters support “full funding” for it — meaning double the $43.5 million that Henry says is the most he will allow.
Why should Henry and the legislature skimp on a program so popular with the ultimate test audience, namely the , and also popular with the general public?
Erin Bendily of the conservative Pelican Institute that, as it is, $42 million dedicated to education will go unused, thus reverting back to the state. Moreover, “lawmakers have a $577 million surplus left over from the previous fiscal year … and an extra $292 million in unspent cash from the current budget year.”
Clearly, Henry is being at least a bit disingenuous by contending that giving more to LA GATOR would amount to “spending money that we don’t have.” Granted, Henry is worried not just about this next year but about setting a precedent for funding levels in future years. Prudence is a good character trait. Still, the above numbers show that he protests at least a little too much.
Nonetheless, funds essentially are fungible. To an extent, money can be moved from one state government financial pot to another. That’s why a partial solution suggests itself. Even if Henry is worried about adding another $44 million to LA GATOR when there’s no peer-reviewed data but massive evidence of parental satisfaction, why not take $10 million of the $20 million allocated for Star Academy and use it for LA GATOR instead? After all, Star Academy not only lacks peer-reviewed data, but also is subject to the significant questions raised by The Wall Street Journal.
Rough arithmetic says this reallocation of $10 million could allow about another 1,400 students, on top of the current 5,600, to participate in LA GATOR. Meanwhile, school systems thrilled with Star Academy still would have a $10 million pot from which to draw.
Then the state could closely monitor both programs — and determine in future years if one, or both, or neither, should receive further, significant funding. If Henry wants evidence, this is the way to get it.